102 PCB007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2023
During the
past few years,
the ability to
choose to work
from home or
the office has
become a hot
topic. When
the pandemic was at its peak, working
from home had obvious advantages.
For many, it was a necessity, and then it
became the norm. Now, employers are
moving many positions back to the cor-
porate office. Which is better for you?
In two previous col-
umns, I explored sever-
al of the key competen-
cies and processes re-
quired to successfully
jump into IC substrates.
In this edition, the key
process of desmear will
be explored. These processing steps require ad-
ditional improvements over normal through-holes
due to small diameter through-holes and blind
vias. Getting process chemistries down into these
small holes can be very difficult, especially if they
have any trapped air bubbles.
After years of planning, Schweitzer Engineering Labora-
tories is now manufacturing printed circuit boards in its
new $100 million captive facility in Moscow, Idaho. I
recently toured the facility with Engineering Director
John Hendrickson, who managed the design and setup
of the greenfield site, along with Mike Brask, president
of Integrated Process Systems (IPS), a key supplier for
the new Moscow facility.
The Shaughnessy Report: Developing a Strategy
How does a leader plan a strategy? In a field of competitors offer-
ing basically the same services, how can your company differentiate
itself? Will you be a cost leader, or focus on serving a niche market
such as medical or defense? As we learn in the August 2023 issue of
PCB007 Magazine, one question that successful leaders need to ask
themselves is, "What do I not want my company to be?"
Trouble in Your Tank: Processes to
Support IC Substrates and Advanced
Packaging, Part 3
Fein-Lines: The Road Less
Traveled—Working From
Home or the Office?
A Look Inside SEL's New PCB Factory
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