KIC, the leader in smart thermal process technologies for electronics manufacturing, has won the 2025 Global Technology Award in the Thermal Profilers category for its KIC HeatMap™ solution. The award was presented during a ceremony at productronica in Munich, Germany on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
HeatMap™ redefines what a thermal profiler can do, transforming KIC’s SPS Smart Profiler and X5 Profiler platforms from intermittent setup tools into continuous production monitoring systems. Traditionally, profilers are used only during new product introduction (NPI) or periodic process checks. With HeatMap™ manufacturers gain real-time monitoring of oven zone temperatures throughout production runs—closing the gap between initial setup and production.
The system combines an embedded multi-zone thermocouple probe, optional alarm light bar, and enhanced Thermal Analysis Software (TAS) to provide a live graphical display of each oven zone’s performance against a reference profile. Operators and engineers can instantly detect thermal deviations that could impact solder quality, trigger rework, or cause costly downtime.
Key capabilities include:
- Live zone temperature monitoring
- Automatic tolerance definition
- Increased profiler utilization
- Fast detection of intermittent drifts
- Machine traceability
- Optional light bar alerts
By leveraging your existing profiler investment, HeatMap™ offers a rapid cost-effective upgrade to continuous monitoring, without requiring new ovens or workflow changes. It can be deployed in hours, with either self-installation or KIC’s support.
“KIC HeatMap™ bridges a critical gap in thermal process control,” said Miles Moreau, General Manager at KIC. “It lets manufacturers see exactly how their ovens are performing in real-time, so they can act before problems turn into defects or downtime.”
Since 2005, the prestigious Global Technology Awards have recognized the absolute best new innovations in the printed circuit assembly and packaging industries. It brings together the global SMT and advanced packaging industry in a celebration of the companies and people that are achieving the highest standards and driving our industry forward. For more information, visit www.globalsmt.net.
To learn more, visit www.kicthermal.com.
