Evaluation Engineering (EE) readers have selected Aeroflex’s flexible, scaleable and low-cost 5800 Series PCB test system as the most outstanding Automated Test Equipment (ATE) product of 2006. Having enjoyed great success in Europe, the 5800 Series officially introduced Aeroflex’s entire ATE product line to the U.S. market during November of 2006. Where customers were previously required to buy several test products, the 5800’s versatility can handle all functions in one. This saves floor space, reduces board-handling damage and lowers the cost of test. “This award tells us that we are truly meeting a demand within the U.S. marketplace,” said Simon Dawe, 5800 product manager, Aeroflex. “Having EE readers select the 5800 reinforces our belief that test engineers need a multi-configuration, multi-function PCB tester and it shows that they are enthusiastic about the solution we’ve provided.” The 5800 Series now offers test engineers open hardware and software architecture and reconfigurable pinface styles to give users the ability to combine low-cost analog in-circuit testing with a maximum of 3,456 test points, high-integrity functional testing and systems test—all within a single test environment. This flexible solution can also be easily upgraded to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving PCB industry. About the 5800 Series The 5800 Series is available in three body styles for different test environments — floor standing, benchtop and rack-mount. Each style comes with a common core of 21-slot rack, power and utility cards. With its U.S. launch in November 2006, the 5800 Series also introduced three new features: boundary scan, Q-test and a PXI software wrapper tool, to provide further functionality and adaptability for the customer. With the core hardware architecture based on a PXI backplane and Aeroflex’s own internal bus providing high-speed signal integrity, users have the opportunity to create versatile test scenarios based on the combined use of 5800 Series instrument cards, Aeroflex PXI instruments, third-party PXI cards and external instrumentation. This enables existing test applications to be simply and easily migrated to the 5800 Series platform as required. Aeroflex’s ATE business is structured as a uniquely comprehensive solution at a level not found with competitors — encompassing products, applications, service and support. All of Aeroflex’s ATE products include optimum customer assistance from their service center in Wichita, KS and partner Metrikos in Boston, MA for local applications development support. About EE - Evaluation Engineering and the Reader’s Choice Awards A leading publication in the electronics evaluation and test industry since 1962, EE – Evaluation Engineering provides news for professionals who manage all aspects of product quality from design to inspection. For this 12th annual award, nominees were selected based on the top responses from EE’s RSLeads program. The editors gathered voters from email invitations distributed randomly to their readership base. Visitors to the EE web page were also given access to ballots. Other award categories included Communications Test, Environmental Test and Software.