-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Essential Guide to Surface Finishes
We go back to basics this month with a recount of a little history, and look forward to addressing the many challenges that high density, high frequency, adhesion, SI, and corrosion concerns for harsh environments bring to the fore. We compare and contrast surface finishes by type and application, take a hard look at the many iterations of gold plating, and address palladium as a surface finish.
It's Show Time!
In this month’s issue of PCB007 Magazine we reimagine the possibilities featuring stories all about IPC APEX EXPO 2025—covering what to look forward to, and what you don’t want to miss.
Fueling the Workforce Pipeline
We take a hard look at fueling the workforce pipeline, specifically at the early introduction of manufacturing concepts and business to young people in this issue of PCB007 Magazine.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Advancing Photonic Soldering
December 11, 2024 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

Stan Farnsworth, director of customer satisfaction at PulseForge, discusses the advancements in photonic soldering that highlight its energy efficiency and versatility. Over the past two years, the company has refined its applications for flexible substrates and energy reduction, finding that photonic soldering allows the processing of materials that typically aren’t thermally compatible and offers significant energy savings compared to traditional methods.
Nolan Johnson: Stan, how are you incorporating photonic soldering with your customers?
Stan Farnsworth: Over the past two years, we have gained a better understanding of what we think the application cases might be and what the markets and customers are interested in. We've done a lot of work with customers with very specific use cases in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. They've been very open, and that has helped us understand how we fit with what they're looking for. We have strong engagements in Italy, Germany, Belgium, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and certainly in the United States. Globally, we see some interesting dynamics, but what continues to be the most interesting to customers is the ability to process and solder materials that normally ought not go together.
Our demo actually hasn't changed over that time; it’s still that polymer leaf with the LEDs soldered onto it. It represents a number of capabilities that can go in different directions. One of those directions is flexible substrates.
Photonic applications are a big topic in European industrial applications right now because they represent the ability to reduce energy use. The processing time and energy required is very short. We have customers that are keyed in on the reduction in consumed energy. Customers are building and/or expanding their roll-to-roll soldering production capabilities, and that’s also a fit for us. So, even though that sample dates to about 2021 or 2022, it still holds water today.
Johnson: Can you use photonic soldering for, say, normal surface mount components on FR-4?
Farnsworth: Yes, although we don’t generally emphasize that as the lead-in engagement piece. This is a hybrid technology, and companies may acquire our equipment for a couple of very specific use cases. What is the best processing solution for their project? Is it to continue with their reflow oven, or to plug our machine in alongside reflow? Having the option for both resources allows their clients—the product designers—to be more creative in how they do board layout and component selection and, ultimately, improve the cost and form of the products they make. For example, maybe they solder the battery directly into the device now instead of using terminals and connections. There are design options to having both capabilities on hand.
To continue reading this interview, which originally published in the December 2024 SMT007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
LiU and Siemens Energy Enter Into Strategic Partnership
04/01/2025 | Linköping UniversityIn order to find long-term solutions to future challenges in the energy field, Linköping University and Siemens Energy AB sign a strategic partnership agreement.
Meyer Burger, Memodo Sign Supply Agreement for Italy
03/28/2025 | Meyer BurgerMeyer Burger Technology AG and photovoltaic distributor Memodo have signed a supply agreement. The high-performance modules “Made in Germany” were manufactured at the Freiberg plant in Germany and are intended for the Italian market.
Queen's University Belfast Enhances RF Research with LPKF ProtoLaser R4
03/26/2025 | LPKFThe Centre for Wireless Innovation (CWI) at Queen's University Belfast relies on the state-of-the-art LPKF ProtoLaser R4 to conduct RF research with high-precision structuring of sensitive materials.
Argotec and Miru Unveil Largest Electrochromic Sunroof Window in Automotive Industry Milestone
03/25/2025 | ArgotecLeading smart window technology creator Miru Smart Technologies (“Miru”) has introduced one of the world’s largest electrochromic sunroof window devices for the automotive industry.
UNIST Partners with Fincantieri to Advance Eco-Friendly Energy Technologies
03/24/2025 | UNISTUNIST has entered into a strategic partnership with Fincantieri, Europe’s largest shipbuilder based in Trieste, Italy. Together, the two organizations aim to foster open innovation in the development of eco-friendly energy technologies through robust industry-university collaboration and support for technology startups.