The main customer requirement for a stencil supplier is a high quality quick-turn solution. The quick-turn aspect spans standard laser cut stencils through higher-end technologies. The demand for quick-turn will be even greater in 2014.
To address that issue and other printing challenges created by new applications, R&D was a major focus for Photo Stencil last year as we developed new coatings and a totally new type of stencil.
We've also been conducting research with industry partners on a large array of stencils and stencil/coating combinations to evaluate and determine which provide the best paste release results for small apertures while providing enough solder paste volume for normal-sized SMT components. (I will presenting the results in a paper at IPC APEX Expo in Las Vegas in March).
These activities will be on-going throughout next year as we continue to differentiate ourselves by providing a full range of stencils, constantly innovating to produce stencils and squeegee blades to handle developing applications and manufacturing requirements, and to work one-on-one with each customer to ensure they achieve their desired printing results.
