Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1443477
38 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2022 manufacturers. For example, companies are currently facing a shortage of magnesium, which has become a very important material used to save weight in vehicles. Several board manufacturing companies have tried to broaden their customer base and reduce their dependency on the automo- tive business. Our focus markets are medical, industrial, and aerospace/defense, which have been more stable, so we've not shied as much. Johnson: What do you see as the direction for the European market in the next two years? Fritz: e move toward e-mobility will defi- nitely create the need for adaptation as new requirements have to be fulfilled. e imple- mentation of 5G will also have a significant influence on development and manufacturing activities. Base materials with adjusted dielec- tric properties will be needed. Combined with new manufacturing methods like mSAP and SAP, these materials will be enablers of improved performance and signal integrity. In our core markets we see an increasing demand for more sophisticated applications. Johnson: How do these changes guide R&D? Are there specific new projects you can dis- cuss? Fritz: As mentioned, we are looking into new and improved materials and production pro- cesses. is will enable us to provide products with enhanced performance, a higher level of functional integration and signal integrity. Johnson: ank you, Karl-Heinz, for sharing these insights. Fritz: ank you, Nolan. PCB007