THT Assembly

Reliable THT Assembly: Precision Handcrafted for Durability.

Conventional assembly, also known as through-hole technology (THT), is a process primarily performed by hand to meet specific customer requirements. Unlike SMT assembly, which is largely automated, THT involves manually placing components and soldering them to the PCB. Depending on the project, soldering can be done through wave soldering, automatic selective soldering, or hand soldering, all carried out by our highly trained technicians who follow MIL Standards.

We offer THT assembly at both our Hennweiler, Germany, and Lipova, Romania, facilities, allowing flexibility in pricing based on your project needs and assembly requirements.

In addition to SMT manufacturing, Newmatik provides conventional THT assembly, cable assembly, and device mounting. For faulty designs or problematic assemblies, we also offer a range of SMT and BGA rework services, regardless of where the boards were originally assembled.

How Does Conventional THT Assembly Work?

In conventional THT assembly, wired or through-hole components (also called THT components) are placed into drilled holes on the PCB. These components are then soldered to contact pads using various soldering techniques. Unlike surface-mounted (SMT) components, which sit on the surface of the PCB, THT components have wired leads that pass through the holes.

Even though SMT assembly has become the dominant method due to its efficiency, THT is still used for specific applications. THT is ideal for high-performance electronics (such as high-voltage resistors or relays), components with high mechanical stress (connectors, switches), and large components (e.g., capacitors, inductors).

THT Soldering Techniques

Once THT components are manually placed on the boards, we utilize one of three soldering techniques depending on the project’s requirements:

Wave Soldering

In wave soldering, components are soldered to the PCB in a multi-step process:

1. A foam flux is applied to the underside of the board.
2. The flux is preheated and activated.
3. The board is passed through a turbulent solder wave, where solder attaches to the component leads in the contact holes.
4. After cooling, the board is cleaned to remove any remaining flux material.

Hand Soldering

When wave soldering isn’t suitable—such as when SMT components are also present on the same side—hand soldering is used. Our experienced technicians, trained to MIL standards, perform precise hand soldering.

Selective Soldering

For series production orders, selective soldering is used when THT components are required on boards that also contain SMT components. This partially or fully automated process applies solder only to specific areas, keeping other regions flux-free. Selective soldering is especially common in automotive applications.