WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2008

RPS Automation R&D Yields New Innovations, Products
Manufacturer of selective soldering equipment expands offering and delivers soldering performance enhancements that increase soldering precision, flexibility and quality.

Las Vegas, NV, April 2, 2008— RPS Automation LLC, a global supplier of selective solder equipment to the circuit board manufacturing and assembly industry, today announced new features, options and products for the global selective soldering market.

Based on customer demand and as a result of a heavy investment in research and development, RPS introduced several innovative enhancements to the Rhythm Selective Soldering System™ product suite and two new Rhythm System models. All products announced today are available immediately.

“We have an aggressive commitment to innovation and a culture of meeting the needs of our customers,” said Baran Thompson, Director of Engineering at RPS Automation. “We developed these new products and capabilities to serve the diverse soldering process automation needs of today’s electronics manufacturers.”

New Rhythm Features— RPS today announced new features that will be standard on all new Rhythm systems:
· All RPS selective soldering systems, including the Rhythm, will now utilize 100% closed-loop servo motors for robotic motion control. The Rhythm System is the only sub-$75,000 USD selective soldering system on the market that uses ultra-precise and fast servo motion control.
· The Rhythm System’s DirectHeat™ feature— the proprietary RPS process of independently heating nitrogen for superior soldering thermal performance— now offers greater control and performance with a nitrogen temperature digital display, system monitoring of the nitrogen delivery system, and fail-safe redundancy of heat processing.
· All new Rhythm Systems now come standard with integrated solid steel welded framing from floor to machine top. As part of this upgrade, the system now comes with innovative storage drawers and tool nests for easy access to nozzles and maintenance tools.

Today, RPS also announced that the popular entry level Rhythm Selective Soldering System is now available in two new configurations:
· The Rhythm HT™ is designed for high temp applications unique to high value / high mix manufacturing customers. The HT is engineered with proprietary components and upgraded materials to serve a small but important global market for high value PCB manufacturing.

· The Rhythm EX™ is a 24 x 24 inch (610 x 610mm) capable system designed to handle the largest PCB production requirements on the market today. The EX utilizes the Rhythm proven design on an extended frame and XYZ axis. To accommodate unusual backplanes and other large PCB’s, customers can request that the EX be configured for PCB’s or panels up to 36 inches in length.

Reed Gaither, CEO for RPS Automation, stated, “We are extremely proud of these latest innovations and know that they will provide an immediate windfall for our customers by extending the capabilities of the Rhythm System to further decrease labor and material costs and increase soldering quality and production flexibility.”

About RPS Automation LLC
RPS Automation LLC is an American manufacturing company that designs and builds a complete line of automated selective soldering and solder test equipment for electronic assembly and circuit board manufacturing. RPS is the only U.S. manufacturer that builds a full range of automated selective soldering equipment. RPS is also the only U.S. manufacturer to offer extensive custom configuration capabilities, utilizing a deep engineering team and full manufacturing capabilities.

The company has been in the soldering automation market for 20 years and has over 450 installations and 250 global customers. All systems are built in Spokane Valley, Washington U.S.A. and are designed for 24x7 operations in industrial-grade environments. RPS is known for high quality soldering, low maintenance, durability and superior customer service.

More information on RPS Automation can be found at www.rpsautomation.com

To speak to an RPS executive, please contact:

Mick Barber
RPS Automation LLC
509.891.1680 x231
mbarber@rpsautomation.com