-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Chemcut: Wet Processing Equipment for the Long Haul
September 6, 2019 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Chemcut CEO and General Manager Rick Lies speaks about the growth he has seen in the marketplace over his 18 years in the industry, and how Chemcut has been able to remain competitive in the PCB and photochemical milling spaces. Jerry Reitz, Chemcut’s HES manager, also addresses the current shift towards zero-discharge facilities.
Barry Matties: Can you start by telling us a little bit about Chemcut?
Rick Lies: Chemcut’s main market focus has been on making equipment for the wet processing industry that sprays chemicals, water, etc., across a moving conveyor populated with parts. We’ve been in business for over 60 years now. We started in the PCB and photochemical milling industries, which involves the etching of different metals to make small or big parts of various sizes and dimensions out of a wide variety of metals. Over 60+ years, Chemcut went from being a private company to being acquired by Schering, then Atotech, and back to Chemcut as a private company in April 2002, so it has been 17 years. Now, we’re just an equipment manufacturer.
Matties: Is that an ESOP? Is Chemcut employee-owned?
Lies: It’s not an ESOP, we are employee-owned; there are six of us now—we started with eight, but a few have retired and moved on. We bought it back from Atotech, so it went from Atotech back to Chemcut.
Matties: I remember all that transition.
Lies: And it has been going well. In the capital equipment business, you always have your ups and downs. We’ve lived through and survived those, and for the past three years, things have been going well. We’ve entered into some new markets, but our traditional business in the PCB industry remains strong. Then, the photochemical milling industry picked up, and we’ve started to get into semiconductors and glass etching for flat-panel displays, etc.
Matties: How long have you been with Chemcut?
Lies: I’ve been with Chemcut since I got hired at Atotech in July 2001, so since the inception of the new Chemcut.
Matties: And what did you do before Chemcut?
Lies: Before Chemcut, I worked 25+ years in a different industry, including at Avery Dennison, a worldwide leader in adhesive technology.
Matties: What is your background?
Lies: I have a degree in chemistry from the University of Louisville.
Matties: So, you came into Atotech in chemistry because that was a big play for them.
Lies: Yes. I worked with the chemistry and their equipment. They sold it as a package, and when the PCB market went over to Asia, they downsized the North American equipment.
Matties: Right. You entered at a time when the market was declining in North America.
Lies: Yes.
Matties: What were you thinking (laughs)?
Lies: Well, for me, it was all about location, location, location. We lived in State College, Pennsylvania, for close to 20 years—the longest my wife Maribel and I had ever lived in one place before; that was the first time I made a decision based on wanting to stay somewhere (laughs). It was time to settle down.
Matties: That’s great. It had to work because there were no options there (laughs). So, what was the challenge back then? At that time, Chemcut was six years old, and by 2001, most of the industry was gone.
Lies: I think the challenge was to survive the first couple of years. Then, we wanted to keep our existing customers happy in PCB and photochemical milling and let them know that we were still there because Atotech was mainly interested in selling their chemistry, and the Chemcut equipment brand needed to be highlighted again as our main product line.
Matties: The brand got diluted.
Lies: Yes. When you look at Chemcut, the company was primarily known for its subtractive processes. Atotech’s chemistry is more for additive type processes like plating. So, I like to say we divested ourselves of Atotech and had to get back out there with the Chemcut name in the subtractive area. That was good for us because we went from a large corporation to a small entity, and at the same time, there was the advent of websites.
To read the full article, which appeared in the August 2019 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Lockheed Martin Australia, The Department Of Defence Sign Strategic Partnership Head Contract
04/26/2024 | Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin Australia signed a landmark AUD$500 million contract with the Department of Defence to build Australia’s future Joint Air Battle Management System under project - AIR6500 Phase 1 (AIR6500-1).
SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.
Elevating PCB Design Engineering With IPC Programs
04/24/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIn a monumental stride for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC has successfully championed the recognition of the PCB Design Engineer as an official occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This pivotal achievement not only underscores the critical role of PCB design engineers within the technology landscape, but also marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward nurturing a robust, skilled workforce ready to propel our industry into the future.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Going Vertical: SCHMID's Advanced Solutions for Printed Circuit Boards
04/24/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOEditor Marcy LaRont chats with Bob Ferguson, the president of SCHMID, about advanced solutions for PCBs and the equipment they are highlighting at this year's show. He delves into vertical no-touch handling systems and the prospect of achieving sub-10-micron lines. Inspired by SCHMID's technology, Bob expresses excitement about where the industry is today.
Big Win for Defense Production Act Budget Allocation in FY24 Budget
04/23/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamOne year ago, President Biden issued a determination that chips and packaging are critical for national security. Since that time, much work has been done to continue the conversation in Washington, elevating the importance of the entire chips value chain, and including printed circuit boards and substrates, without which chips cannot operate.