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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
March 25, 2022 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
It’s been a crazy week, with lots of bad news coming out of Ukraine. (I’m a news junkie by trade, but I confess that some days I just unplug from the news completely to avoid overdosing on negativity.) And, as you might have guessed, this is all having ill effects on our electronics supply chain, which is already stretched thin. This is reflected in our IPC news item that shows an uptick in PCB sales in February, but a drop in bookings YOY, in part due to the trouble in Eastern Europe.
But there’s positive news in this week’s top reads. We have a NextFlex article about an innovative flexible technology called flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) and a great interview by Dan Beaulieu. We also have a column by Travis Kelly, who discusses PCBAA’s efforts to lobby for American manufacturing in Washington. And last but not least, let’s welcome our two newest columnists, Paige Fiet and Hannah Nelson, who discuss their excitement about entering this industry.
The New Chapter: Our Introduction to the Electronics Industry
Published March 23
Please welcome our two newest columnists, Paige Fiet and Hannah Nelson, who are sharing a column in SMT007. Hannah is the student liaison for IPC’s board of directors, and Paige recently served in that same capacity. It’s great to see young people like them coming into our industry, and you can sense their excitement as they discuss their love of engineering. If we can draw more young people like these, the future of our industry will be very bright.
IPC News: North American PCB Industry Sales Up 12.8% in February
Published March 25
Mixed messages have become a way of life, haven’t they? February PCB shipments were up 12.8% year-on-year, but bookings were down 12.6% YOY, and 5.9% from January. You’re probably getting tired of hearing it, and we’re definitely sick of repeating it ad nauseum, but the supply chain is still in the middle of a conniption fit, as my grandmother used to say. And the invasion of Ukraine isn’t helping matters.
Flexible Hybrid Electronics Design: Reducing Time to Market
Published March 23
Substrates continue to evolve at a rapid pace, and this NextFlex article shines a light on a new twist in the flex world: flexible hybrid electronics, or FHE. As Sean Nachnani, explains, it’s not the manufacturers driving FHE development—it’s the OEMs and the requirements of the applications. This is a new technology to watch.
American Made Advocacy: What Happens in Washington Happens to Us All
Published March 22
Manufacturers around the world tend to have at least a modicum of support from their respective governments. But the federal government in the U.S. has often been more of a hindrance than a helping hand for PCB manufacturers—until now. Washington is beginning to see the light, and, as PCBAA’s Travis Kelly writes, we need to constantly lobby our leaders in D.C. about the importance of our industry. Travis points out, “[W]e cannot allow our day-to-day focus on operations to distract us from what is happening in Washington and what it means to the microelectronics ecosystem.”
An Inside Look at an Indian PCB Manufacturer
Published March 24
Columnist Dan Beaulieu brings us great interviews with PCB manufacturing owners and managers from around the world. This week, we published his chat with Abhay Doshi, managing director of Fine-Line Circuits Ltd. in India. Abhay explains how he helped found the company after receiving his MBA from Berkeley and working in San Jose. It’s an interesting read.
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Book Excerpt: The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to... Factory Analytics
04/24/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn our fast-changing, deeply competitive, and margin-tight industry, factory analytics can be the key to unlocking untapped improvements to guarantee a thriving business. On top of that, electronics manufacturers are facing a tremendous burden to do more with less. If you don't already have a copy of this book, what follows is an excerpt from the introduction chapter of 'The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to... Factory Analytics: Unlocking Efficiency Through Data Insights' to whet your appetite.
Listen Up! The Intricacies of PCB Drilling Detailed in New Podcast Episode
04/25/2024 | I-Connect007In episode 5 of the podcast series, On the Line With: Designing for Reality, Nolan Johnson and Matt Stevenson continue down the manufacturing process, this time focusing on the post-lamination drilling process for PCBs. Matt and Nolan delve into the intricacies of the PCB drilling process, highlighting the importance of hole quality, drill parameters, and design optimization to ensure smooth manufacturing. The conversation covers topics such as drill bit sizes, aspect ratios, vias, challenges in drilling, and ways to enhance efficiency in the drilling department.
Elevating PCB Design Engineering With IPC Programs
04/24/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIn a monumental stride for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC has successfully championed the recognition of the PCB Design Engineer as an official occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This pivotal achievement not only underscores the critical role of PCB design engineers within the technology landscape, but also marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward nurturing a robust, skilled workforce ready to propel our industry into the future.
Winner of The Science Show Rakett 69 Receives Incap Scholarship
04/24/2024 | IncapThe winner of the Rakett 69 science show, Andri Türkson, who stood out as an electronics enthusiast, received a scholarship from Incap Estonia, along with an internship opportunity in Saaremaa.
Alternative Manufacturing Inc. Awarded QML Requalification to IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610
04/24/2024 | IPCIPC's Validation Services Program has awarded an IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 Qualified Manufacturers Listing (QML) requalification to Alternative Manufacturing Inc (AMI).