Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1433652
30 SMT007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2021 e same applies to the stackup. If we are talking about raw material, the stackup is quite important, so we discuss it with the China of- fice; we are saving so much time by knowing different stackups, discussing with the suppli- er, and finding the best stackup for the custom- er. We link in with the PCB designers. Matties: What trends are you seeing in orders? Chauvet: Overall, I don't know if it is increas- ing, but with more electronic everything, this should be the trend. We are clearly getting more orders. Matties: at's good news, for sure. What ad- vice are you giving customers who are search- ing for their boards right now? Chauvet: Good question. My advice is to build a partnership with the supplier. In the past, it was more like a buyer's market, where the buy- ers had the power. When the supplier tried to increase their price, the buyer would just switch to another supplier. It is totally different now. In Asia, and especially in China, the mar- ket is stressed, and they are struggling to find the raw material. ey are struggling with hav- ing electricity, so the factory will shut down one or two days a week. Just putting pressure on the supplier doesn't really work, and some- times it's doing the opposite. We have a long- term partnership with the factory so we can discuss with them about finding available raw material spots, and they will help us. Matties: Are you seeing any shi in customers wanting to have boards built in other countries other than China where maybe it's regionally more advantageous to them? Chauvet: Yes. ey ask for a lot of quotations from suppliers in America, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Because of the 25% tariffs in China, cus- tomers are trying to find a better solution, but it really depends on the technology. Even with the tariff, it's not always easy to find a better so- lution outside of China. Matties: Well, this is where your organization is strong; you have a network of over 500 people around the world, to help the customer shi to a different supplier. Chauvet: Yes. We already help with that, and the lab is helping a lot. We like to say, "Just send us a current PCB. We will analyze it and check to be sure the specifications are built ac- cording to the new specification." We know that some products are five years old, specifica- Ionic contamination— SCS Alpha Metals 500M Ionograph. Microsection— Keyence VHX 7000.