Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1520956
32 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2024 force are huge factors, but the product quality and reliability are the same. So, why not make it in a more modern way? Tesla is using this tech- nology. Generally, the customer adopting this technology creates a huge market advantage for themselves to either revolutionize their prod- uct, gain a competitive cost advantage, or both. Milena: And it's much quicker. We are talking about price, digitalization, and sustainability, but time-to-market is also saved with just one process step. Hans: It also saves on your footprint, your floor space. ere is the initial investment in the equipment, but it is about the total cost of ownership. It's a much simpler process with more reliability. It's the same or better yield, and the manufacturing time of the product is much shorter. Beyond PCB: Market Applications Milena, we are focusing on PCB fabrication and inkjet solder mask printing more specifi- cally, but can you give a brief overview of different applications where inkjet process technology can be used? Milena: ere are many: etch resist, plating resist, legend, solder mask, and metallization, using things like silver ink. Sometimes, you can do two things at once, even sometimes with the same ink, for example, etch resist and plating resist. Our ink suppliers are continually working on developing better inks, and inks that can be used for several applications. For PCB manufacturing, we are doing mostly etch resist, solder mask, and legend. Hans: In other industries, for example the punching blade for the punching industry, we do the magnetic steel, etching, and printing. We work in the photochemical milling (PCMI) industry. ey're using LDI and the same etch- ing, developing, and stripping equipment that is used in the PCB industry. e machine can even be used for gold plating and gold mask. What do you find most exciting about being in the industry right now? Hans: SAT has grown every year, and we are still growing. In terms of people, we have nearly doubled in size over the last five years. We are the biggest distributor in Europe now. We have fun with it, and we have happy cus- tomers. Doing this makes me happy. Milena: I like that we are different than most shops where everything is standardized. From others, you must buy precisely what is pre- sented. If the customer wants to have some- thing in a slightly different way, the answer is, "I'm sorry, we don't have 'it' like that." We pro- vide customized solutions. We work with our customers to develop new solutions and new ways of creating. at is the most exciting thing about this job and SAT. Thank you both for your time today and for helping educate us all. Milena: ank you, Marcy. PCB007 Figure 6: Conventional cavity fills vs. peeling etch resist ink machine.