LPKF has received an order worth €2.5 million from a Chinese electronic manufacturer for Laser Direct Structuring (LDS) systems. This is the first phase of a large-scale order. The company was expecting the order in the fourth quarter of 2014, but the client postponed.
"We are glad that the client decided in favor of placing the order, and expect to be awarded the second phase of the order in the coming months," said Ingo Bretthauer, CEO at LPKF.
With LPKF's Laser Direct Structuring systems, circuit pathways can be imprinted directly onto three-dimensional plastic components. This saves on space and weight, making it particularly suited to the manufacture of components for small mobile end devices such as smartphones.
In the LDS patent dispute in China, the Supreme People's Court has released its decision to reject LPKF's appeal to review the case. This means that the LDS patent in China remains invalid. However, outside China, it continues to be valid in all significant markets. "We will continue to build on our LDS business in China, even without the patent. The higher quality and greater cost efficiency of our systems in the production process are the decisive factors here," added Bretthauer.