The central region of a leadframe (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801,
901, 1001, 1101, 1201), is selectively etched to leave upright portions
(104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704, 804, 904, 1004, 1104, 1204).
Subsequently, during the packaging process, an integrated circuit (3) is
located on the central region of the leadframe, and wires (107) are
formed between the upright portions of the leadframe and contacts (5) of
the integrated circuit (3), which are to be grounded. Subsequently, the
wires and upright portions of the leadframe are encased in resin (116).
Since the upright portions of the leadframe are encased in resin, the
resin (116) is mechanically locked to the leadframe. Furthermore, any
delamination that occurs between the resin (116) and the leadframe cannot
propagate easily up the sides of the upright portions as far as the wires
(107), so the wires (107) are unlikely to be torn from the upright
portions (104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704, 804, 904, 1004, 1104, 1204).
Any adhesive that leaks from under the integrated circuit (3) when the
integrated circuit (3) is mounted on the leadframe, is most unlikely to
cover any part of the upper surface of the upright portions.