Thursday, July 29, 2010 | Arne Hofmann, Managing Director Beta LAYOUT and founder of the PCB-POOL
Dear Mr. Smets, Mr. Stans:
In an open letter you denounced the competition for circulating untruths. Eurocircuits management would like to see a more honest competition? I agree.
In 1994, Beta LAYOUT founded the PCB-POOL®. Eurocircuits was a supplier to the PCB-POOL® up to 1998. After Eurocircuits failed to deliver a sizeable order, or even to attempt a replacement delivery, they started their own Pooling service in 1999.
Do you remember?
For some time now, I have been watching Eurocircuits strong media performance in amazement.
In a May 31, 2010 publication you, again, assert:
"...in 1999, Eurocircuits saw the benefit of an Internet-based business model. The user can get a price and place an order directly online...Eurocircuit's second innovation was to team their Web-based solution with a production model designed to deliver small batches if PCBs at a low cost."
After 10 years with no comment on your statements, I now want to ask: Is it really necessary for Eurocircuits to dress in borrowed feathers?
(Phaedrus fable "Graculus Superbus Pavo": The Vain Jackdaw)
As a one-time supplier of Pool-Panels to Beta LAYOUT, you know better. During the time referenced above, PCB-POOL® and our "Internet-based business model" had been in existence for half a decade.
The word innovation, as used in your statement, my dear Messer's Smets and Stans, comes from the Latin term "novus," meaning new--innovation is to create something new.
You are more than welcome to visit our Web site and, once again, have a look at what point your "innovation" was actually available on the market.