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Beyond the Rulebook
What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
March Madness
From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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Top of the Class: IPC APEX EXPO Named One of Trade Show Executive’s Fastest 50, Class of 2023
March 4, 2024 | IPCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
IPC APEX EXPO 2023 was recognized as one of the top 50 fastest-growing trade shows in the United States for the number of exhibiting companies and attendance by Trade Show Executive, the foremost magazine for the trade show industry.
IPC APEX EXPO, the largest trade show for electronics manufacturing in North America, welcomed a 50 percent increase in event participants and a 33 percent increase in exhibitors in 2023.
“With more than 13,000 tradeshows held annually each year in the United States, this is such an honor for IPC APEX EXPO to be named as one of the Top 50 tradeshows, and we couldn’t be prouder,” said Alicia Balonek, IPC senior director, trade shows and events. “This year’s event, just weeks away is also seeing positive growth, proving IPC APEX EXPO is the industry’s premier event to make new connections and to build relationships. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Anaheim next month.”
According to Trade Show Executive, the Fastest 50 are ranked in three categories: By Net Square Feet, By Exhibiting Companies, and By Total Attendance. The Class of 2023 represents more than 15 million net square feet of paid exhibit space, 48,517 exhibiting companies, and more than 1.4 million attendees.
This year, IPC APEX EXPO will feature more than 400 exhibitors from every step in the electronics manufacturing supply chain including the industry’s leading equipment manufacturers, suppliers and product innovators who provide services to help attendees gain greater efficiency while improving their bottom lines.
To view a complete list of companies exhibiting at IPC APEX EXPO, visit www.IPCAPEXEXPO.org/exhibitors. For more information about the show or to register, visit www.IPCAPEXEXPO.org. Event essentials registration is free to individuals who pre-register online ($50 on-site). To maximize event experience, individuals can take advantage of the All-Access Package which includes all technical conference sessions; five half-day professional development courses; the EMS Leadership Summit, IPC luncheons, and more.
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Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
TTC-LLC and TTCI: Smarter Training, Stronger Test at PCB East 2026
04/27/2026 | The Test Connection Inc.The Training Connection LLC (TTC-LLC) and The Test Connection, Inc. (TTCI) will be exhibiting together at PCB East 2026, taking place April 28–May 1 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Attendees can find both teams at Booth #103 during the main exhibition day on Wednesday, April 29.
Building Industry-ready Talent Through Standards-based Education
04/27/2026 | Global Electronics AssociationRecently, Sichuan Modern Vocational College organized 132 students to complete IPC-A-610 Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) training and certification.
Roundtable: Data Protection Lays the Groundwork for Cybersecurity Strategies
05/04/2026 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007This multi-expert roundtable explores cybersecurity measures specific to electronics manufacturing. NEC’s Watanabe Hiroyuki, Divyash Patel, CEO of MX2 Technologies, and Ali Pabrai, CEO at EC First, join moderator Nolan Johnson for a deeper discussion on cybersecurity certifications.