Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Dream First, Details Later
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
MKS Instruments Sells Newest ESI Laser Processing System to Cicor
August 27, 2019 | Globe NewswireEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
MKS Instruments has sold a recently introduced ESI CapStone printed circuit board (PCB) laser processing systems to Cicor. Cicor, a leading European manufacturer of highly-complex PCB and hybrid circuits, is the first European PCB company to invest in MKS’ latest-generation ESI UV laser drilling technology. The new CapStone system, placed in Cicor’s facility in Boudry, Switzerland, leverages CapStone’s new beam positioning technology to help Cicor serve the increasing customer demand for processing blind and through hole vias in flexible printed circuits (FPC).
The CapStone system’s patented technology enables copper opening and dielectric cleaning in a single pass, rather than the multiple passes required by other systems. The ESI AcceleDrill™, MKS’ newest generation beam positioning technology, enables CapStone systems to take advantage of the high power and high repetition rate of the system’s new laser to deliver unprecedented processing efficiency.
“We’re excited to be the first to have the CapStone system in Europe,” said Christophe Sipp, Process Engineering Manager of the Cicor site in Boudry. In order for us to stay ahead, we need to deliver quality and quick turnaround times. Being the first to leverage CapStone’s precision and throughput will give us an advantage in a competitive market.”
“We’re seeing strong market acceptance for CapStone globally,” said John Williams, vice president of marketing, ESI Products. “Our customers are pressed to increase processing efficiency while controlling costs. The new technology deployed in CapStone not only enables them to gain those efficiencies, but also provides the flexibility to deal with new materials in production.”
The ESI brand represents an innovator in laser-based manufacturing solutions for the micro-machining and micro-electronic industries, and the CapStone system is optimized for the flexible printed circuits widely used in consumer electronics, such as smartphones and other handheld devices. The system delivers the highest productivity available, while maintaining high levels of accuracy and precision in critical parameters such as via diameter and placement.
About MKS Instruments
MKS Instruments, Inc. is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, monitor, deliver, analyze, power and control critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity for our customers. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, flow measurement and control, gas and vapor delivery, gas composition analysis, residual gas analysis, leak detection, control technology, ozone generation and delivery, power, reactive gas generation, vacuum technology, lasers, photonics, sub-micron positioning, vibration control and optics. We also provide services related to the maintenance and repair of our products, installation services and training. Our primary served markets include semiconductor, industrial technologies, life and health sciences, research and defense. Additional information can be found at www.mksinst.com.
About ESI
ESI is a brand within the MKS Instruments Equipment & Solutions Division. The ESI portfolio consists of laser-based micro manufacturing systems and component test systems that are used worldwide by manufacturers in the electronics industry to process the materials and components that are an integral part of the electronic devices and systems in use today. Leveraging over 40 years of laser-material interaction expertise and applied laser technology, ESI solutions enable customers to optimize production by providing more control, greater application flexibility and more precise processing of a wide range of materials. The result is higher production quality, increased throughput and higher back-end yields at a lower total cost-of-ownership. Additional information can be found at www.esi.com.
About Cicor
The Cicor Group is a globally active development and manufacturing partner with innovative technology solutions for the electronics industry. With about 2,000 employees at ten production sites, Cicor offers highly complex printed circuit boards and hybrid circuits as well as comprehensive electronic manufacturing services (EMS) including microelectronic assembly and plastic injection molding. Cicor supplies customized products and services—from design to the finished product—from one source.
Share on:
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
07/11/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineThis week, we have quite a variety of news items and articles for you. News continues to stream out of Washington, D.C., with tariffs rearing their controversial head again. Because these tariffs are targeted at overseas copper manufacturers, this news has a direct effect on our industry.I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
Digital Twin Concept in Copper Electroplating Process Performance
07/11/2025 | Aga Franczak, Robrecht Belis, Elsyca N.V.PCB manufacturing involves transforming a design into a physical board while meeting specific requirements. Understanding these design specifications is crucial, as they directly impact the PCB's fabrication process, performance, and yield rate. One key design specification is copper thieving—the addition of “dummy” pads across the surface that are plated along with the features designed on the outer layers. The purpose of the process is to provide a uniform distribution of copper across the outer layers to make the plating current density and plating in the holes more uniform.
Trump Copper Tariffs Spark Concern
07/10/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamPresident Donald Trump stated on July 8 that he plans to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports, sparking concern in a global industry whose output is critical to electric vehicles, military hardware, semiconductors, and a wide range of consumer goods. According to Yahoo Finance, copper futures climbed over 2% following tariff confirmation.
Happy’s Tech Talk #40: Factors in PTH Reliability—Hole Voids
07/09/2025 | Happy Holden -- Column: Happy’s Tech TalkWhen we consider via reliability, the major contributing factors are typically processing deviations. These can be subtle and not always visible. One particularly insightful column was by Mike Carano, “Causes of Plating Voids, Pre-electroless Copper,” where he outlined some of the possible causes of hole defects for both plated through-hole (PTH) and blind vias.
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?