Though the division was founded in part to ensure a supply of sufficiently high-tech boards for Teradyne's fabled test equipment, ATE made up just 4 percent of sales in 1999. To be among Teradyne's leading customers has its advantages. As with many major volume board manufacturers, quickturn capacity is reserved for key customers. TCS tries to maintain 10 to 15 percent of capacity for its top four clients. For starters, Teradyne uses television monitors to track the carts containing innerlayers.
Quickturn pieces get their own row.
Most North American PCB companies have encountered material availability problems during the past year - whether they admit it or not. TCS was no exception. According to Anderson, TCS reserves capacity for materials from quickturn suppliers. Polyclad Technologies, located in nearby Londonderry, is Teradyne's main supplier of laminate, with a market share of close to 80 percent. The drills are accompanied by three Excellon routers.