We always talk about being a valuable vendor, but what about being a valuable customer? If you think about it, you’ll realize that being a valuable customer matters too—especially if you want to get the most from your vendor-supplier partnership. It is always important to be your supplier’s favorite customer, even if what you buy from that supplier is not enough to make you qualify for the 80-20 rule that all companies live and die by (80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers)... More >

The July issue of PCB007 Magazine will be published later this week. Can’t wait to download it? Enjoy this preview that explains how we arrived at the topic of “Rethinking Manufacturing,” as well as what you can expect to read inside.

Preview
This issue is an exploration of the rethinking currently underway across the industry. Our conversations on rethinking manufacturing include re-imagining wet processes, additive, and subtractive processes. We also explore rethinking the tools available to your incoming CAM department in the form of best practices for landing pads, the advantages of the new VeCS technology, and more information on Elsyca’s sophisticated CAM analysis software... More >

We asked for you to send in your questions for Happy Holden, and you took us up on it! The questions you've posed run the gamut, covering technology, the worldwide fab market, and everything in between. What do you think about electroless copper vs. direct metallization? Enjoy.

Q: What are your thoughts on electroless copper vs. direct metallization?

A: Both get the job done! Electroless copper is the more traditional method but may have some problems with its internal crystalline strength when used with stacked microvias. Direct metallization is a newer technology that has come a long way in their development and is one of the few ways to successfully metallize polyimide film for flex... More >