FOCUS ON ATS KOREA

News of an order from the Orientech Co Ltd. in Korea for two machines, a Desmear/PTH line and a Panel line, both due for delivery at the end of November, turns the spotlight on PAL’s Korean representative agent, ATS Korea.

The links between PAL and ATS stretch back 20 years. ATS Hong Kong was the precursor of PAL and ATS Korea was set up in 1982 as a branch office of the Hong Kong based company. Mr H.S. Yoon headed ATS Korea then, as now. As he explains “In the early days I was the ATS branch manager, functioning as a sales agent in Korea employing one assistant and one female clerk until 1984. A military-oriented man with no knowledge of the PCB and semiconductor industries at the time, I had a lot to learn!”

And learn he did, and fast, for supported by the strong team led by Martin Evans, director of ATS Hong Kong, he set out to ensure that ATS could dominate the Korean market with plating machines for both the semiconductor and PCB markets. By 1983 he had successfully sold in the first four automated plating machines to the Korean market. That success continued once PAL was launched way back in 1984.

ATS semiconductor industry customers in those early days were Anam Industrial, Hyundai Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Motorola who used only PAL-supplied machines until MECO-made strip-to-strip machines made inroads into the Korean market in 1986.

The client list is even longer on the PCB front with plating machines supplied to Korea Circuit, Hae Ju Electronics, Dae Bang Electronics, Shin Sung Electronics, Simm Tech, Cosmo Tech, L.G. Electronics, Young Eak Trading, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, High Tech Electronics and now Orientech. “Sadly three of those companies no longer exist, but the others are going from strength to strength, and we are proud to be associated with them and with their international success,” says Mr Yoon.

The days of there being just Mr Yoon and a staff of two are long since gone! Now there are seven technical engineers on the ATS Korea payroll and a partner firm that fabricates PVC and PP tanks, piping works and steel structures. Then too there are installation teams comprising programmers, electrical and electronics engineers, mechanical engineers, steam work experts, PVC handlers who work with ATS’s partner company for one, two or three months installing new machines and ensuring their smooth running. Some 20 years after his first slightly tentative steps in this “new world” have certainly seen Mr Yoon becoming a recognised expert on plating using PAL machines in Korea and a strong proponent of offering his customers superb service pre-and post-sale.

Young Eak Trading is one of many recent success stories for PAL:ATS. A PAL Pattern line has been running successfully at Young Eak for a year and a Panel line for six months. “We are currently operating two systems at 100% production with a total monthly capacity of approximately 40,000 sq. m. a month,” explains Mr S.J. Yoon of Young Eak Trading.

The line at Young Eak

“The eductor system and rack type that we have chosen bring big benefits in terms of production and quality. We are providers of plating services and are able to provide this service for any product requested by our domestic PCB companies. The various plating tests for laser-drilled build up boards were made by Young Eak with PAL’s equipment changing the working parameters for the process of Orientech’s pre-purchase study of their plating line, from which very satisfactory results were obtained. An agreement has been made for us to provide plating services for Orientech’s build up board until the installation of their new PAL plating line, and we are already providing this service.”

Other recent success stories for the unbeatable PAL: ATS team include Samsung Electro-Mechanics whose PAL Pattern line has been in production for some 14 months; High Tech Electronics where both the PAL Panel line and TAB Plater have been running successfully for 15 months; and Simm Tech where the PAL PTH Panel line has been running successfully for two years. Now Orientech is added to this ‘role of honour’.

“We are delighted to receive this order, Orientech has a strong reputation as one of the best quality PCB makers in Korea and the company’s President, Mr Kim Sang Jin is one of the most highly qualified PCB manufacturing technical experts in the world,” says Mr Yoon. “Mr Kim Sang Jin personally evaluated the PAL machine and determined it would meet his company’s stringent demands. We look forward to overseeing the successful installation of this machine and to it being commissioned in early 2002.”

Below: The installation team