Since the beginning of the year, Würth Elektronik and FELA, both circuit board manufacturers from Baden-Württemberg/Germany, have been col-laborating on the development of digitalisation of circuit board technology.
The visionary approach of 3D-printing solder masks offers brand new pos-sibilities for miniaturisation and a technological quantum leap in the realm of circuit board manufacture. It is expected to bring about not only economic success, but also long-term security for local production plants in Germany.
“Working together successfully to make something happen can only be done through honest and equal partnership. We SMEs still see a lot of value in a handshake. We work on research and development on an equal footing – it’s a ‘win-win’ situation for both companies,” says Norbert Krütt, FELA’s managing director.
FELA and Würth Elektronik are reinforcing their ability to innovate and pool-ing their resources and expertise. Together as partners, they are taking on the latest technical developments and customer requirements, in order to shape these in a sustainable way.
As well as sharing findings and covering a wider spectrum of research, it takes less time for concepts to be firmly integrated into the process chain. Collaboration takes place at every level – from company management and research departments to joint communi-cations.
Andreas Gimmer, managing director of Würth Elektronik in Schopfheim, is delighted: “We know our industry and know where other companies on the market excel. As well as a personal relationship of many years’ standing, the partnership with FELA is based on both companies’ passion for innovation, with the aim of securing sites strategically using future-forward tech-nologies.”
According to the latest research findings, clear advantages in the area of assembly are emerging. The possibilities for implementing individual cus-tomer requirements are very promising.