Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1491409
32 SMT007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2023 Johnson: What did you see as the critical capa- bilities to add? Smith: Wet process, but it's also imaging. You must be able to image with the best equip- ment in order to get down to these lines and spaces. en you've got to have the right laser drill. We have a combo laser that is capable of going down to 4-mil and 3-mil laser holes. To be able to metallize those types of holes, the older lasers are very limited as to what they can do. So, I think laser drilling, imaging, and having the proper test equipment will be the key areas to drive this. We will be testing 8-mil pads and smaller, so you must have testing equipment that is capable of doing this type of technology, and doing it quickly. To me that is very important. Johnson: Based on the experience that you've just had, what's your advice for others in the industry who might be looking to put in a new line or a new facility like you did? Patel: My advice is to buy a facility that is cur- rently opera t i o n a l , g u t i t d o w n , a n d put in all the equipment you want because the regu- latory requirements and inspections from the city, and the state, as well as the EPA licenses, the wastewater treatment applications—it's horrific. If I had it to do over again, I would have bought another facility and upgraded; I could have been operational in a year. Johnson: Any advice in how to go about select- ing equipment? Patel: Have a team that can think five to 10 years in the future. Nobody can predict the future, but at least they have an idea about the direction the future is headed. Build out a man- agement team that has a lot of experience and understanding about where the technology is going. at is crucial because it dictates the kind of equipment you buy and what its capa- bilities are. Ryan: We also have to look at how well the sup- plier is going to support you aer the install. For example, we chose our wastewater treat- ment system based on the fact that when we are closed, they will still monitor the system. Once the install is done, who will support you long term? Who has a reputation in the indus- try? Who stands behind their equipment? If we need repairs, how will we do it? Where is your parts warehouse? Are we flying in parts from Germany every time something breaks down? Johnson: at sounds like general advice for anyone looking to do this: don't just focus on getting the right equipment but consider other factors like guaranteeing uptime so that your factory is not taken down by a key piece of equipment. Any cautionary tales from this whole experience? Ryan: You need to consider all the regulatory work to start a fresh building. at has prob- ably been the biggest headache. It wasn't so LAUFFER Pressen vacuum multilayer lamination press.