What is ESD and why is it dangerous?
ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) occurs when materials with different electrical charges come into contact. What we know as a harmless “crackle” can destroy components worth thousands of euros in electronics manufacturing. Sensitive semiconductors can be damaged from as little as 100 volts – humans only feel a discharge from around 3,000 volts.
Immediate failures vs. latent damage
The insidious thing about ESD: not every instance of damage leads to immediate failure.
- Immediate failure – The component is defective straight away. Detected during quality control.
- Latent damage – The component works at first but fails later in the field. Up to 90 % of all ESD damage is latent – causing costly warranty claims and customer complaints.
Setting up ESD protected areas (EPA)
An EPA (ESD Protected Area) is a defined area in which all materials and equipment are dissipative. Key elements:
- Dissipative flooring – ESD floor covering or mats
- ESD workstations – Dissipative bench mats, wrist straps
- ESD packaging – Shielding bags and containers
- ESD transport equipment – All trolleys and carts within the EPA must be dissipative
ESD transport trolleys: The often forgotten weak point
Many companies invest in ESD floors and workstations but overlook the transport between stations. A standard table trolley made of painted steel is insulating and interrupts the grounding chain.
The fetra ESD product line solves this problem with consistently dissipative transport equipment:
- ESD table trolleys – For transport between workstations
- ESD box trolleys – For protected transport of small parts
- ESD stacking trucks – For vertical transport of ESD containers
- ESD storage trolleys – For systematic provisioning at the workstation
- ESD pallet dollies – For floor-level transport of larger units
All fetra ESD trolleys are dissipative in accordance with DIN EN 61340-5-1 with a discharge resistance of < 10⁹ ohms.
Standards at a glance
| Standard | Content |
|---|---|
| DIN EN 61340-5-1 | Protection of electronic devices from ESD – General requirements |
| DIN EN 61340-5-2 | User guide (practical implementation) |
| DIN EN 61340-4-1 | Test methods for floor covering materials |
| ANSI/ESD S20.20 | International standard for ESD control programmes |
Conclusion
ESD protection is only as strong as its weakest link. Anyone who interrupts the grounding chain during transport risks latent damage that becomes expensive later. ESD trolleys from fetra close this gap – standard-compliant, robust and a precise fit for any EPA.