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American Standard Circuits Taking Business to New Heights
November 3, 2015 | Patty Goldman, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Vardya: The other thing that we've also recently implemented is a software package called TrueChem to control all our lab chemistries. We now have a dashboard that anybody can go to. They can know exactly where we are on our analyses, if we're falling a little behind, or if somebody hasn't made the adds.
All of that information is very visible, and we're also able to control chart all of our chemistries now, so we've seen much better control of our processes. We've also seen, whenever we have any kind of a technical issue, or a scrap issue, they're quickly able to go back to what tanks in the process may have a problem and look at what state of affairs the chemistries were in. We’ve got better traceability.
Goldman: That's the byword for many of your customers, too, I'm sure. They all want traceability.
Vardya: Correct. We've also made some pretty significant investments in terms of capital equipment. Earlier this year, we had a bought an AccuScore machine to improve our scoring capabilities. Recently, we've also invested in what I would call a high aspect ratio hole cleaner. It cleans up the debris that's inside the holes after drilling. It's very high pressure, it's meant for high aspect ratios, and it's a custom-designed machine where we're working with someone to do that. It's a combination wet and dry process; it’s a blow-off, and followed by a very high pressure rinse.
We've upgraded our inkjet printer to the latest Orbotech Sprint 120. We've also invested in a Pluritec X-ray drill machine. We already have X-ray drill capability, but this is adding capacity, and also getting us the latest in drilling technology. Our current X-ray is dated, so it's only so good. This has much better capabilities, especially for the higher layer counts, and the mixed materials that we're pursuing.
Then, our largest investment this year has been an Orbotech LDI machine that actually just came into our facility today. It's been a very busy year for us at American Standard.
Goldman: A really exciting year. You must be very busy and that's great to hear. A lot of positive stuff coming out, and a lot of growth-related stuff, so that's all good news. I presume your customers love this.
Vardya: Yes, it's great news for us. But to be honest with you, we are just starting to tell our customers the whole story of what we're doing, but they're absolutely going to be very happy with us, given the investments we're making.
Goldman: Yes, because you keep up with them. They put out new designs, and nothing gets simpler, it always gets more complicated, and you are keeping up with all of that. That's fantastic. Anaya, thanks so much for spending some time with me today.
Vardya: Thank you, Patty.
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08/21/2025 | Gerry Partida, Summit InterconnectSustainability has become a key focus for PCB companies seeking to reduce waste, conserve energy, and optimize resources. While many discussions on sustainability center around materials or energy-efficient processes, PCB design is an often overlooked factor that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Good design practices, especially those based on established IPC standards, play a central role in enabling sustainable PCB production. By ensuring designs are manufacturable and reliable, engineers can significantly reduce the environmental impact of their products.
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Global PCB Connections: Understanding the General Fabrication Process—A Designer’s Hidden Advantage
08/14/2025 | Markus Voeltz -- Column: Global PCB ConnectionsDesigners don’t need to become fabricators, but understanding the basics of PCB fabrication can save you time, money, and frustration. The more you understand what’s happening on the shop floor, the better you’ll be able to prevent downstream issues. As you move into more advanced designs like HDI, flex circuits, stacked vias, and embedded components, this foundational knowledge becomes even more critical. Remember: the fabricator is your partner.