Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Successful Flex Circuit Design Transfer
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Kurt Palmer Takes on New Role as Burkle America President
January 29, 2020 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
During productronica 2019, Barry Matties chatted with Kurt Palmer about his new role as president of Burkle America, the work they do with Schmoll Maschinen, and why customers in North America must continue to invest to keep up with the technology and be profitable.
Barry Matties: Welcome, Kurt. First, can you talk a little bit about your position at Burkle now?
Kurt Palmer: I joined Burkle North America in January of 2019, so I have been with the company for 11 months. I initially joined as a person that was going to manage the PCB sales for the North American market, including both the Burkle press equipment and all the Schmoll equipment we provide to the PCB market. But fairly quickly after accepting the sales role, I was offered a different position as Burkle North America president. It was a rapid change of positions after accepting the initial role. Now I’m responsible for overseeing a team of 24 employees as well as the sales and direction of the company for the future.
Matties: And in North America, Burkle does not just do PCB electronics, but you also do solar, photovoltaics, woodworking, and plastic cards. You have a pretty broad portfolio of products.
Palmer: Especially with the Burkle side of things, those are all part of our portfolio.
Matties: What was your background before Burkle?
Palmer: It’s all been in the PCB industry, including consumable and equipment sales, so I’m not going to let that go; I will continue to stay involved in that business because I grew up in the industry. I graduated in the late ‘80s from college and started working for the family business, selling copper-clad laminates, drill bits, etc. After 30 years, we made the bittersweet decision to sell the business to one of our supplier partners. I stayed on for three years through the integration and then decided to join Burkle earlier this year.
To read this entire interview, which appeared in the December 2019 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Kevin Barrett Joins Technica USA as PCB Business Development and Account Manager
11/03/2025 | Technica USATechnica USA is proud to announce that Kevin Barrett has rejoined Team Technica as PCB Business Development /Account Manager.
Henger Microelectronics Expands Global Footprint with Major Equipment Shipment to Southeast Asia
10/31/2025 |Henger Microelectronics has reached a major milestone in its global expansion strategy with the successful shipment of advanced plasma etching and cleaning systems, along with automation equipment, to multiple countries and regions across Southeast Asia. This achievement marks a significant step forward in the company’s international growth and reinforces its position as a leading force in the global plasma equipment industry.
Hofstetter PCB Group Purchases Mass-PCB Vacuum-Filling & Planarising System from Adeon Technologies for New Via Filing Subcontract Services
10/30/2025 | ADEON TechnologiesDuring the Productronica Exhibition in Munich from November 18 through to 21, Adeon is announcing the sale of the newest 2025 model Via Filling equipment with Large Container System and the Planarising system from Mass-PCB to SMF-Hofstetter from Herrenberg, Germany.
ITW EAE to Showcase Latest Electronic Assembly Equipment Developments at productronica
10/21/2025 | ITWITW EAE will be showcasing its latest developments at productronica, November 18-21 in Munich, Germany. The ITW EAE booth A4–554 will have MPM, Camalot, Electrovert, Vitronics Soltec and Despatch applications experts on hand as well as sales and management to answer questions and offer solutions.
The Chemical Connection: Onshoring PCB Production—Daunting but Certainly Possible
10/22/2025 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionIn the past year, several potential customers, concerned about the impending application of tariffs on incoming goods, have asked us what it would take to bring their circuit board production back to the U.S. While they also had other considerations, the threat of new tariffs was the tipping point that started them thinking about the economic advantages of bringing their manufacturing back onshore. It might be interesting to relate our experiences with two of those inquiries.