In 2024, the management of F&S Bondtec was expanded: Ms. Miriam Seidl has been responsible for commercial management as CFO since the turn of the year.
What impetus will you provide as part of the management team?
The primary goal is to remain true to our line. F&S Bondtec is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and our success story didn't come from nowhere. Our unique selling point is the broadest and most flexible portfolio in the field of wire bonding and testing. And we cater specifically to every customer. We have developed more in the direction of special machine construction because there was a need for it. We are therefore increasingly offering special machines with automation and interface implementation. Our core area is still not the mass market, but machines for research and development. We want to maintain this strength.
You have stated that the number of employees has increased significantly ...
Wire bonding has always been important in microelectronics, but is now also being used more in battery bonding. There are also special machines. That is why we have grown more on average than in the last 30 years.
How is F&S Bondtec dealing with the shortage of skilled workers in this context?
We have of course noticed that it has become more difficult to find competent employees. Fortunately, there is a very good secondary school for electronics and mechatronics at our location (Braunau am Inn), with which we cooperate very closely. Those who have completed a summer internship with us usually apply for a job after school. We also manage to keep our female quota high. This year, two out of three summer interns are female.
What opportunities do you see at F&S Bondtec with regard to A.I.?
There is great potential for process control. We are using the first algorithms in image recognition. Our ultrasound generator D-USG X determines a lot of process data, which is very compatible with the use of AI. This allows certain anomalies or phenomena to be filtered out or rejects to be proactively avoided. Many of our customers are new to the industry and are not yet very familiar with individual facts and data. AI opens up completely new possibilities. Our customers provide us with lots of figures, data and facts. The ultrasonic process is no longer a 'black box'. The process becomes more tangible for everyone, and thanks to an integrated transducer health check, we also have the option of measuring and monitoring the transducer at any time. This allows customers to generate a wide range of data and optimize the process.
