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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
November 27, 2020 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Well, it’s the last Friday in November. On any normal year in the U.S., this would be “Black Friday” because, for many retailers, the kickoff to the holiday season’s shopping spree is the source for most of the operating income for the year. While it remains to be seen how exactly how much traditional in-store and online retailing will rake in, with the varied pandemic lockdowns, it’s clear that readers wanted to get the latest electronics industry sales numbers! So, we’ve included the PCB and semiconductor sales and bookings report here.
In addition, I-Connect007 columnists captured reader attention this last week. We bring you three columns exhibiting excellent information and great writing as well.
Be safe as you close out November and enter into the last month of 2020. There are even more changes over the horizon for us in 2021, though many of them look to be leading us out of our current (temporary?) situation.
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 3 Percent in October
November 23, 2020
I can’t improve on the comments from Shawn DuBravac himself: “The current environment is starting to look increasingly like a normal recession and less like the initial shock. While PCB shipments were generally in line with expectations, bookings continue to fall below average.” But the future may have better news.
North American Semiconductor Equipment Industry Posts October 2020 Billings
November 20, 2020
Meanwhile, the semiconductor industry sees growth. “The semiconductor industry remains resilient despite challenges posed by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. The uptick in semiconductors is often a leading indicator for an increase in PCB bookings as well.
Design Circuit: Failures of Imagination—A Column of Caution
November 20, 2020
In his column, originally published in the November 2020 issue of Design007 Magazine, IPC’s Patrick Crawford explores the root cause of failures: failures of nerve and failures of imagination. Crawford draws upon history and the work of author Arthur C. Clarke in his essay, which is neither a failure of nerve nor of imagination. This is an excellent four-minute, thought-resetting read.
Standard of Excellence: Bringing Your Salespeople Together
November 23, 2020
Anaya Vardya and the team at American Standard Circuits turn their partner philosophy to sales departments. It’s all too easy to think of sales folks as competitors—even between two companies collaborating with each other. Anaya Vardya makes the case that the sales teams (perhaps especially) should partner, too.
Trouble in Your Tank: A Process Engineer’s Guide to Final Etching, Part 1
November 20, 2020
Mike Carano’s column is a rock-solid, steady presence here at I-Connect007, and is always full of technical detail, chemistry, and deep knowledge. Carano’s audience reflects the high value given to the applicability of his column. This particular column, however, drew significantly more readership than normal, and when you read it yourself, you’ll see why. When a masterful columnist like Carano pens a diamond amongst gems, it’s worth showcasing.
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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/12/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007We may be post-Labor Day, but it is still hot-hot-hot here in the great state of Arizona—much like our news cycles, which have continued to snap, crackle, and pop with eye-raising headlines over this past week. In broader global tech news this week, AI and tariff-type restrictions continues to dominate with NVIDIA raising its voice against U.S. lawmakers pushing chip restrictions, ASML investing in a Dutch AI start-up company to the tune of $1.5 billion, and the UAE joining the ranks of the U.S. and China in embracing “open source” with their technology in hopes of accelerating their AI position.
IPS, SEL Raise the Bar for ENIG Automation in North America
09/11/2025 | Mike Brask, IPSIPS has installed a state-of-the-art automated ENIG plating line at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories’ PCB facility in Moscow, Idaho. The 81-foot, fully enclosed line sets a new standard for automation, safety, and efficiency in North American PCB manufacturing and represents one of the largest fully enclosed final finish lines in operation.
Dan Feinberg on Walt Custer: Remembering an Extraordinary Business Associate and Friend
09/09/2025 | Dan Feinberg, Technology Editor, I-Connect007The passing of Walt Custer marks the end of an era for all those who knew him and were helped and impressed by his presence, both personally and professionally. Walt's life was characterized by his unwavering commitment to the industry, his profound wisdom and willingness to share it, and his infectious enthusiasm for everything he did.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/05/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007It’s almost fall here in Atlanta, and that means that the temperature is finally dropping. And it quit raining! It’s been raining since March, and I’m so over it, as the social influencers say. Last night we grilled out on the deck, and it wasn’t hot, and we didn’t get rained on. Life is good. It was a busy week in the industry. In this installment of my must-reads, we say goodbye to Walt Custer, the man who made PCB data points interesting for the rest of us.
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI Technology and Industry 4.0
09/03/2025 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsUltra high density interconnect (UHDI) technology is rapidly transforming how smart systems are designed and deployed in the context of Industry 4.0. With its capacity to support highly miniaturized, high-performance, and densely packed electronics, UHDI is a critical enabler of the smart, connected, and automated industrial future. Here, I’ll explore the synergy between UHDI and Industry 4.0 technologies, highlighting applications, benefits, and future directions.