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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
December 10, 2021 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Right now, it seems that almost everyone I know is talking about the future. Doesn’t matter whether it’s with my family, loved ones, friends, industry colleagues, or neighbors I meet on the street, conversations are almost entirely forward-looking. This being the holiday season, some reminiscing is to be expected, but I’m just not hearing it in the chatter all around me–this year is different somehow. And it shows in this edition of my must-reads for the week as well.
This week we bring you forward-looking discussions with Dr. John Mitchell, IPC president and CEO, on IPC APEX EXPO and what to expect in the future; and an interview with Isola’s CEO, Travis Kelly, introducing a new industry consortium, the Printed Circuit Board Association of America. Innovative additive technologies gain the spotlight as well, with Nano Dimension and a combination of Averatek and American Standard Circuits leading this week’s news cycle. Wrapping up the theme is Siemens’ position as a visionary in the Industrial IoT Magic Quadrant, as compiled by Gartner.
The Mission of the New Printed Circuit Board Association of America
Published December 9
Barry Matties recently met with Travis Kelly to discuss the formation of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA), a consortium of U.S.-based companies he chairs to support U.S. domestic production of PCBs. PCBAA was established on three pillars, and Travis explains how they intertwine with each other—and with other similar organizations in the industry. This is an important read no matter what sector of the industry you fall in.
John Mitchell: Focus on the Future
Published December 6
In a far-ranging interview, first published in I-Connect007’s December issue of SMT007 Magazine, Dr. John Mitchell and Barry Matties discuss the upcoming IPC APEX EXPO, IPC programs, and the challenges–and opportunities–facing our industry. If you think Dr. Mitchell's assessment would be pessimistic, you'd be wrong.
Nano Dimension Sells Two DragonFly IV 3D-AME Systems to Defense and Government Agencies
Published December 6
Nano Dimension announced that it has sold the first two DragonFly IV 3D-AME printers, in addition to the two machines that have completed beta sites processes with other leading customers. DragonFly IV is an additive manufacturing system for fabrication of electronic devices which deposits materials while concurrently integrating capacitors, antennas, coils, transformers, and electro-mechanical components.
Siemens Positioned in Visionaries Quadrant of Gartner Magic Quadrant for Industrial IoT Platforms
Published December 7
Siemens Digital Industries Software announced it has been positioned by Gartner in the Visionaries Quadrant of the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Industrial IoT platforms. Siemens is positioned as the sole vendor in the “Visionaries” Quadrant in the report on its first participation in the research. Gartner describes Visionaries in a market as the innovators that drive the market forward by responding to emerging, leading-edge customer demands and by offering new opportunities to excel.
American Standard Circuits Utilizes Averatek Process for Medical Technology
Published December 6
CEO Anaya Vardya discusses the addition of the Averatek A-SAP™ to ASC’s offerings. In the news item, Vardya explains, “Our medical electronics customers depend on us to provide them with the most reliable PCBs possible. When dealing with medical products it is not hyperbole to say that it is always a matter of life or death. With the A-SAP manufacturing process ASC can now provide our customers with ultra high-density technology, 25 micron trace and space, and improved reliability, reducing layer counts and micro via lamination cycles, ultimately simplifying the design.”
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Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
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.
Nolan’s Notes: Everyone Has Their Eye on India
09/03/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesIn this issue of SMT007 Magazine, we turn our attention to the Indian EMS market. We start with an interview with David Bergman, whose foresight in the early 2000s opened doors for the Global Electronics Association to begin helping Indian EMS companies with standards and certifications that would give EMS companies a footing to enter a global EMS market.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
08/29/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007This week, we bring you Global Electronics Association’s Chris Mitchell’s government relations column on—you guessed it—trade deals. TTM is balancing its facilities between East and West. The Global Electronics Association released July numbers for North American PCB shipments, and the news is good. Meanwhile, the corresponding report for EMS might seem like bad news, but that’s misleading. Be sure to look deeper for the rest of the story. Finally, for a bit space-science palate cleansing, I’m sharing news of the latest launch of NASA’s X-37B.