Dry cabinet for electronic components: store SMD, ICs and reels safely dry
Electronic components such as ICs, BGAs, QFPs and other SMD packages absorb moisture from the ambient air. During reflow soldering this moisture can cause package cracking and delamination. A dry cabinet keeps components at low humidity after the dry bags have been opened and so protects quality and yield. smt-Sander is a specialist supplier of dry storage in Potsdam, Germany; this page shows which cabinet fits which components and quantities.
Which components belong in the dry cabinet?
- Moisture-sensitive SMD components (MSD) such as ICs, BGAs and QFPs
- Components on reels, in trays and in magazines
- Components whose floor life is running after the bag has been opened
- Partly used reels between two setups
The basics of MSL and floor life are explained in the article Storing MSD correctly under IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033.
Which humidity do electronic components need?
| Series | Humidity | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| X2B | < 5% RH | Standard MSD, SMD reels and components |
| F1 | < 1% RH | Particularly sensitive components, customer specifications |
| A1B | adjustable 1 to 50% RH | Different materials and specifications |
| QB / QS | adjustable 1 to 50% RH | If nitrogen is available |
For standard MSD, below 5% RH is usually sufficient. According to the manufacturer's datasheet, a cabinet of this class meets the storage requirements of the IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033 standard. The specifications of your component manufacturers remain decisive.
How much space do you need?
Guideline values for upright 7-inch reels with narrow tapes (8 to 12 mm), rounded down:
| Model | Volume | Shelves (size) | Guideline 7" reels |
|---|---|---|---|
| X2B-200 | 202 l | 2 (555 × 530 mm) | approx. 80 |
| X2B-400 | 411 l | 3 (555 × 530 mm) | approx. 120 |
| X2B-600 | 624 l | 5 (555 × 530 mm) | approx. 200 |
| X2B-1200-6 | 1250 l | 5 (1155 × 530 mm) | approx. 430 |
With 13-inch reels and wider tapes there are considerably fewer. The selection guide gives you a recommendation for your number of reels. More help is in the guide Which dry cabinet fits?.
Organizing reels, trays and small parts
Drawers for reels (54 pieces of 7" or 27 pieces of 13" per drawer), drawers without and with dividers and colorful storage bins keep things organized and shorten the time with the door open. For reel management at the line there is the Smart Reel cabinet X2B-1106-1, and for storing feeders the CE-170. Everything is on the dry cabinets page.
Monitoring and documentation
An alarm when limits are exceeded, the reminder to calibrate the hygrometer after 365 days and data loggers help in audits. IoT variants for remote monitoring are available for the F1 and X2B series.
Resetting floor life
If you need to bake components regularly, the T50A and T70A baking dry cabinets save a separate oven and let you keep the components dry in the same cabinet afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Which dry cabinet is right for SMD components?
For standard MSD, a humidity below 5% RH is usually sufficient (X2B series). Choose below 1% RH (F1 series) for particularly sensitive components or customer specifications. The selection guide on our dry cabinets page gives a recommendation for your reels.
How many reels fit in a dry cabinet?
As a guideline for upright 7-inch reels with narrow tapes, rounded down: X2B-200 about 80, X2B-400 about 120, X2B-600 about 200 and X2B-1200-6 about 430 reels. With 13-inch reels and wide tapes there are considerably fewer. We confirm the exact loading before the quote.
Can I store reels, trays and small parts in the same cabinet?
Yes. Reels can be organized in slotted drawers (54 pieces of 7" or 27 pieces of 13" per drawer); for trays and small parts there are drawers without slots and with dividers as well as storage bins. We clarify which options fit your model when you inquire.
Do I need nitrogen for a dry cabinet?
No. Electric dry cabinets dehumidify without a gas connection. A nitrogen cabinet is mainly worthwhile if your facility already has a nitrogen supply.
Inquiry
Tell us which components you store, how many reels and which humidity is required: info@smt-sander.de. You will receive a recommendation and a quote. Do you also store PCBs? Then read Dry cabinet for PCBs.
Note: Guideline values do not replace advice. The datasheets and the component manufacturers' specifications are decisive. As of: 24.10.2026.
Hügelweg 27a · 14469 Potsdam, Germany
+49 155 68087797 · info@smt-sander.de