Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1484263
58 PCB007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2022 range from standard commod- ity HDI products to mSAP and SLP substrates, but these are all copper-clad materi- als. Hence, we've been evolv- ing and adapting the platform toward an additional ABF- specific configuration for the FCBGA market with a future plan to expand in that market. To be clear, we already serve some portion of the ABF- based market with the higher end of the Geode via drill- ing system configurations, but there's effort to focus more specifically on that product range and market segment. As we move forward, we'll certainly be sharing more details. Johnson: Are you finding more willingness to invest uniformly across the globe? Templeton: Yes, we're seeing it all over. It's not regionally dependent. As Chris was say- ing, we have a solid platform with our prod- ucts to address the HDI and mSAP markets, but our customers are saying, "Our investment has increasingly shied to IC substrate; do you have a solution for me there?" With some minor adjustments to our system architec- ture, we can have a compelling product in that space. It has been driving some of our develop- ment and focus in the rigid panel space. When it comes to flex, we have multiple legs of the stool that support demand for our products. Johnson: When the pandemic started, you had a good idea that those applications would lead the way. Has that shied and changed? Templeton: Has it changed? Primarily, that time was driven by 5G. We were looking to make sure everything had the right components, such as antennas, the bay stations, etc. I don't think that it's shied much since then. Ryder: e pandemic created more demand for high-power, high-performance comput- ing , or " HPC." That's cer- tainly been a driver behind the FCBGA and ABF upward trend. Development in this market was there before the pandemic, but the focus has grown and accelerated demand since. Johnson: As well as the cloud- based data centers, and core streaming content? Ryder: Yes. Servers, HPC, and data centers have definitely seen growth. ere has been an uptick in demand over the last couple of years. On the other hand, our customers have become more thoughtful about which technol- ogies to invest in, as well as the timing of these investments. is has somewhat changed the technology adoption pace of the past decade or so. Johnson: It would seem to imply it's slowing down and getting conservative. Ryder: Not necessarily. Manufacturers are looking to react more swily to present trends vs. second guessing long-term trends. Our cus- tomers, for example, are looking for shorter lead times on our equipment to facilitate more timely decisions on when to execute for prod- uct integration, product implementation, and time to market. ere have been some areas in the industry where we've succeeded by having a quicker response to those demands. When customers decide to pull the trigger on a proj- ect, they can't deal with a one-year lead time for a manufacturing tool. Our agility has been beneficial for us. Johnson: ere are places in the market where it looks like we're on the verge of some aggres- Chris Ryder