ABSTRACT In the past and nowadays, persons have always been the main sources of electrostatic charges. All movements and acts of persons generate electrostatic body voltages. Employees of an electronic manufacture must be aware of this. Normally, sufficient ESD control steps are already realized to discharge possible existing electrostatic charges and to avoid their generation either. Persons may be controlled. Machines and the automatic handling process as well become more and more important as another risk source of electrostatic charges. Caused by the permanent movement of electronic components, charges are divided (charge separation) and electrostatic charges are generated. The movement processes are realized quickly. PWBs are further significant charge sources. Their large surfaces and their capacity may store large charges. New failure models (CBM, FICBM) are just only the beginning.