Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1330321
32 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2021 Feature Interview by Nolan Johnson I-CONNECT007 I recently spoke with Brendan Hogan about the upcoming new product releases from MivaTek. The conversation flows naturally from the new product's market drivers to the X=X c – 1 idea that is at the core of the mar- ket drivers. Nolan Johnson: Brendan, I wanted to follow up and get your take on what is happening with imaging from your spot in the industry. Ad- ditionally, our 2021 theme at I-Connect007 is continuous improvement. We are using the tag line "X=X c – 1." The idea is that when we take one iteration out and improve those small steps throughout, we can start to create more efficiencies, better margins, more throughput. And when we've done it once, chances are good we can do it another time. Brendan Hogan: Our point of development is right in that mix. Direct imaging eliminates several steps in the manufacturing process— phototools and manual registration is now ob- solete. With the advent of Miva's Quad-wave technology the same machine can "image any- thing" and without significant operator in- tervention. Direct imaging brings a certain- ty to the imaging process. Most of Europe and North America, let's say, have some form of di- rect imaging which has improved the imaging process and capabilities. What Miva is focused on is solving the next element in the certain- ty question; total process certainty with digital imaging can influence plating quality, adapt to new scaling issues that result from the exot- ic material sets that are increasingly becoming less than "exotic." How are we going to handle the technical demands three to five years out? Miva Technologies has a great track record of working with companies and institutions de- veloping new methods of manufacturing for technologies that will be on factory floors in the 3-5-year range. Miva Technologies intended to demonstrate and announce its next technology offering at the IPC APEX EXPO in March. Unfortunately, due to COVID, a live trade show isn't going to happen for the first time in my 35-year ca- reer. Miva Technologies and its sister company MivaTek's New Technology and Market Drivers