Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1532533
30 PCB007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2025 not only to see what they have that's new and different but also to try and pick up any poten- tially classified or secret information. One year, our sales manager was determined to get an etcher operating manual from one of our major competitors. He came up with an elaborate plan, including false name badges, company fronts, and agents, which he would take to the competitor's booth and pose as cus- tomers. However, on the first day, when we went to our booth to prepare for the day, my fellow process engineer, Joe, was sitting with his feet on the table reading one of that com- petitor's etcher operating manuals. "Where did you get that?" our sales man- ager asked. "From their booth." "How?" "One of their field service guys gave it to me." "Why would he just give you one of their etcher manuals?" "Because I gave him one of ours," Joe replied. Several minutes of pandemonium ensued, but no harm was done, except perhaps to our sales manager's blood pressure. Joe knew that no company would put anything classified in a customer operating manual or bring one to a trade show. It was fun, though, for us technical types to watch our sales guys have hissy fits for several minutes. I considered sharing the story of the time I got kicked out of Disneyland—an event I've quietly been proud of ever since—but I'm run- ning out of space, so it will have to wait. Enjoy the show. PCB007 Don Ball is a process engineer at Chemcut. To read past columns or contact Ball, click here.