05/12/2024
In October 2024, our new wet-shop equipment arrived and is now undergoing assembly and installation. Two process lines are being installed. One is a Strip Etch Strip line known as an SES line. It removes dry film resist from electrolytically plated PCB panels, etches the tracking, and removes tin etch resist. The second, is a Shadow Plus direct metallisation line which coats the barrel of drilled holes with carbon to make a conductive cathode upon which copper is electrolytically plated making plated through holes. There is a lot to do to get this equipment working. Heating, lighting, power, fume extraction, compressed air, softened water, de-ionised water, chilled water, and drainage have to be provided. When this is completed, process commissioning will start in January 2025.