I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Reading time ( words)

Updates on trade shows, conferences, and associations dominated industry news this past week. Some events are returning to a physical venue; others are opting for a virtual version in 2020. Add to that a spate of cross-association cooperative agreements and new programs for career development coming from multiple associations, and you’ve delivered four of my top five picks.

Of course, our new “Just Ask Happy” with Happy Holden project must make the list not only because it’s fun but also because it’s extremely interesting.

Next week, check the Friday edition of our Daily Newsletter for Andy Shaughnessy’s picks.

SMTA International Conference and Expo Goes Virtual
Published on June 23, 2020

For industry attendees, exhibitors, and researchers submitting papers to SMTA International, this announcement is a must-read.

Atotech to Participate in SEMICON China and CSTIC 2020
Published on June 19, 2020

As if Atotech’s news wasn’t reason enough to include in my picks, the fact that Atotech is showing at two China shows seals the deal. While we still have a ways to go, news like this points the way to a return to normal. SEMICON and CSTIC 2020 are delivering physical venue shows. Best of luck to Atotech, SEMICON, and CSTIC 2020.

New Opportunity for Managers Announced, Special Attention to ‘Emerging Managers’
Published on June 19, 2020

Management is a skill. A technical team can thrive with the careful assistance of a manager who knows how to lead, navigate the management structure when facing obstacles, and when to simply get out of their team’s way. To have IPC focus on Emerging Engineers and now Emerging Managers is big news.

IPC and Automotive Industry Action Group Enhance Partnership Agreement
Published on June 22, 2020

With industry sources projecting that over 50% of the componentry of an automobile will be electronics in the near future, automobiles and automobile design need to look at the auto in very different ways. Quoting from the press release, “IPC and AIAG agreed to work closely in the areas of thought leadership, quality and supply chain best practices, and community awareness building. Together, the industry associations will educate the automotive supply chain on compliance requirements, evaluate how IPC standards and AIAG guidelines align and impact both industries, and work together to identify training that builds on professional standards.”

Just Ask Happy: Routing BGAs With High-Speed Diff Pairs
Published on June 25, 2020

This past week, we’ve been encouraging readers to pose a PCB-related question to Happy Holden, a pioneer in high-density printed circuit fabrication techniques. Boy, did you have questions! Happy has been cheerfully compiling answers, and we’ll periodically bring his answers to the newsletter. To submit your own question for Happy Holden, take the survey by clicking here. Then, bookmark the page so you can ask Happy a question any time!

03/21/2023 | Christopher Bonsell, Chemcut

This year, I had the great opportunity to come to IPC APEX EXPO in San Diego as a contributing member in Chemcut’s booth. Being an exhibitor is always interesting because you never know what you will learn or who you will meet. Truly, it seems that every IPC APEX EXPO is an eye-opening experience. This was the second show I attended, and last year I was amazed to see how in-depth and interconnected the electronics industry is. Seeing how many different companies contribute to manufacturing today’s core technology never fails to impress me.

03/21/2023 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007

Investments, staffing, cybersecurity, and a peek into his crystal ball—John Vaughan, vice president of strategic markets at Summit Interconnect, sits down with Nolan Johnson to talk about it all. Business is good, by the way, thanks to Summit’s portfolio of military contracts, and he has sound advice to offer for smaller shops in the United States, and their real ability to make a difference in PCB fabrication.

03/21/2023 | Dan Beaulieu, D.B. Management Group

I have always felt that automation has the potential to make a big difference in our PCB industry, especially domestically, where labor is at premium. For the past year, I have been looking for the story of how automation can and will make a significant difference in established PCB shops. I was fortunate enough to find that story in Multicircuits, located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Only a few short years ago, this company was considered a “plain vanilla” PCB fabricator holding its own in our industry; now it has suddenly assumed a true leadership position in the industry in terms of capability, technology, operations, and profitability.