IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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28 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2026 stackups. What type of on-the-ground customer care do suppliers, such as Lauffer, provide their customers? What does that partnership look like when dealing with high-tech builds? Understanding material behavior and flow char- acteristics in lamination is extremely important. A key factor is understanding the temperature profile throughout the product stack during the lamination cycle. While monitoring temperatures is not new, traditionally, it has required manual measurements and operator involvement within the press system. Lauffer has fully automated this process, elimi- nating the need for manual operations between lay-up and de-stacking. It allows manufacturers to capture a much larger amount of process data throughout the entire lamination cycle. The benefit is not only improved traceability and docu- mentation for every product produced, but also the ability to better understand material behavior, resin flow, and copper distribution early in the product design phase. In addition, Lauffer's control systems use real- time process data, allowing lamination cycles to be dynamically optimized for improved consistency, efficiency, and overall process control. Does cleanliness play into it significantly? Yes, when producing complex PCB structures, main- taining process cleanliness and minimizing contam- ination during product handling and transport are also important. Lauffer's new transport solutions are gentler, faster, and significantly cleaner compared to conventional systems. These improvements help reduce handling-related contamination and ulti- mately contribute to better production yields and higher product reliability. Ralph, what else would you like PCB fabricators to know about all4-PCB and Lauffer as an equipment supplier-partner? With the continued growth of the U.S. PCB market and the increasing number of lamination presses being installed in the field, we are investing in local spare parts inventory and expanding our service and support team. We understand that both of these are vital to providing the support our custom- ers need when they need it. In relation to our partnership with Lauffer, we are excited to be working with such a technology- forward company focused on achieving continuous advancement in automation, process control, and the new technologies that will help manufacturers achieve higher quality, consistency, and overall production efficiency. Lamination has always been an important factor in PCB fabrication quality and reliability, but in HDI, its importance is even greater. Ralph, thank you for your time. Thank you, Marcy. I-CONNECT007