CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM REIGNS AT PAL

The electronics industry, and the Printed Circuit Board sector in particular, has been has been in a severely depressed state for eighteen months with few signs of widespread recovery much before mid 2003. The General Metal Finishing industry has been less severely affected, but, apart from a few select areas, is not in an expansion mode. However, in both industries there are some bright spots, on which PAL has been focusing its attention in recent months. These include PCB manufacturing in Thailand, the motorcycle industry in India, and European "transplants" into China.

“So, at PAL we are feeling cautiously optimistic,” says Geoff Paterson, Managing Director of Process Automation International Ltd. “Over the past few months our order books have taken a very definite a turn for the better. Currently we are quoting on orders and building machines for around 50 customers – and potential customers – in 12 countries. We are starting to feel positive about the future. Yes, there is still a good way to go before we can throw caution to the wind, but at least the wind seems to be coming from the right direction!

PAL has received an order for a record-breaking machine from Germany,
it’ll look very much like this (see page 2).

“This Autumn issue of PAL News highlights orders received from, and installations taking place (or which have taken place) in Canada, China (two of them for European ‘giants?, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, The Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia, and the UK ?and there are others in the pipeline that will be featured in the next issue of PAL News.

“We are exhibiting at EPC2002 in anticipation of meeting old friends, new customers and to track down potential European distributors, because we’re making an important announcement in Cologne? it’s about the future direction of PAL in Europe.

“This has come about due to the cessation of the sales agreement between PAL and STS Industrie S.A. of Switzerland. We would like to pay tribute to the work that they have done in past years. We will now be forming a new European entity that will have responsibility for sales and marketing into mainland Europe (Galvour continue to look after Scandinavia) and the former Eastern Bloc neighbouring countries. Fuller details will be unveiled at the EPC Cologne show.

“We will also be exhibiting at the TPCA 2002 show in Taiwan where we will share a major booth with IML. They will be showing their latest horizontal equipment and we will be showing some exciting new concepts that augur well for the future. We are looking forward to a busy 2003.”

PAL NEWS IN BRIEF

Shipley Europe, Coventry, ordered an upgrade package from PAL UK to install new software, vibration and new rectifiers on their laboratory demonstration and Electroplating test equipment. This has been installed and commissioned during the summer holiday period.