The Supplier View: An Interview with Hamed El Abd
March 30, 2016 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
El Abd: Automation is a given. I've been talking about automation for the last 10 years. Without automation, this industry cannot more forward. Things are going to be too expensive. You must move forward with automation, and when I say automation, I mean taking a PCB plant from 1,500 people maybe to less than 20, and having everything else lights-out, automated machines. This is coming; it has already sprung up in America, and you will see it here. The problem that I see is we're not even looking, whether it's government, industry, or anyone else, at what are we going to do with all of these people that we lay off.
Starkey: That could be a major concern.
El Abd: That's a major concern that needs to be addressed.
Starkey: From your point of view as a supplier of technology, and looking at the Chinese market, what sort of technology is the industry investing in?
El Abd: There's a lot of new things coming, including 3D printing of printed circuit boards.
Starkey: Do you see that as a reality?
El Abd: I can't tell you that, because I don't know, but I believe that these are technologies that we have to take seriously. We can't ignore them.
Starkey: I think it's already established that very simple circuits can be produced off a 3D printer.
El Abd: Today, it's very simple circuits. Tomorrow, we don't know. We would have thought a lot of things would have changed. LED technology is changing, and how it impacts laser technology is changing. All these things are coming, and it's a question of what are we going to do, and how are we going to use this technology today?
Starkey: Hamed, I've interrupted a busy morning for you. I really appreciate you sharing your views with us.
El Abd: No, thank you very much. I appreciate it any time, so please come by.
Starkey: Thanks very much indeed. I'll let you get back to business.
El Abd: Thanks a lot, sir.
Page 2 of 2Suggested Items
LQDX Divests Aluminum Soldering Business - Mina™ - to Taiyo America Inc.
05/02/2024 | PRNewswireLQDX, formerly known as Averatek Corp., developer of high-performance materials for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, today announced that it has divested its aluminum soldering business – known as MinaTM – to Taiyo America Inc., a global market leader in advanced electronic materials.
TTM Technologies Reports First Quarter 2024 Results
05/02/2024 | TTM TechnologiesTTM Technologies, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of technology solutions including mission systems, radio frequency components and RF microwave/microelectronic assemblies, quick-turn and technologically advanced printed circuit boards , reported results for the first quarter 2024, which ended on April 1, 2024.
GPV’s Q1 2024 Interim Financial Report Shows Strong Navigation in Uncertain Times
05/01/2024 | GPVDanish-based GPV recorded an expected drop in sales to DKK 2.3 billion for the first quarter of 2024. The decline also affected the operating profit, which was DKK 155 million compared to DKK 179 million in the same quarter last year, although the EBITDA margin was maintained. In general, demand has been softer in 2024, but GPV continues to invest for the long-term and expects the trend to turn in the second half of 2024.
North American PCB Industry Sales Down 23.8% in March
04/29/2024 | IPCIPC announced the March 2024 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.13.
North American EMS Industry Down 4% in March
04/29/2024 | IPCIPC announced the March 2024 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.31.