SolderTrace by 4allfix
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Solder material control for SMT production

Every jar of solder paste, traced from the fridge to the stencil.

SolderTrace replaces handwritten labels and paper logs with a QR record for every container, enforced thaw times, live fridge monitoring and audit-ready reports. One platform for your quality team, your supervisors and the operators on the line.

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Solder pasteTacky fluxSolder wireSolder ballsBoard cleaningStencil cleaningConformal coating
Container
Lead-free SAC305 solder paste · 500 g
Lot / Jar
L-26-0412 / J-0187
Thawing at room temperature
02:41:18
Opening locked until the 4 h thaw time is complete
Stored in
Fridge F-02
Last reading
4.2 °C
Expires
2027-03-14
  • 09:12Out of fridge F-02 · scanned by operator, line 3
  • Oct 28Into fridge F-02 · 4.1 °C at entry
  • Oct 28Received · preloaded from supplier order, label printed

Illustration with sample data

The problem

Paste control still runs on a marker and a clipboard.

We reviewed technician forums, manufacturer handling guides and industry discussions on solder paste storage. The same issues come up on line after line, in plants of every size.

Handwritten labels and paper logs

Today

Out-of-fridge time, opening time and initials are written on the jar by hand. Labels smudge, get skipped on busy shifts, and the paper log rarely matches the shelf.

With SolderTrace

Each container gets a QR record on arrival. Every scan adds a time-stamped event with the operator's name, so the history is complete without anyone writing it down.

Thaw time depends on who is on shift

Today

Published recommendations range from 1.5 to 8 hours, so each operator follows a different rule. Jars get opened cold, which invites condensation and print defects.

With SolderTrace

The thaw time is set once per product. Scanning a jar out of the fridge starts a countdown, and the jar cannot be marked as opened until it ends.

Expired paste: re-certify or scrap?

Today

Expiry dates are checked by eye, if at all. When an expired jar turns up, nobody is sure whether it was approved for re-certification or should have been scrapped.

With SolderTrace

Expiry and open-life limits are tracked for every container. Expired material is flagged and held, and the disposition is recorded with who decided and when.

Customer audits without a consistent record

Today

When a customer auditor asks for the storage history of the paste used on a build, the answer is a binder and a best guess.

With SolderTrace

Pull a report by lot, jar, line or date range and export it to PDF. It shows receipt, storage temperatures, thaw, opening, use and disposal in one document.

Fridge temperature with no link to the jars

Today

The fridge is read once a shift, if at all. An overnight excursion goes unnoticed, and nobody can say which jars were inside when it happened.

With SolderTrace

Sensors log each fridge continuously. An out-of-range reading raises an alarm and automatically flags every container stored in that fridge at the time.

Opened jars going back into the fridge

Today

Half-used jars are returned to cold storage for later, against manufacturer guidance, and end up mixed with fresh stock.

With SolderTrace

Once a jar is opened, it cannot be scanned back into a fridge. Its remaining open life at room temperature is tracked until it is used or discarded.

FIFO on paper, not on the shelf

Today

Newer jars sit at the front and get used first, while older lots drift past their expiry date at the back of the fridge.

With SolderTrace

The operator is told which container to take next, first-expired, first-out, and gets a warning when a different one is scanned.

Running out at the worst moment

Today

Stock is counted when someone notices the shelf is low. An urgent order follows, often with expedited freight on refrigerated material.

With SolderTrace

A minimum stock level per product triggers a replenishment alert, or an order request sent directly to your supplier.

Issues summarized from public technician forums and solder material manufacturers' storage and handling guides.

How it works

One scan at each point of the cold chain.

Operators scan with a phone or a standard barcode reader. Each scan moves the container to its next stage and applies the rules your quality team has set.

  1. STEP 1

    Receive

    Your supplier order arrives preloaded with product, lot and expiry date. Print a QR label for each container and scan it in.

    Received
  2. STEP 2

    Store

    Scan the container into a specific fridge. From that moment, the fridge temperature is logged against it.

    In fridge · 0–10 °C
  3. STEP 3

    Thaw

    Scan it out of the fridge. A countdown runs to the thaw time set for that product, and opening stays locked until it ends.

    Thawing · 4:00:00
  4. STEP 4

    Open and use

    Scan to open. Open life is tracked at room temperature, with alerts before the limit is reached.

    Open · on line 3
  5. STEP 5

    Close out

    Record use or disposal. Stock updates on the spot, and replenishment is triggered when you reach your minimum.

    Used up · restock
Features

Everything your line needs to keep solder materials in spec.

A QR record for every container

Receipt, fridge, thaw, opening, open life and disposal on one time-stamped history, with the operator behind each step.

Enforced thaw times

A countdown starts when a jar leaves the fridge. Opening is blocked until the thaw time for that product is complete.

FEFO picking and expiry alerts

The next container to use is always clear. Alerts go out before expiry and when open life is exceeded.

Fridge monitoring with automatic flagging

Wireless sensors log every fridge. An out-of-range reading raises an alarm and flags each container exposed to it.

Audit reports in PDF

Reports by lot, container, line or date range, ready to hand to a customer auditor or your own quality review.

Automatic replenishment

Minimum stock per product, with alerts or order requests sent straight to your supplier before you run short.

Roles and permissions

Admin, supervisor and operator roles for each company, so people see and change only what their job requires.

Limits configurable per product

Storage range, thaw time, refrigerated shelf life and open life are set per product by your quality team, in the app.

Multi-site and multi-line

Manage several plants, lines and fridges from one account, with views by site for local teams.

Mobile app for the shop floor

Operators scan, check thaw status and receive alerts from a phone or a rugged handheld at the line.

Consumption analytics

Usage by line and product, material scrapped through expiry, and the cost of waste, so you can order and plan with real numbers.

Multilingual by design

Each user works in their own language, so plants in different countries share one consistent process.

Handling rules, built in

The guidance from the data sheet, applied to every jar.

Defaults follow common solder material manufacturer guidance. Your quality team can set its own limits for each product, and SolderTrace enforces them on every scan.

  • Aligned with IPC-1782 traceability practices
  • Supports IPC J-STD-005 handling guidelines for solder paste
  • Helps you meet customer audit requirements with a complete record
Typical defaults. Always configurable per product.
Storage temperature0 to 10 °CAlarm and automatic flagging outside the range
Refrigerated shelf lifeAbout 6 monthsTaken from the manufacturer's data for each product
Thaw time3 to 4 hoursAt room temperature, with no applied heat
Opened containersNever back in the fridgeReturn scan is blocked once a jar is opened
LabelingDate and time of openingRecorded on scan and printed on the label
Stock rotationFirst-expired, first-outNext container suggested on every pick
The platform

Your whole cold chain on one screen.

Supervisors see every fridge, every container and every alert in real time. Operators see only what they need to do next.

Plant 1 / Storage overview 1 alarm
Fridge F-01 In range
3.8 °C
14 containers · 24 h range 3.4–4.3 °C
Fridge F-02 In range
4.2 °C
9 containers · 24 h range 3.9–4.6 °C
Fridge F-03 Out of range
11.6 °C
6 containers flagged · door open 18 min
ContainerProductStatusLocationTime left
J-0187SAC305 solder paste, 500 gThawingLine 3 bench2:41 to open
J-0179SAC305 solder paste, 500 gOpenLine 1 printer17 h open life
F-0042Tacky flux, 10 cc syringeStoredFridge F-01Use next (FEFO)
J-0164Low-temp solder paste, 500 gFlaggedFridge F-03Review required
J-0121SAC305 solder paste, 500 gExpiredQuarantineDisposition pending
Illustration with sample data.Available in the browser, on tablets and on phones.
Who it's for

Built for teams that print solder paste every day.

EMS providers

Show every customer the same documented process, whatever the product or the plant, and answer audit questions with a report instead of a binder.

SMT production lines

Keep printers supplied with paste that is in spec, at the right temperature and inside its open life, shift after shift.

Contract manufacturers

Handle materials consigned by different customers side by side, with separate lots, limits and reports for each.

Quality managers

Set the limits, review alarms and dispositions, and export the records auditors ask for.

Line supervisors

See what is thawing, what is open and what runs out next, across every line and fridge.

Operators

Scan, follow the prompt, and know which container to take without reading a log sheet.

Security

Your production data stays yours.

  • Isolated company dataEach company's records are kept separate from every other customer's.
  • Role-based accessAdmins decide who can view, scan, change limits or approve a disposition.
  • Complete activity logEvery scan, change and approval is recorded with the user and the time.
  • Encrypted connectionsAll traffic between devices and the platform travels over encrypted connections.
  • Export at any timeDownload your records whenever you need them, in standard formats.
Integrations

Connects with the systems on your floor.

MESMaterial status shared with your manufacturing execution system
ERPProducts, lots and purchase orders synced with SAP and other ERPs
Temperature sensorsWireless fridge sensors with continuous logging
Label printersQR labels printed at receipt and at opening
Barcode and QR scannersStandard handheld readers or phone cameras
Supplier ordersShipments arrive preloaded with lot and expiry data
REST APIRead and write records from your own applications
WebhooksPush alarms and events to the tools your team uses
FAQ

Questions quality teams ask us.

Does SolderTrace work with any brand of solder paste?

Yes. You can register products from any manufacturer and set their limits. Inventec Amtech products supplied by 4allfix arrive preloaded with lot and expiry data from your order.

Which materials can we manage besides solder paste?

Tacky flux, solder wire, solder balls, board and stencil cleaning products and conformal coatings. Each product type carries its own storage and handling limits.

What hardware do we need?

A phone, tablet or standard barcode scanner to scan containers, and a label printer for QR labels. Wireless temperature sensors are added to each fridge for continuous monitoring.

What happens when a fridge goes out of range?

The platform raises an alarm to the people you choose and flags every container that was in that fridge during the excursion. Flagged material is held until a supervisor or quality manager records a decision.

How does it handle expired paste?

Expired containers are flagged and moved to a held status. Your team records whether each one is re-certified under your procedure or scrapped, and the decision stays on the container's history.

Is SolderTrace certified to IPC standards?

SolderTrace is aligned with IPC-1782 traceability practices and supports IPC J-STD-005 handling guidelines. It gives you the complete, consistent record that helps you meet customer audit requirements.

Can we start with one line or one fridge?

Yes. Many teams start with a single line, then add fridges, lines and sites from the same account as they go.

How is SolderTrace offered?

SolderTrace is offered as a subscription. Contact our team for a proposal based on your sites, lines and material volume.

Request a demo

See SolderTrace with your own materials.

Tell us about your lines and the materials you store. We will walk you through the platform using your products and limits.

  • A walkthrough of the full jar lifecycle
  • Your thaw times, storage ranges and open life loaded in
  • A sample audit report for one of your lots
🇺🇸 +1
Materials you store
We use your details only to arrange the demo.