Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

A Conversation with... PNC Technologies' Sam Sangani

Beaulieu: Where do you see technology going in the future?

Sangani: If technology trends continue in the current direction, board designs will become smaller with higher layer counts, fine line and space requirements, and will require the ability to dissipate heat due to LED technology. We have invested nearly $2.5 million in new facilities and equipment to stay ahead of this technology curve and it's paid many dividends to this point.

Beaulieu: What do you consider good service?  

Sangani: Good service is the ability to be responsive and flexible, offering competitive pricing and on-time delivery. This is what our customers are looking for from PNC. We've been told by customers they like our responsiveness. This begins up front with great customer communication during the contract review process and then flows through our qualified employees via our systematic traveler system for each process step. Of course our most important deliverable is our on-time delivery, which is 99%.

Beaulieu: To stay at the top of the technology ladder you must invest in the future. What are your investment plans?

Sangani: Laser direct imaging (LDI) to eliminate plotting film which is an expense and for better registration. Laser drills so we can drill holes below 0.006” via holes. Conductive/non-conductive vacuum chamber so we can fill holes completely with no air gaps in the hole fill using vacuum. Planarizer so that we can plane down the fill material flat with the panel surface, especially for via in pad applications. These are all products of the future that we need today as far as I’m concerned.

We'e also looking at a new plating line and equipment for controlled depth routing (CDR). The CDR will enable us to counter bore/sink holes in one step instead of two, to create ledge recesses in the board edges, and to accurately mill down portions of the board for recessed heat sinks.

Beaulieu: Wow, that’s a great list! Will you be buying this equipment soon?

Sangani: Absolutely. The controlled depth router will be installed in the fourth quarter of 2014. The via fill and planarizer is scheduled for the third quarter 2015. We plan to install a new electroplating line in fourth quarter of 2015 and the LDI and laser drill will be acquired in 2016.

Beaulieu: How will these investments help your customers?

Sangani: By allowing us to increase our yields, thus giving our customers better quality. Also, higher yields equal less scrap which will reduce our operating and material costs and ultimately keep our piece pricing competitive in the U.S. market and close the gap on Asia pricing pressure.

Beaulieu: Are you planning to add other services in the future?

Sangani: Yes, our plan is to develop a contract manufacturing service to assemble/populate circuit boards. The industry has changed greatly in the sense that companies are looking for turnkey products. We see every day in our quoting of bare circuit boards that our customers are also asking for assembly. It only makes sense for us to provide what customers are asking for under the PNC umbrella of services, from concept of design, through manufacturing of bare boards, to final assembly.

Beaulieu: Those are some very ambitious plans. I applaud you for what you've done so far and what you plan to do in the future. Sam, I look forward to checking in with you in a year or so to see how everything is going. And I wish you good luck in the New Year. Thanks again for talking with me today.

Sangani: No problem, Dan. It was my pleasure.

For more information, visit www.pnconline.com. Also see PNC’s Showcase on The PCB List.

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