BOUNDARIES WITHOUT LIMIT Goepel Electronic is a global leader in electrical test technology equipment. Philip Yorke talked to Thomas Wenzel, the company’s managing director, about the strategy behind its dynamic growth and the pioneering, innovative products currently being launched at Nepcon.
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oepel Electronic was founded in 1991 by three entrepreneurs in Germany’s equivalent of Silicon valley – Jena, the home of Carl Zeiss. The company has been a leading pioneer of advanced electrical test technology for electrical components and PCBs, and pioneered the development of the first JTAG/ Boundary Scan. This scan technology is considered to be the most innovative and efficient test process available, which, like ICT,
tests within the circuit and detects structural fault locations by setting thousands of test points, even under BGAs, with only four test bus lines. JTAG/Boundary Scan Technology can be used throughout a product’s entire life cycle and no mechanical access is required. The advanced test procedure accelerates the development of new products, while reducing time to market and offers a fast turnaround and simultaneous testing and programming within just one programme sequence.
However, Goepel Electronic is not only respected for its work in developing boundary scan test processes but for many other ground-breaking test procedures such as its special VarioTAP IPs for testing the new generation of femtocell chips in association with Picochip and safe in-line inspection technology of double-sided equipped BGA components. Today Goepel Electronic employs about 180 people and in 2010 recorded sales of more than €22 million.
Industry Europe 77