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We take the pulse of the PCB industry by sharing insights from leading fabricators and suppliers in this month's issue. We've gathered their thoughts on the new U.S. administration, spending, the war in Ukraine, and their most pressing needs. It’s an eye-opening and enlightening look behind the curtain.
The Essential Guide to Surface Finishes
We go back to basics this month with a recount of a little history, and look forward to addressing the many challenges that high density, high frequency, adhesion, SI, and corrosion concerns for harsh environments bring to the fore. We compare and contrast surface finishes by type and application, take a hard look at the many iterations of gold plating, and address palladium as a surface finish.
It'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.
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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
January 14, 2022 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

We’re driving headlong into 2022, and there’s a lot going on in the world of PCB design, fabrication, and assembly. It’s trade show season now. IPC APEX EXPO starts in less than two weeks, and we’re all getting ready for what is, for many, the first trade show in years. Do you know where you put your business cards after your last show in 2020? I keep half a box of biz cards in my glove compartment; I’m not going to make that mistake again.
Trade shows are well represented in this week’s Top Five, along with news about a new Isola eBook on advanced materials and an article on the Factory of the Future. I imagine you’ll find more information about high-performance materials and the Smart Factory at IPC APEX EXPO.
I hope to see you all in San Diego, but if you can’t make it, check in with I-Connect007 throughout the week for the latest show updates.
New Book From Isola Highlights Importance of Material Selection
Published January 13
The latest I-007eBook, The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to... High Performance Materials, authored by Isola’s Michael Gay, provides PCB designers and design engineers with guidelines for selecting the proper advanced material for each application. This free eBook can help you weave your way through the maze of available high-performance materials available now.
CES 2022: Half Virtual, Still Valuable, and Here’s Why
Published January 13
Consumer Editor Dan Feinberg has been covering the changing technology at CES for over a decade. But this year, Dan is covering the show virtually, and apparently, about half of the usual attendees also decided to log into the show instead of traveling to Las Vegas. Still, as Dan explains in this post-show review, there was plenty of innovation on display at this year’s CES.
AltiumLive 2022 CONNECT Announces European Summit Dates
Published January 13
Altium has announced the dates for its European AltiumLive event, February 2-4, 2022. Taking place one week after its U.S. counterpart, the European Summit will also be a virtual affair, with tracks including Design Principles and Practices; Simulation, Test & Measurement; Supply Chain; Manufacturing, and classes devoted to Altium tools. Registration for the European AltiumLive is open now.
Making the Most of a Smart Factory Initiative
Published January 11
In this conversation from the January issue of SMT007 Magazine, Editor Nolan Johnson speaks with Koh Young’s Joel Scutchfield about the company’s focus on the Smart Factory Initiative. They also discuss trends in the global market, including artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, and data analytics.
Happy Holden’s Five Must-Reads of 2021
Published January 10
As we entered 2022, we asked Happy Holden to review the articles that we published last year and pick his Top Five. Always up for a challenge, Happy went through our 2021 offerings and named his five favorites, along with his criteria for selecting them. We hope you enjoy this insight into the kind of articles that Happy finds interesting.
Suggested Items
IPC Excellence in Education Award: Zenaida Valianu
05/01/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Zenaida Valianu is the training manager at IPC who brings more than 25 years of expertise in standards and training development to her role. She has revolutionized IPC certification training programs by significantly enhancing their content with comprehensive curricula and engaging materials. She has also been instrumental in developing essential workforce training courses and contributing to various other initiatives.
A Visit With ‘Flexperts’ Mark Finstad and Nick Koop
05/01/2025 | Joe Fjelstad, Verdant ElectronicsAt IPC APEX EXPO 2025, I chatted with seasoned flex experts Mark Finstad and Nick Koop about "Flexperts" and their roles as leading educators and in the realm of standards development for this increasingly indispensable electronic interconnection technology. They have been teaching about lessons learned and how to successfully navigate the “seas” of flexible circuits to help their students avoid the hazards that have taken down many of their predecessors in the past.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Improving the Electronics Industry With Advanced Packaging
04/30/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPODevan Iyer, the Chief Strategist for Advanced Packaging at IPC, shares insights from his recent presentation at the EMS Leadership Summit. The discussion covers the importance of understanding market segments in IoT, power electronics, and high-performance computing. EMS companies are encouraged to specialize, invest wisely, and collaborate to meet customer needs.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: The Role of AI in Advanced Packaging
04/30/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOIn a follow-up to his keynote, Dr. Ahmad Bahai, discusses the critical intersection of advanced packaging, computing, and AI in semiconductor innovation with Nolan Johnson and Devan Iyer. He emphasizes the need for new approaches to handle the data economy and highlights AI's role in optimizing electronics manufacturing. The conversation covers challenges in power and thermal management, the impact of AI on EDA tools, and bio-inspired innovations. Predictions about future trends point towards increased efficiency in design and manufacturing.
New IPC Standard Sets First Global Benchmark for E-Textile Wearable Reliability
04/29/2025 | IPCIPC announces the release of IPC-8981, Quality and Reliability of E-Textile Wearables. This first-of-its-kind standard sets baselines for testing and classifying e-textile wearables, addressing key challenges in product reliability, performance, and quality assurance.