PCB manufacturer KSG promised an online plant tour on June 23, 2022. The 'interactive tour of the Gornsdorf plant' was intended to provide an 'exclusive look behind the scenes', according to the press release. This aroused interest - the PLUS also took part in the virtual tour of the Gornsdorf plant.
Company spokeswoman Katharina Luchner welcomed the online guests on time and then handed over to Sebastian Seifert (Head of Key Account & Export) and Robert Jungk (Head of Operations), who invited them to chat at their desks - because they were allowed to ask questions. It was Jungk who then took over the tour of the Gornsdorf plant.
He showed the entire PCB production process at KSG - starting with the photo structuring of the inner layer in the clean room (class 10,000), the exposure processes (contact and direct exposure) were presented, the development in etching and rinsing modules, the automatic optical inspection of the etching process, the brown oxidation in the pressing area, then the layering, fixing and pressing, the X-ray, depth and laser drilling (in the class 10,000), The next step is the inspection of the laser-whirler under a 3D microscope, cleaning and through-hole plating, plugging of the vias and filling, scraping and grinding to remove excess plugging paste, followed by the application of standard end surfaces and final inspection by means of electrical tests, grinding tests and temperature cycling tests.
High degree of automation and process reliability
In short, Jungk took the virtual visitors to the plant by the hand and walked them through the entire 'line'. They witnessed a visually impressive tour of the plant, with which KSG aims to demonstrate its professionalism and modernity. And it succeeded: the "high degree of automation and process reliability" (Jungk) is impressive, as is the overall quality of the video.
Katharina Luchner revealed on the phone that the intention of the online factory tour was to give every customer a comprehensive insight into production at KSG. To this end, professional media providers from the region were commissioned.
This explains how choreographed, almost scripted, the tour appears. Luchner admits in conversation that they also had to repeat settings and shots. Spontaneity - as with a live tour - is therefore not a given, even though Jungk and Seifert responded live to questions from the audience (for example about the oxidation processes).
The fact that the factory tour does not look like a promotional video despite the professional camera work, recording technology and direction is thanks to Robert Jungk's sophisticated yet sympathetic commentary on 'the line'. He manages the trick of presenting his company unobtrusively. This is why the last few minutes of the video, in which he points out KSG's responsibility for reducing emissions and sustainability, are so convincing.
Gornsdorf plant is not located in a purely industrial area
For example, the company - whose Gornsdorf buildings are located in a mixed-use area - pays attention to noise protection and treats the water used internally so that it can be discharged into the small Auerbach village stream, which meanders across the site, in drinking water quality. Overall, KSG also plays a positive role in the region in these matters, confirms journalist Viola Gerhard (editorial office of Freie Presse, Stollberg) when asked.
The only regrettable thing is that KSG almost hides the online plant tour on its website. If it were distributed on social media, it could almost serve as a training video on the 'line' in PCB production.
