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

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

No matter how you look at it, we’re already off to a roaring start in 2022. Here on the West Coast of the U.S., heavy and persistent rains are doing what they can to fix years of drought through the southwest United States. The eastern seaboard is seeing plenty of rainy weather as well. As they say on the salt containers: When it rains, it pours.

That adage is rather true in the news of the industry this week. Therefore, my must-reads include a celebration of longevity in business, the launch of our next space telescope, and the sale of equipment for the printing of electronics. On a more circumspect note, we also bring you the IPC’s report on rising material and labor costs, and an article on cybersecurity.

Hanwha Techwin Enters 45th Year as a Global Provider of Smart SMT Line Solutions 
Published January 5

Hanwha Techwin Automation Americas is celebrating its 45-year anniversary. For many of us, we originally know Hanwha Techwin as Samsung C&T Automation. The company started in the machine tool business in 1977. Hanwha led the market in developing chip mounter equipment and now produces a wide array of electronics assembly equipment.

Don’t Hit the Snooze on Cybersecurity 
Published Jan 4

SMT007 Magazine hit our virtual newsstand this week, and we couldn’t wait to feature this article by Divyash Patel at MX2 Technology. He starts by writing, “I have good news for small manufacturers looking for ways to stand apart from the competition: by delaying the launch of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), the Department of Defense may have done you a favor.” You won't have to be in the Mil-Aero sector to find this article useful as Divyash shares cybersecurity tips of tremendous value.

Read on to see what Patel has in mind on this subject. (And be sure to check out the other articles on cybersecurity and counterfeiting in our January 2022 issue.)

Nano Dimension Sells Another DragonFly IV 3D-AME System to Leading Western Defense Force 
Published January 4

Nano Dimension has completed a series of equipment sales to defense organizations in recent months. This transaction is another in that series. Nano Dimension certainly seems to have found their niche in mil-aero applications.

Rising Material, Labor Costs Continue to Plague Global Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain 
Published Dec 31

From the news item: “IPC’s January 2022 global electronics manufacturing supply chain sentiment report found that materials and labor costs continue to be the largest issue facing the electronics supply chain, with nine in 10 electronics manufacturers reporting rising materials costs and more than three-fourths reporting rising labor costs. Though order flows continue to be strong, and both capacity utilization and shipments are expanding, survey respondents reported growing backlogs and shrinking profit margins.” We feel your pain and will report more about rising input costs in an upcoming issue of SMT007 Magazine. Do you have something to say about this? Reach out to me. I’d love to hear more.

James Webb Space Telescope is 1,002nd Satellite Powered by SolAero Technologies 
Published Dec 31

We had more than one news item this week about the James Webb Space Telescope, this one item is standing in for them all. Because who amongst us in the electronics industry doesn’t think space telescopes are cool?

As we continue to feel the lingering effects of the worldwide pandemic, I-Connect007 is working hard behind-the-scenes to gather and deliver relevant and timely content that you can put into practice immediately. I encourage you to share our publications with your friends and colleagues. Let’s make this a great year together. Happy New Year!