-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueIt's Show Time!
In this month’s issue of PCB007 Magazine we reimagine the possibilities featuring stories all about IPC APEX EXPO 2025—covering what to look forward to, and what you don’t want to miss.
Fueling the Workforce Pipeline
We take a hard look at fueling the workforce pipeline, specifically at the early introduction of manufacturing concepts and business to young people in this issue of PCB007 Magazine.
Inner Layer Precision & Yields
In this issue, we examine the critical nature of building precisions into your inner layers and assessing their pass/fail status as early as possible. Whether it’s using automation to cut down on handling issues, identifying defects earlier, or replacing an old line...
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
March 19, 2021 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Last week was “APEX Week” and, unsurprisingly, the most popular news this week was APEX related (with one outlier, of course!) This week, the top five items you should follow lean strongly toward APEX interviews focusing on future trends. Remember, this year APEX offers on-demand access to the papers, presentations, events, keynotes, and forums. You can even register for post-show access.
Not that it shows in our news feeds this week, but the I-Connect007 staff is following the deployment of the Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, very carefully. Look for news from the air over Mars as the project moves forward.
Until then, enjoy our industry-leading coverage of IPC APEX EXPO, still making the news.
APEX Thursday Keynote: Shawn DuBravac on a Data-driven Tech World
Published March 12
Shawn DuBravac, IPC chief economist, provided Thursday’s IPC APEX EXPO keynote address, “The Tech Industry in a Post-pandemic World.” Shawn’s talk reminded us that it’s the explosion of data that will drive our thinking and change our processes. But it will not be data and AI alone that makes us better; it’s the combination of human creativity, data and AI that will transform our business. Watch Shawn’s talk here.
New Online Training Programs Enhance Delivery Options
Published March 15
Change was happening in every corner of the electronics industry last year, including training. Jahr Turchan, Blackfox's Director of Veteran Services & Advanced Manufacturing Programs, discusses how technical training programs pivoted in 2020 and how customers responded to their training needs throughout the year.
The Laser World is Rapidly Developing
Published March 15
Stephan Schmidt, LPKF president, discusses the LPKF laser 14x20” depaneling system. The company is also introducing automatic handling solutions, helping to fill the gap in automated SMT manufacturing lines.
The Ongoing Need for Tribal Knowledge
Published March 15
IPC Hall of Fame recipients Bob Neves and Don Dupriest led a special event on the first day of IPC APEX EXPO 2021 called “Forgotten Tribal Knowledge with IPC Hall of Fame and Emerging Engineers.” In this interview, Bob discusses the ongoing need to harness tribal knowledge for the benefit of emerging engineers. Changes in are our industry aren’t only related to technology, and this was an important discussion to be had.
Foxconn’s Chengdu Campus Recognized as Lighthouse Factory
Published March 16
Foxconn Technology Group announced that a second of the company’s factories, a factory based in Chengdu, China, has been recognised by the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Lighthouse Network (GLN) as a Lighthouse factory. The accolade is awarded to manufacturing leaders who have been successful in applying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to achieve profitable growth without increasing their environmental footprint. Look to one of the world’s largest assemblers to lead the way.
Suggested Items
INEMI Launches Study of AOI Inspection for Fine Pitch Substrates Seeking Industry Participation
03/11/2025 | iNEMIThe fine lines and spaces of increasingly popular heterogeneous SiP packages, coupled with larger panel sizes and more substrate layers, demand increased capabilities from automated optical inspection (AOI) equipment to accurately detect, characterize and reject true defects without over-rejections.
Critical Manufacturing to Show You Might Need a New MES for Making Industry 4.0 A Reality at IPC APEX EXPO 2025
03/10/2025 | Critical ManufacturingCritical Manufacturing, a leader in advanced Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and a subsidiary of ASMPT, will show visitors to IPC APEX EXPO 2025 that the company’s MES - complete with extensive features specific to the electronics industry - can serve as a true Industry 4.0 platform. Any electronics manufacturer looking to turn its vision of digital transformation from concept into reality should prioritize visiting Critical Manufacturing at ASMPT SMT Booth 1813.
Gathering Around the EMS Table
03/11/2025 | Mark Wolfe, IPCWhen I entered the EMS provider industry 30 years ago, I attended some early IPC EMS management meetings. While I enjoyed the planned presentations, I especially valued the roundtable discussions with other industry peers. They not only provided an excellent opportunity to foster new relationships but also allowed me to listen to others facing similar challenges, who often addressed them in innovative ways that I could benefit from.
Koh Young Showcases Inspection Innovations at IPC APEX EXPO 2025 in Anaheim, California during March 18-20, 2025
03/10/2025 | Koh YoungKoh Young, the global leader in True3D measurement-based inspection solutions and the exclusive Premier Sponsor of IPC APEX EXPO 2025, invites electronics manufacturers to Booth 2130 for an in-depth look at its cutting-edge inspection technologies. Taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center from March 18–20, 2025, this year’s event highlights Koh Young’s continued advancements in AI-powered process optimization and quality assurance.
European Chips Diversity Alliance Hosts Future Proofing Access to Diverse Talent Event to Strengthen Semiconductor Workforce
03/10/2025 | SEMIThe European Chips Diversity Alliance (ECDA), a European Union-funded initiative coordinated by SEMI Europe, today announced a full-day event on March 27 dedicated to advancing underrepresented groups in the semiconductor industry in collaboration with Learnovate, MIDAS Ireland, and EudaOrg.