-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Bürkle Discusses Cycle Time in PCB Lamination Systems
January 15, 2016 | Stephen Las Marias, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
At the recent HKPCA & IPC APEX Show 2015 in Shenzhen, China, I interviewed Stefan Roller, sales manager at Bürkle Process Technologies, about the innovations happening in Bürkle, as well as cycle times in PCB processing equipment. He also talked about the current market landscape and the opportunity for growth in the industry.
Stephen Las Marias: Stefan, let's start by you telling us more about Bürkle and the company's activities.
Stefan Roller: I think the most important point for the show here is the PCB part, which is only one part of our business. We produce presses and machines for PCBs, but we are also big in photovoltaics and the wood industry.
Las Marias: How has your PCB business performed so far this year?
Roller: This year has been quite good. We won a lot of new projects. It could have been stronger, for sure. That's always our effort in sales. But it was a good year.
Las Marias: The market or business climate has been pretty challenging in the second half of 2015, especially in this region. What can you say about that?
Roller: That’s true, it all cooled down a little bit. Demand is not as strong any more.
Las Marias: With regard to your PCB customers, what are their biggest challenges when it comes to technology?
Roller: I think the biggest challenge at the moment is that prices went down for PCBs, and we have a lot of manufacturers, so I think the capacity is bigger than the actual needs on the market.
Las Marias: Would that be considered over supply?
Roller: Maybe not over supply, but we have a very high capacity to produce PCBs, and the needs went down a little bit.
Las Marias: What can you say about the latest innovation in technologies for your PCB equipment that are helping your customers address their challenges?
Roller: Actually, we are working on a few things to improve our product, but we do not have big changes on the pressing technology itself. Our machines are on such a high level and the only thing we are working on is the energy consumption and the speed.
Las Marias: You mentioned speed, which is interesting because we recently did a survey regarding cycle time reduction. According to the results, one of the bottlenecks that are being pointed out by PCB fabricators when it comes to speed is the equipment. What can you say about that?
Roller: We see that as well. The challenge is that we can't really increase that speed because we need to have heat through the whole product, and that needs a specific time. That's something you can't increase. The accuracy through the whole product needs to be there.
Even on the cool down process, there are given speeds where the material is not allowed to cool down more quickly, because it will be damaged.
Las Marias: How does Bürkle stay ahead of the competition?
Roller: We are one of the technology leaders and we are known for the highest quality machines and good service, which we always try to give in order to support our customers. We have our headquarters in Germany, supplying for all of Europe. We have a North American office and we have one factory in Shanghai, China. We are located close to our customers and we can quickly react.
Las Marias: Do you have any new technologies in the pipeline?
Roller: Yes, we have. We are working on a few things that will definitely improve our machines, but they are not ready to be presented yet.
Las Marias: Do you think the market will pick up next year?
Roller: One can hope, but actually I think it will not increase that much and it will stay on a similar level.
Las Marias: Stefan, is there anything that you would like to add?
Roller: We are known as a good, high technology brand. We are always trying to improve business worldwide and remain close to our customers regarding sales and service needs.
Las Marias: Thank you very much, Stefan.
Roller: You're welcome.
Suggested Items
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: My Role as a Technology Solutions Director
05/02/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOPeter Tranitz, senior director of technology solutions at IPC, shares insights into his role as the design initiative lead. He details his advocacy work, industry support, and the responsibilities of the design initiative committee. The conversation also covers the revamping of standards, the IPC Design Competition, and the implementation of design rules in software tools.
HQ NextPCB of HQ Electronics Debut on the International Stage for Electronics Manufacture at IPC APEX 2024
05/01/2024 | PRNewswireHQ NextPCB of HQ Electronics, a leading Chinese-based multilayer PCB manufacturer and assembly house showcased its industrial prowess on the international stage for the first time at the IPC APEX Expo 2024.
IPC's Vision for Empowering PCB Design Engineers
04/30/2024 | Robert Erickson, IPCAs architects of innovation, printed circuit board designers are tasked with translating increasingly complex concepts into tangible designs that power our modern world. IPC provides the necessary community, standards framework, and education to prepare these pioneers as they explore the boundaries of what’s possible, equipping engineers with the knowledge, skills, and resources required to thrive in an increasingly dynamic field.
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.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: A Global Presence in PCB Manufacturing
04/29/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPORob DiGiovanni, VP of sales for the Americas at STARTEAM Global, discusses the company's global presence in PCB manufacturing. As he explains, the firm operates facilities across Europe, Asia, and North America, specializing in serving contract manufacturers in the automotive and medical industries. They emphasize quality and meeting OEM standards, focusing on offshore supply and non-Chinese factories in the North American market. The company has grown through acquisitions and rebranding to offer multiple products.