March 2015 • The PCB Magazine 87
5
N.A. PCB Business Growth
Flat in 2014
"pCB business in north america was virtually flat
in 2014 compared to the previous year," said IpC's
Sharon Starr. "Sales ended the year less than one
percentage point below 2013, while orders fin-
ished the year just 0.6% above 2013. Strong or-
ders in the fourth quarter have kept the book-to-
bill ratio solidly in positive territory, which bodes
well for sales growth in 2015."
6
China Outlook: An Interview
with Hamed El-Abd, Lionel
Fullwood, and Gene Weiner
of Wkk
Barry Matties spoke with wKK's hamed El-abd,
Lionel fullwood, and Gene weiner on their out-
look on pCB manufacturing in China, as well as
on what it takes to stay competitive in this market.
7
Exception PCB Names
Martin Managing Director
frederick Martin has been appointed as managing
director for Exception pCB Solutions and brings a
wealth of experience. frederick will join Clive wall
and rob Buswell in the Senior Management Team.
The senior management are a highly experienced
and results driven team that has the proven capa-
bility to implement fastprints' European strategy
and leverage the business's undoubted potential.
8
2015 EIPC Winter Conference,
Munich: Day 1 Review
ninety delegates, eleven countries represented
and a thought-provoking two-day programme on
themes of reliability in pCB fabrication and assem-
bly, copper cleaning and advanced material solu-
tions, advanced imaging and soldermask, and how
to make pCBs smart and ready for Industry 4.0. add
the further attractions of a keynote by walt Custer
and the chance to visit a military aircraft assembly
plant: the formula for another highly successful EIpC
Conference—this time close to Munich airport.
9
Schweizer Electronic Concludes
Fy2014 with Sales Growth
Dr. Maren Schweizer, CEO of Schweizer Electronic
aG comments: "we proceeded very well in 2014
on operational as well as strategic levels. we in-
creased turnover and earnings, and our order
book is well stocked. Thanks to the continuously
high demand our order backlog increased again
in 2014, amounting to 119.2 million euro against
114.2 million euro the year before."
J
PCi Upgrades Imaging Depart-
ment with New Equipment
rigid-flex circuit board manufacturer, printed
Circuits Inc. has recently installed a Maskless Li-
thography printer and an Orbotech paragon 9800
laser-direct imager at their facility based in Min-
neapolis, Minnesota.
For the latest PCB news and
information, visit: PCB007.com
March 2015 • The PCB Magazine 87
