Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1467744
36 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2022 you know, remove quite a few process steps in a smaller foot- print. Matties: Is zero waste an issue out there for people? Is this a driving topic for people? Reckert: Not yet. Not for the existing facilities that already have a process in place for dealing with the wastewater. It's not their priority. But for a greenfield plant, it's a very sexy proposition. Matties: When someone says automation, there's this image of a lights-out factory. Reckert: I think there's resis- tance to really investing in automation. Over the last couple decades, people have thought automation was just a necessary evil; what does it really add to the value of the cir- cuit board that we're selling to the customer? But that resistance is weakening. e first couple steps of automation is to put on a loader/unloader; this is typically how people have thought. To be honest, it's not just about putting a loader/unloader in front of a piece of equipment. But again, in the Bay Area you'll see firms put in these wet process machines and they have never even considered budgeting space for automation. is was the mentality until not too long ago. Johnson: Are they willing to retrofit if it's pos- sible? Reckert: at interest is coming up now. at's why I brought up the topic initially, because there is that interest. How do we take the small footprint that we have in front of our developer or etcher before, let's say, the DES (develop- etch-strip) line? How do we automate loading in layers and unloading from our wet process equipment, with the small footprint that we have available? Johnson: e major theme here is automa- tion and WIP handling are the big issues, to the point that pursuing additional competitive capabilities takes a back seat to actually getting work out the door, period. Reckert: I agree. Johnson: Torsten, this has been eye-opening. ere are some different perspectives to look at here that I would not have anticipated. Matties: We appreciate you, Torsten, very much. ank you. Reckert: ank you. PCB007 Automatic mylar peeler is needed prior to DES (from Sowotech).