Happy’s Tech Talk #40: Factors in PTH Reliability—Hole Voids
Facing the Future: Time for Real Talk, Early and Often, Between Design and Fabrication
Trouble in Your Tank: Can You Drill the Perfect Hole?
Helfried Weinzerl Steps Down as President & CEO of Bürkle North America–Kurt Palmer to Take Over
November 1, 2019 | Burkle North AmericaEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Bürkle North America (BNA) today announced that its board of directors has appointed Kurt Palmer as president & CEO, replacing Helfried Weinzerl who is stepping down after seven years. This leadership appointment is effective immediately.
Speaking on behalf of the board, Chairman Richard Crowe commented, “Mr. Weinzerl came to us in 2012 and has done an outstanding job leading us into new markets, while retaining our position in traditional markets with both Burkle and Schmoll Maschinen.”
Crowe continued, “We are fortunate to have someone of Kurt Palmer’s caliber and experience step up to lead Bürkle North America. We are at an important moment and we need continued leadership to successfully implement our strategy of utilizing our core technologies of lamination and coating for a variety of markets, including our woodworking / surfaces, printed circuit board, plastic card, glass / graphic arts, and solar modules / architectural glass markets, among others, to take advantage of the opportunities ahead. In addition, Schmoll Maschinen represents an important part of our electronics market strategy and positions Bürkle North America as the premier supplier of drilling / routing, laser, post-etch, and imaging equipment. Palmer is a strong communicator who is customer-focused with deep leadership capabilities. Furthermore, as a member of the BNA management team for the past ten months, Palmer has a solid understanding of our products and markets.”
Palmer said, “I know that I speak for everyone here at Bürkle in thanking Helfried for his leadership and tireless dedication to the company. I am honored and excited to take on this new role and for the future of BNA. We have a talented team that is focused on customer satisfaction, service, and expansion opportunities. I’m confident we are taking the right steps to move the business forward.” Palmer has over 30 years of experience in consumable and equipment distribution throughout North America, working with manufacturers in both Europe and Asia. Prior to his current role, he served as VP of sales for Bürkle North America, director of operations for TCT Circuit Supply, and the co-owner of TAPCO Circuit Supply.
About Bürkle North America
Bürkle North America, Inc. is a wholly owned division of Robert Bürkle GmbH, of Freudenstadt, Germany. Bürkle is the leading manufacturer of productive manufacturing technologies serving a variety of manufacturing industries, including surfaces / woodworking technologies, photovoltaic module lamination and coating, printed wiring board fabrication and plastic card fabrication.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Trouble in Your Tank: Can You Drill the Perfect Hole?
07/07/2025 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankIn the movie “Friday Night Lights,” the head football coach (played by Billy Bob Thornton) addresses his high school football team on a hot day in August in West Texas. He asks his players one question: “Can you be perfect?” That is an interesting question, in football and the printed circuit board fabrication world, where being perfect is somewhat elusive. When it comes to mechanical drilling and via formation, can you drill the perfect hole time after time?
Excellon Installs COBRA Hybrid Laser at Innovative Circuits
06/23/2025 | ExcellonExcellon is pleased to announce the successful installation of a second COBRA Hybrid Laser System at Innovative Circuits, located in Alpharetta, Georgia. The Excellon COBRA Hybrid Laser System uniquely combines both UV and CO₂ (IR) laser sources on a single platform—making it ideal for high-density prototype and production printed circuit boards (PCBs).
Gorilla Circuits Elevates PCB Precision with Schmoll’s Optiflex II Alignment System
06/23/2025 | Schmoll MaschinenGorilla Circuits, a leading PCB manufacturer based in Silicon Valley, has enhanced its production capabilities with the addition of Schmoll Maschinen’s Optiflex II Post-Etch Punch system—bringing a new level of precision to multilayer board fabrication.
The Evolution of Picosecond Laser Drilling
06/19/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineIs it hard to imagine a single laser pulse reduced not only from nanoseconds to picoseconds in its pulse duration, but even to femtoseconds? Well, buckle up because it seems we are there. In this interview, Dr. Stefan Rung, technical director of laser machines at Schmoll Maschinen GmbH, traces the technology trajectory of the laser drill from the CO2 laser to cutting-edge picosecond and hybrid laser drilling systems, highlighting the benefits and limitations of each method, and demonstrating how laser innovations are shaping the future of PCB fabrication.
Sierra Circuits Boosts High Precision PCB Manufacturing with Schmoll Technology
06/16/2025 | Schmoll MaschinenSierra Circuits has seen increased success in production of multilayer HDI boards and high-speed signal architectures through the integration of a range of Schmoll Maschinen systems. The company’s current setup includes four MXY-6 drilling machines, two LM2 routing models, and a semi-automatic Optiflex II innerlayer punch.