On September 20, 2024, the 15th Long Night of Careers took place at the HCC Hannover, where around 160 companies presented their training occupations and entry opportunities. We also took advantage of this opportunity, ironed our polo shirts, set up exhibition material, prepared give-aways and made fresh popcorn on site.
At the end of August 2024, the Production Technology Working Group of the ZVEI PCB Division met at ILFA. In addition to the ongoing topics on the working group’s agenda, there were also two exciting presentations.
We are delighted to welcome 4 young people to our company for the new training year. 2 young men are learning the profession of machine and plant operator specialising in metal and plastics technology, while the other 2 trainees are being trained as an industrial clerk and an electronics technician for industrial engineering.
Over the past four years, we have invested almost EUR 8 million in our PCB production at our Hanover Anderten site. There have been innovations in almost every department, e.g. new machines and systems, clean room areas and new lighting, air conditioning and automation concepts. Our shutdown a few weeks ago marked an important milestone, as our new LAUFFER pressing centre was installed, which again involved extensive conversion work. This work has now also been completed and our production facility is modern, bright and ergonomic for employees and visitors alike.
On 8 July 2024, the “Security Policy Dialogue” was continued at the invitation of Lower Saxony’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Construction, Transport and Digitalisation, Olaf Lies, in Hanover. Together with Siemtje Möller MdB (Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defence) and industry representatives from Lower Saxony, the discussion focused on aspects of a sustainable security policy and what is needed to ramp up the production of defence technology for Germany and its international partners.
Since the beginning of June 2024, the management team at ILFA has been expanded and reorganised. We introduce the team and their tasks.
A total of 16 students set off in mid-May with their professor and a research assistant to visit us at ILFA and take a close look at our production. The students from Leibniz Universität Hannover are enrolled on the nanotechnology degree programme, which they will complete with a Master of Science degree. Two of our colleagues were there exclusively for the students on the day, giving presentations, practical insights and, of course, a detailed tour of our production facilities.
On the sidelines of APEX 2024 in Anaheim, California, ILFA CEO Thomas Michels and Xaver Feiner (Vice President Marketing & Sales at Zollner Elektronik AG) were in conversation with Philip Stoten for SCOOP tv. Together, they outline the steps needed to ensure the resilience of the European supply chain.
The network is joining forces with an open letter, which is initially addressed to all member companies of the EIPC (European Institute for the PCB Community). In an urgent appeal to European government representatives to do more for domestic PCB manufacturers, the current situation of the PCB industry is highlighted and the importance of PCB as a basic technology is emphasised.
25 April 2024 was once again the nationwide Future Day for girls and boys in school years 5 – 9. Of course, we also offered places again and welcomed twelve girls and boys who wanted to get a taste of PCB production at ILFA for a day.