Marcy’s Musings: The Legislative Outlook—Helping or Hurting?
It’s Only Common Sense: The Phone Is Still Mightier Than the Keyboard
The Marketing Minute: Marketing With Layers
Monday Recap: Optimism and Economics at IPC APEX EXPO
January 24, 2023 | Nolan Johnson and Pete Starkey, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
It was a packed house for two large events at IPC APEX EXPO on Monday, Jan. 23, as the EMS Leadership Summit was wrapped in the pale veil of caution, meanwhile hundreds more gathered to hear from IPC’s chief economist, Shawn DuBravac.
At the EMS summit, the morning presenters from IPC all shared silver linings they saw inside the fading clouds of uncertainty:
- Chris Mitchell spoke to the growing success in educating government leaders globally on the importance of the electronics manufacturing industry.
- Kelly Scanlon announced the Sustainability for Electronics Leadership Council, which kicks off in March.
- Shawn DuBravac observed that, while the industry will likely see subdued growth in 2023, the industry leaders are more optimistic than they want to admit.
The rest of the day was peppered with meaty panels including high-caliber speakers, and roundtable discussions on supply chain dynamics, cybersecurity and CMMC, workforce training programs, and continuous improvement.
DuBravac delivered a keynote address titled “What's New in Tech: The Micro Trends Defining the Future of Electronics,” which was introduced by IPC President and CEO John Mitchell.
It was delivered in impressive style, with touches of humour and irony balancing some serious messages as he explored how technology is converging with myriad industries and effectively re-wiring every aspect of society.
Referring back to the analogue world of not long ago, he commented how quickly our environment has become digitised and predicted that the next big transformation will define the coming decade—the transformation from digitisation to “datafication” turning many aspects of our life into data, subsequently transferred into information and realised as a new form of value.
Monday also saw more committee meetings, receptions, and a forum on e-textiles, as well as the official launch of IPC Community, a quarterly publication now available for free digital download.
IPC APEX EXPO officially opens the show floor on Tuesday, Jan. 24 and continues through Thursday, Jan. 26. Organizers expect record crowds on the show floor, in the design competition and at the STEM events on Wednesday and Thursday.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Kitron Receives EUR 100 Million Defense Order
10/21/2025 | KitronKitron has received an order with a value of EUR 100 million from a customer in the Defense/Aerospace market sector.
Flex Sites in Brazil and Mexico Recognized as Manufacturing Leaders by the Association for Manufacturing Excellence
10/21/2025 | PRNewswireFlex announced that its sites in Manaus, Brazil, and our plastics operations in Guadalajara, Mexico, each received an Excellence Award from the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), demonstrating global leadership in continuous improvement and operational excellence.
OE-A Business Climate Survey: Solid Growth for the Flexible and Printed Electronics Industry
10/21/2025 | OE-AFor 2026 the industry has more positive expectations, with a sales forecast of +14 percent, which has even increased slightly compared to the beginning of the year. Further encouraging signs include improved employment prospects. 30 percent of companies plan to increase their workforce in the coming months — up from 10 percent in February.
Global Electronics Association Releases Fall Schedule of Instructor-led Courses
10/20/2025 | Corey Lynn, Global Electronics AssociationWhether you’re looking to enhance your PCB design skills, explore advanced packaging technologies, or deepen your understanding of reliability, these Global Electronics Association courses deliver high-impact learning from the best in the industry. Here are a few starting this week.
NOVOSENSE, UAES and Innoscience Advance Power Electronics for New Energy Vehicles
10/20/2025 | PRNewswireThe partnership focuses on developing next-generation intelligent integrated Gallium Nitride (GaN) products. Leveraging their combined expertise, the new devices will deliver more reliable GaN driving and protection features, enabling higher power density and paving the way for wider adoption in automotive systems.