Surface-mount technology dominates modern PCBA, but through-hole components are far from obsolete. Any part that carries high current, endures mechanical stress, or requires manual field replacement benefits from the plated-through-hole connection. Connectors on industrial control boards, transformers in power supplies, and electrolytic capacitors in automotive electronics all rely on through-hole assembly. The mechanical bond between a component lead and the board, formed by solder filling the plated barrel, offers pull strength that surface-mount pads cannot match.
For mixed-technology boards combining SMT and through-hole parts, manufacturers typically run reflow soldering first, then use wave soldering service to join the through-hole components in a second pass. Selective wave soldering, which applies solder only to targeted areas, has become increasingly common for boards with dense SMT populations where full-wave immersion would risk damaging nearby reflowed joints.
Wave soldering moves a loaded board across a molten solder wave so that every through-hole joint is formed in one continuous operation. Understanding each stage helps engineers anticipate defects and communicate effectively with their contract manufacturer.
Wave soldering is efficient, but several defects can appear when parameters drift. Recognizing these issues early and working with a manufacturer that enforces tight process control makes the difference between a reliable board and a field-failure risk.
The quality of wave soldering depends heavily on equipment precision and line configuration. Farway Electronic operates two DIP plug-in production lines and two Nitto wave-soldering machines at its facility in LongGang, Shenzhen, supporting 24 rear-welding stations and a board-washing system. The published process flow runs from component forming and insertion through wave soldering, lead cutting, repair welding, board washing, and functional testing.
For mixed-technology boards, Farway offers dip plug-in and smt mixed assembly service, enabling customers to consolidate SMT and through-hole processing under one roof. Combined with upstream smt pcb assembly and downstream pcba testing, the workflow covers the full path from bare board to verified assembly.
Reliable through-hole soldering is inseparable from inspection and standards compliance. Farway builds its inspection regime around IPC-A-610, the recognized PCBA assembly standard, and augments it with plug-in AOI, IPQC sampling, and QA verification. The company also holds ISO 9001, ISO 13485, IATF 16949, and ISO 14001 certifications, covering quality management, medical devices, automotive, and environmental systems respectively.
Beyond visual and AOI inspection, Farway applies X-ray inspection for hidden joints, ICT for circuit-level verification, FCT for functional validation, and thermal imaging for thermal-sensitive components. A one-year free-repair commitment applies to eligible non-external defects arising during standard customer use, providing an additional layer of post-production assurance.
Selecting a partner for through-hole and wave soldering work involves more than comparing quotes. The right manufacturer brings controlled sourcing, documented processes, traceable production, and the engineering depth to resolve defects before they reach volume builds. Key questions to ask include:
| Evaluation Area | What to Verify |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Dual-wave soldering machines, nitrogen capability, selective wave option for dense boards |
| Process Control | Documented preheat profiles, flux density monitoring, conveyor speed tracking, dross management |
| Inspection | AOI, X-ray, ICT, FCT, and visual inspection integrated into the line |
| Certifications | ISO 9001 at minimum; IATF 16949 for automotive; ISO 13485 for medical |
| Engineering Support | DFM feedback, BOM risk review, fixture design, and rework capability |
| Traceability | Barcode tracking, lot records, and material certificates |
Farway positions itself as a one-stop electronics manufacturing partner, covering PCB fabrication, component sourcing, SMT, DIP through-hole welding, conformal coating, low-pressure injection moulding, PCBA testing, and finished-product assembly. With experience across transportation, new energy, security, medical, and communications sectors, the company has served more than 100 industry customers across over 20 countries and regions.
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