Registrant Code:     M24495 
Expiration Date:      04/30/2011

Click here to view Certification

Know Your Risks
Confusion when it comes to ITAR can lead to enormous penalties, especially when it pertains to the outsourcing of sensitive materials to unauthorized countries.

The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is a set of regulations that govern the export and re-export of certain controlled commodities, services, and, most importantly, technologies. 

United States Munition List
In order to be controlled under ITAR as a defense article, a given component, subcomponent, part, assembly, subassembly, or integrated system must have been specifically designed, developed, configured, adapted, or modified for a military application controlled under the United States Munitions List. 

EMS Providers
ITAR is extremely important to your business as well as to your OEM customers. One of the biggest penalties can be a business shutdown while government investigates potential ITAR violations, which can often take months of inactivity while the government seizes computers, servers, and product.

Domestic Assembly
For those PCBA or Contract Manufacturers who do no international business, there are still unexpected compliance risks such as foreign nationals working for you whom have access to work on technologically-sensitive projects.

Furthermore, you may think that you are receiving US-made product because you are buying from a domestically located supplier. However, many US-based PCB suppliers also have an offshore brokerage side sourcing product from Asia for domestic distribution.

CAD /CAM Intellectual Property
Domestic companies outsourcing their IT project management for their networks must alert that provider that they have Export Control Information. This is an intellectual property issue.

This also applies to PCBDesigners seeking CAD/CAM software support that may give access of their computer to the support desk that might be based in a foreign country. That’s an export and a licensable event. 

Know Your PCB Supply Chain
Come into Saturn anytime if you’d like to inspect your boards during production. If a company is not willing to make this offer, regardless of being ITAR registered, then they may potentially be producing your product elsewhere.

No matter the administration, International Traffic in Arms Regulation rules will not fundamentally change. Export controls are here to stay. A common misconception is that this is in response to 9/11.

But ITAR is not enforced solely due to the threat of terrorism. ITAR is looking ahead. It is imperative that we keep sensitive military and space technology away from potential enemies. 

SEC, ITAR PCB Fabricator
Exporting critical technology requires dedication. Saturn Electronics Corporation has a proven track record of staying at the forefront of industry certifications critical to our customers.

As the first PCB Manufacturer in North America to be TS16949 certified as well attaining AS9100 certification, Saturn is deeply committed to quality. We realize that ITAR PCB manufacturing is more than simply following a set of government regulations.

ITAR Printed Circuit Boards
The Printed Circuit Board falls under Item 14—Categoy II of the United States Munitions List. 

Item 14 - Category II

Analog-to-digital converters, usable in the system in Item 1, having either of the following characteristics:

• Designed to meet military specifications for ruggedized equipment (see § 121.1, Category XI(d)); or,

• Designed or modified for military use (see § 121.1, Category XI(d)); and being one of the following types:

  • Analog-to-digital converter ‘‘microcircuits,’’ which are ‘‘radiation hardened’’ or have all of the following characteristics:

    • Having a resolution of 8 bits or more;

    • Rated for operation in the temperature range from below minus 54 degrees C to above plus 125 degrees C; and

    • Hermetically sealed.

  • Electrical input type analog-to-digital converter printed circuit boards or modules, with all of the following characteristics:

    • Having a resolution of 8 bits or more;

    • Rated for operation in the temperature range from below minus 45 degrees C to above plus 55 degrees C; and;  f

    • Incorporated "microcircuits" listed in above

Further Reading
ITAR links specific PCB fabrication and electronic manufacturing as well as broader ranging ones focusing on documentation, etc.

ITAR—Making the Commitment to Excellence 
By : Scott Grossman of Military & Aerospace Electronics

Managing Export-Controlled Data in The Cloud 
By: Marsha McIntyre of Information Week

U.S. Must Fast-Track Policy on Rare Earth Materials 
By : Nicolas Mokhoff of EE Times

Rare Earth Materials in the Defense Supply Chain 
By : United States Government Accountability Office (GAO)