MAY 2024 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 95
Alex Stepinski,
inventor, entre-
preneur, and
sustainability
activist, talks to
Barry Matties
and Marcy LaRont about his business
priorities for 2024 and what the market,
particularly aerospace and defense,
needs for orders to be filled.
The global printed circuit board indus-
try is in an unprecedented transforma-
tion, driven by a confluence of tech-
nological advancements, shifting mar-
ket dynamics, and geopolitical factors.
As the demand for advanced electron-
ics continues to soar, investment in
the PCB sector is witnessing a remark-
able uptick, with notable developments
reshaping the landscape.
In my last column, I reviewed some relatively sim-
ple ways to reduce water usage in existing etch
systems: cutting down cooling coil water flow,
adding chillers to replace plant water for cool-
ing, lowering flow rate nozzles for rinses, etc.
This month, I'll continue with more ways to con-
trol water usage in your etcher. Most of these are
not easily retrofittable to existing equipment but
should be given serious consideration when new
equipment is contemplated.
Summit President and CEO
Shane Whiteside takes a
few moments to share his
thoughts on the growing
PCB industry in the United
States. Among his many
observations, he states
that he sees an increase in the North American
electronics sector due primarily to an increased
awareness by OEMs and political leaders on the
need to mitigate supply chain risk.
Joe McGurran, product marketing direc-
tor for MKS Atotech, looks into the future
of surface finishes, discussing less nickel,
reduced thickness, technologies influ-
encing HDI and UHDI, and the benefits
of nickel-free surface finishes. He also
touches on popular finishes like ENIG and
palladium immersion gold and discusses
the value proposition of making a change.
In this interview, Tom discusses
the decision-making behind
TTM's new ultra HDI PCB facility
in Syracuse, New York, where
the company already has a
160,000-square-foot RF micro-
wave and microelectronics facil-
ity. He highlights TTM's com-
mitment to innovation and meeting the dynamic
demands of the industry.
For the latest news and information, visit PCB007.com
The Ever-expanding Horizons
of PCB Manufacturing: Global
Trends and Local Impacts
Real Time with… IPC APEX
EXPO 2024: Exploring the
Future of Surface Finishes
Shane Whiteside of Summit Reflects
on Today's PCB Landscape
TTM's High Tech Expansion and
Industry Innovation
Right Sizing ZLD and a
Solution for Start-ups
The Chemical Connection: Reducing
Etch System Water Usage, Part 2
Tom Edman
