Board A+ Grade (Industrial and enterprise Board) buying scrap price

Introduction, Construction, Components, and Recycling Value

The A+ Grade classification is not limited to one specific circuit board model. A Siemens PLC CPU board, a Fanuc CNC controller, an Apple laptop logic board, a multi-processor server motherboard, and a high-density industrial communication board may look completely different, but they can receive the same A+ Grade buying price when they satisfy the same Ohata inspection and classification requirements.

Therefore, the model number alone does not determine the recycling grade. Brand recognition may help identify the original application, but the final grade is based on the board’s construction, component density, socket configuration, industrial use, completeness, cleanliness, and recoverable material value.

Under the Ohata system, typical A+ Grade products include PLC CPU boards, CNC machine control boards, industrial automation boards, robotics controllers, medical equipment boards, Apple laptop logic boards, SATA hard-drive controller boards, selected WiFi or M.2 boards with gold fingers, middle-grade telecommunications boards, densely populated full-IC boards, and large multi-CPU server motherboards.

Construction of A+ Grade Boards

Most A+ Grade circuit boards are manufactured using multilayer FR-4 construction. Instead of containing only simple surface wiring, these boards may contain numerous internal copper layers used for signal transmission, power distribution, grounding, processor communication, and industrial control functions.

Industrial and enterprise boards are often designed to operate continuously under demanding conditions. For that reason, they may use thicker copper planes, higher-quality laminates, stronger solder joints, industrial-grade capacitors, precision connectors, shielded communication sections, and more durable component mounting than ordinary household appliance boards.

A+ Grade boards frequently contain:

• Large processors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or BGA control chips

• Multiple memory chips or removable memory modules

• Industrial communication controllers

• Programmable logic devices, FPGAs, ASICs, and interface processors

• Gold-plated edge connectors and board-to-board connectors

• High-density integrated circuits

• Industrial Ethernet, fieldbus, serial, optical, or machine-control interfaces

• Large CPU sockets or multi-processor configurations

• Voltage-regulation circuits with copper coils, MOSFETs, and power-control components

• Multilayer ceramic capacitors and high-quality tantalum or electrolytic capacitors

A full-IC board with integrated-circuit coverage approaching or exceeding 90 percent may also qualify for A+ Grade, especially when the board contains valuable processors, communication chips, memory devices, and premium connector systems.

Why A+ Grade Boards Have Strong Recycling Value

The recycling value of an A+ Grade board comes from the combined concentration of copper, gold, silver, palladium, tin, nickel, and other recoverable materials. No single component determines the value of the entire board. Instead, the grade reflects the overall recoverable material profile.

Copper is normally the largest recoverable metal by weight. It appears inside PCB layers, power planes, signal traces, inductors, transformers, connectors, and motor-control circuits.

Gold is found in selected edge fingers, processor contacts, connector pins, memory contacts, plated industrial terminals, and microscopic bonding wires inside semiconductor packages. Industrial communication and enterprise boards may contain more gold-plated connection points than ordinary consumer boards because reliable low-resistance contact is essential.

Silver may be present in solder alloys, switches, relays, contacts, conductive pastes, and selected electronic components. Palladium is commonly associated with multilayer ceramic capacitors and certain component terminations. Nickel is used as a barrier or structural plating material beneath gold and other surface finishes.

The high density of semiconductors also contributes to recycling value. Large BGA chips, ceramic packages, older processors, memory devices, and industrial-grade integrated circuits may contain valuable bonding wires and plated internal structures.

A+ Grade should therefore be understood as a balanced high-value category. It is generally below the most premium S, SS, or SSS classifications, but it is more valuable than standard computer motherboards, ordinary expansion cards, consumer appliance boards, and low-density control boards.

Ohata A+ Grade Classification and Identification Guide

Correct identification requires more than reading a manufacturer’s label. The inspector must evaluate the complete board and determine whether its physical and electronic characteristics match the A+ Grade standard.

1. Identify the Original Industry Application

The first step is to determine where the board was used. Strong A+ Grade candidates commonly originate from industrial automation, manufacturing equipment, professional telecommunications, robotics, medical systems, enterprise servers, or specialized computing equipment.

Common A+ Grade manufacturers include Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Rockwell Automation, Mitsubishi Electric, Omron, Fanuc, ABB, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, and Yaskawa Electric.

However, a manufacturer’s name does not automatically guarantee A+ Grade. These companies produce many different products, including simple power boards, terminal boards, relay boards, display boards, and low-density interface boards. Only boards that satisfy the required construction and component-value criteria should be purchased as A+ Grade.

2. PLC and Industrial Automation Boards

PLC CPU boards are among the most recognizable A+ Grade materials. Strong examples include CPU, processor, communication, motion-control, and advanced network modules from Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Mitsubishi, and Omron systems.

A genuine PLC CPU board normally contains a main processor, memory devices, firmware storage, industrial communication controllers, power-management components, and multiple high-quality connectors. Simple PLC terminal boards, relay output boards, empty backplanes, and low-component power boards may not qualify.

The internal board is more important than the outer plastic module. Buyers should inspect the PCB after determining whether removal of the enclosure is permitted and safe. Heavy metal housings, batteries, displays, and unnecessary mechanical attachments may affect the net buying weight.

3. CNC Machine Control Boards

Fanuc, Siemens CNC, and Mitsubishi CNC boards are common A+ Grade candidates. CNC control boards may operate machine tools, servo systems, spindle controls, operator panels, communication networks, or motion-control systems.

High-value CNC boards often contain multiple processors, memory banks, programmable logic devices, industrial connectors, and densely populated control sections. A large Fanuc board with several processors and extensive IC coverage is normally more valuable than a simple Fanuc terminal or power-distribution board.

The inspector must classify the actual PCB rather than relying only on the CNC brand.

4. Telecom Switching and Industrial Network Boards

Middle-grade telecommunications boards, industrial Ethernet controllers, SCADA communication boards, process-control network cards, and industrial switching boards may qualify for A+ Grade.

These boards often contain communication processors, Ethernet controllers, optical interface circuitry, transformers, memory chips, gold-plated connectors, and several large BGA packages.

Very high-density enterprise telecom or optical communication boards may qualify for SS Grade instead. Conversely, low-density telephone boards, basic modem boards, or simple interface cards may fall into B Grade or another lower category.

5. Large Multi-CPU Server Motherboards

Large server motherboards with two or more qualifying CPU sockets may enter A+ Grade when they have substantial component density, enterprise construction, and valuable processor or memory sections.

Socket size and construction are important inspection points. Large CPU socket areas of approximately 5 cm by 5 cm or greater may indicate enterprise or industrial processor platforms. Legacy PGA configurations and certain large non-metal socket structures can carry stronger recycling value than ordinary modern desktop sockets.

Nevertheless, socket count alone is not sufficient. A stripped server board with missing chipsets, missing sockets, severe damage, or very low IC coverage should not automatically receive A+ pricing.

Single-socket server motherboards are generally classified below A+ unless another qualifying A+ characteristic is present.

6. Apple Laptop Logic Boards

Apple laptop logic boards are specifically included as typical A+ Grade materials under the Ohata system. Their value comes from compact multilayer construction, high component density, soldered processors, memory devices, power-management ICs, and premium connectors.

To qualify at full A+ value, the logic board should retain its major CPU, GPU where applicable, chipset, memory, and power-management devices. A heavily stripped Apple board should be downgraded or rejected.

7. Small Gold-Finger Boards and SATA HDD Boards

Selected WiFi, portable WiFi, M.2, and similar small boards with clean gold fingers may qualify for A+ Grade. SATA hard-drive controller boards are also included in the category.

These items are small, but they can offer efficient recoverable value because they contain gold-plated contacts, controller ICs, memory chips, and compact multilayer construction. They should be sorted separately from low-grade peripheral cards and from non-SATA legacy HDD boards that may belong to a different grade.

Recoverable Materials, Buying Standards, and Handling

Ohata purchases printed circuit boards and other electronic scrap through its recycling and digital procurement operations. Customer-facing information states that PCB materials and assorted electronic scrap are accepted, with projects welcomed from a minimum of approximately one pound, subject to inspection and classification.

Buying Standard

A board should be purchased at A+ Grade pricing only when its complete physical condition supports that classification. The following factors are especially important:

Component completeness: Major processors, chipsets, BGA devices, memory chips, communication controllers, sockets, and valuable connectors should remain installed.

Original board integrity: The PCB should not be intentionally cut, crushed, broken, drilled, delaminated, or separated into fragments.

Clean condition: Boards should be reasonably free from mud, excessive dust, oil, chemical residue, corrosive contamination, and unrelated waste.

No severe burning: Boards with major fire damage, carbonization, melted laminates, or destroyed components may be rejected because burning reduces material quality and creates safety concerns.

No hazardous contamination: Boards exposed to dangerous chemicals, radioactive material, biological contamination, asbestos, or unidentified hazardous substances should not enter ordinary purchasing channels.

Correct sorting: A+ Grade boards should be separated from A, B, C, D, appliance, power-supply, and low-grade mixed boards.

Removal of unnecessary attachments: Depending on the buying program, oversized steel frames, heavy aluminum housings, cooling assemblies, plastic enclosures, fans, and unrelated cables may need to be removed or deducted from the payable weight.

Missing Components and Downgrading

A board may originally be an A+ model but still fail A+ inspection if valuable components have been removed.

Examples include:

• Apple logic boards with the CPU or GPU removed

• PLC CPU boards with processor or memory sections stripped

• CNC boards missing large control ICs

• Server motherboards with sockets, chipsets, or major connectors removed

• Industrial boards reduced to nearly empty PCB material

• Gold-finger boards with the gold-plated edge cut away

A removed battery or replaceable storage device does not always cause a downgrade, especially when removal is required for safe transportation. However, removal of major soldered semiconductor components directly affects recoverable value.

Proper Handling

A+ Grade materials should be stored indoors in dry conditions. Boards should not be left exposed to rain, salt water, mud, or corrosive chemicals. Moisture can damage contacts, accelerate oxidation, and add non-material weight.

Small WiFi, M.2, and HDD boards should be stored in sealed containers or strong bags so they are not lost. Larger PLC, CNC, telecom, and server boards should be placed flat in boxes, crates, or on pallets. Excessive stacking pressure should be avoided because industrial boards may contain tall connectors, sockets, relays, and fragile ceramic components.

Lithium batteries should be removed when required by transportation or facility-safety rules. Removed batteries must be packaged and recycled through an appropriate battery-handling process.

Mixed grades should not be combined merely to increase weight. A mixed load requires additional sorting time and can reduce the final buying price. Accurate presorting improves inspection efficiency and helps sellers receive the correct value for premium materials.

Comparison and Official Ohata Classification

A+ Grade occupies an important position between the highest premium electronic boards and ordinary computer or appliance boards.

SS Grade usually includes very high-value telecommunications, optical communication, enterprise switching, cellular base-station, smartphone, and advanced network boards. These boards often contain greater BGA density, more premium processors, higher-grade connectors, and stronger precious-metal concentration than ordinary A+ material.

S Grade commonly includes premium legacy computer boards, boards with three or more ceramic processors, and selected older non-SATA HDD boards. Their value may be driven by ceramic CPU packages, older gold-rich manufacturing practices, and extensive gold edge connectors.

A+ Grade includes advanced industrial and enterprise boards with strong technical complexity and recoverable value but without the exceptional material concentration required for S or SS Grade. It covers qualifying PLC CPU boards, CNC controllers, industrial network boards, robotics controls, medical boards, Apple laptop logic boards, large multi-CPU server motherboards, SATA HDD boards, and high-density full-IC boards.

A Grade generally includes non-Apple laptop motherboards, large single-socket server motherboards, clean gold-finger cards, optical-drive controller boards, backplanes, and other high-quality computer boards with lower average precious-metal concentration.

B Grade and lower classifications include medium-value computer boards, lower-grade telecom boards, ordinary desktop motherboards, stripped expansion cards, low-density peripherals, consumer motherboards, and appliance-control boards.

Official Ohata A+ Grade Classification Statement

A circuit board may be officially classified and purchased as Ohata A+ Grade Board Scrap when it demonstrates the construction, industry application, component density, processor or control complexity, connector quality, and recoverable material value associated with advanced industrial and enterprise electronics.

The A+ classification applies to the physical board being inspected, not merely to its model name, manufacturer, catalogue description, or original selling price.

Different models can receive the same A+ Grade price when they meet the same buying standard. Likewise, two boards with the same model number may receive different prices when one is complete and clean while the other is stripped, broken, burned, contaminated, or mixed with lower-grade material.

Final grading is therefore determined by inspection of the delivered material. Accepted A+ boards should remain complete, recognizable, clean, safely handled, and correctly separated. Boards that exceed A+ characteristics may be reviewed for S or SS Grade, while boards that fail the A+ standard must be downgraded to the appropriate lower category or rejected when their condition creates safety or processing problems.

This material-based approach ensures consistent pricing, protects the integrity of the Ohata classification system, and allows every qualifying industrial, enterprise, telecom, server, robotics, medical, CNC, PLC, Apple, WiFi, M.2, and SATA HDD board to be valued according to its actual recycling quality rather than its name alone.

View more Ohata's circuit board recycling classifications

Board SS Grade (high value telecom Board)

Board S Grade (high-end computer Board)

Board A+ Grade (Industrial and enterprise Board)

Board A Grade (premium computer Board)

Board B Grade (medium value board)

Board C Grade (Lower Premium Board)

Board D Grade (Lower computer Board)