Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1540184
OCTOBER 2025 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 49 • Depending on the environment your board will need to operate in, staggered vias— those offset from one another—are consid- ered more reliable than vias placed directly atop each other (stacked) because they relieve stress on the board and improve its manufacturability. • If you have extremely high connectivity requirements and need to use stacked vias, designers can use every-layer interconnect (ELIC) structures—a type of stacked micro- via that connects every adjacent layer. The trade-off here is higher cost and decreased manufacturability. C O N N ECT T H E D OTS Drilling is a critical part of the manufacturing pro- cess. With UHDI projects in particular, getting qual- ity, manufacturable boards starts with a design opti- mized for drilling. DESIGN007 Matt Stevenson is vice president and general manager of ASC Sunstone Circuits. To read past columns, click here. Download Matt's book, The Printed Circuit Designer's Guide to… Designing for Reality and listen to the podcast here. "We firmly believe that only when people live in safety can they exercise their rights and shape their lives in freedom," says AT&S President & CEO Michael Mertin. "Against this backdrop, AT&S has decided to enter the defense market. We have al- ready been approached by customers and will now proactively reach out to new customers." The deci- sion is based on a clear strategic scenario: long- term planning reliability, technologically demand- ing innovation fields, and independence from eco- nomic cycles. At the same time, this step strength- ens AT&S's economic foundation and secures jobs at its Austrian sites. The production facilities in Leo- ben are currently being prepared to meet the spe- cific requirements of the defense industry. This in- cludes evaluating whether structural and technical adjustments are necessary to comply with interna- tional standards for defense production. In the me- dium term, the company expects annual revenues in the mid-double-digit million Euro range. In the context of ESG criteria, there is growing recognition that security-relevant technologies can contribute to safeguarding democratic values and protecting people in Europe. AT&S is committed to a responsible and legally compliant approach. All activities in the defense sector will strictly adhere to the legal requirements of the Republic of Austria and the European Union. AT&S has long-standing expertise in developing technologies that can be used for both civilian and security-relat- ed applications. "We see the opportuni- ty to contribute to stability and security through our technologies," says Mertin. "Our goal is to position AT&S for the future through this step." (Source: AT&S) AT&S Plans Entry Into the Defense Sector