Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1538540
AUGUST 2025 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 47 we can provide the knowledge. If we can provide it with chemi- cal solutions, it's even better. If we apply mechanical solutions, everybody wins. AI is creeping into everything. How is it being incorporated in your product lines? Peters: We have the Digital Fac- tory Suite (DFS), which provides traceability, condition and moni- toring, energy optimization, and upcoming predictive mainte- nance to move from unsched- uled to scheduled downtime, ultimately leading to cost reduc- tion. In our analysis, we antici- pate that streamlining access to critical information, provid- ing traceability for faster identi- fication and resolution of quality issues, and finally, achieving up to 40% reduction in maintenance costs can reduce unexpected downtime by 50%, and with 40% faster issue resolution. Smart manufacturing is already a reality at Atotech. DFS is integrated into every new Uni- plate line. As the core of our big data collection and analysis, DFS will enable AI-driven applica- tions like predictive maintenance through pattern recognition, fur- ther optimizing yield and maxi- mizing equipment uptime. It will likely be achieved on the shorter side of that scale. Now, being a captive facility, SEL has the luxury of knowing every day what work is coming through its facility. The ability to control the line seems like a significant qualifying factor in favor of a job shop or designer. Are customers using that in their marketing? Peters: Yes, absolutely, it is very useful, and the everyday con- sistency of the product going through the line is helpful. It's a luxury that some job shops don't have. We build these lines with an operating window for these varia- tions, where adjustments can be made to carrier height, for exam- ple. We have different models of the actual carrier itself to handle different board thicknesses, sizes, and board (panel) weights. We can achieve a window of things in each of them despite the different dimensions, etc. We can still run it in-line and have the recipes pro- grammed into the software. You can still run it all on one line. Justin and Collin, this has been really interesting. It's exciting to see what is being done here and what can be done elsewhere. Thank you both for spending this time. Kennedy: Thank you, Barry. PCB007