Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1494936
40 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2023 CHIPs Act and Government Funding Happy Holden: Matt, when you say a higher dollar volume panel, what dimensions are there? Is that more layers, finer lines, smaller holes, and higher aspect ratios, or special things like cavities or plated edges that would provide higher dollars per panel? Yes, it would be more layers, different copper weights, thinner materials, controlled imped- ance, smaller holes, finer lines, filled vias, blind/buried vias, and more gold surface finishes on our core products. We will continue to advance with the microwave and RF products, those with the real fine and intricate two-layer products built on the Rogers materials. ese have decent dollars per panel, especially due to the panel sizes being so small that even the dollars per square inch are relatively high. Staffing and Automation Matties: In our previous conversations you have mentioned employee turnover and train- ing as an area of concern. How have you addressed those? We're still struggling to get employees when we need them. It feels like we always have two or three openings that we need to fill. at level of unfilled positions is not too bad com- pared to some other local manufacturers, but it is definitely a change from a few years ago. It seems to take much longer to find a good fit—both for the work and for the culture of Sunstone. Matties: As you're in a rural area, location might be a concern; it limits your pool to draw from. e good news is we're centered among three good-sized communities, which makes the local interest pretty good. e rural aspect does present several challenges; we're not on a major bus route—the bus only runs eight to 10 hours a day—so it's not a viable option for those on the off-shi who don't have reliable transportation. Matties: What would be your labor savings if you had that automated plating line? Would the three job openings still exist? We could probably reduce labor by a person or maybe two if we had an automated plating line; we're running about two plating operators per shi, so we might effec- tively be able to either repur- pose or reduce headcount by a couple people with an auto- mated plating line, but the real benefits are in the quality and consistency of the product. Matties: You would see quality improvement, of course, because every time you bring in new people it magnifies the potential for error. Yes, and it would improve our waste treat- ment processes by having a more automated solution. With all the bells and whistles on the rinses and everything else, it would make it more consistent. Matties: Right, and then if you automate the dosing, you eliminate all that handling of chemistry as well. You have the safety, extra handling, liing, everything—you're right. Matties: There you go; you do have some choices, though you mentioned the lack of U.S. suppliers. You have some hopeful choices who are committed to supporting the U.S. market as well. We appreciate our long-term partnerships. We're still struggling to get employees when we need them.