-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueDo You Have X-ray Vision?
Has X-ray’s time finally come in electronics manufacturing? Join us in this issue of SMT007 Magazine, where we answer this question and others to bring more efficiency to your bottom line.
IPC APEX EXPO 2025: A Preview
It’s that time again. If you’re going to Anaheim for IPC APEX EXPO 2025, we’ll see you there. In the meantime, consider this issue of SMT007 Magazine to be your golden ticket to planning the show.
Technical Resources
Key industry organizations–all with knowledge sharing as a part of their mission–share their technical repositories in this issue of SMT007 Magazine. Where can you find information critical to your work? Odds are, right here.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
IPC Introduces First Standard for In-Mold Electronics
November 18, 2024 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
IPC announces the release of IPC-8401, Guidelines for In-Mold Electronics. IPC-8401 addresses in-mold electronics (IME) technology, providing industry consensus on guidelines for manufacturing processes, part structures, material selection, and production test methods to integrate printed electronics and components into 3D smart structures.
IPC-8401 is the first of what is expected to be a series of standards that will move beyond the automotive industry and cover IME for smart home products and aviation.
The standard was developed by the D-83A In-Mold Electronics Interconnection Task Group, a group comprised of experts worldwide, led by Paavo Niskala from TactoTek and Iker Arroyo Moso from Eurecat. Niskala says, “The automotive industry has driven the development of IME because it significantly reduces the cost, weight, waste, and energy required to produce vehicle interior parts. Rather than using a PCB in a plastic molding with features interacting with PCB sensors, IME components are integrated directly into the plastic molding, making the manufacturing process more streamlined, sustainable, and efficient.
Key guidelines covered in IPC-8401 include:
- Manufacturing Processes: Introduction to the manufacturing processes involved in producing in-mold electronics.
- IME Part Structure: This defines a standardized IME part structure supporting the design and processing of IME parts for mass production.
- Candidate Materials: Provides material selection criteria and recommendations as industry-adopted practices, covering all materials, including substrates, functional inks, SMT components, SMT adhesives, and injection molding resins.
- Production Test Methods: Defines best practices and criteria for process controls-driven testing throughout the manufacturing processes.
To purchase IPC-8401, visit the IPC Store. To participate in IPC standards development committee meetings like the D-83A In-Mold Electronics Interconnection Task Group, visit the IPC’s committee page.
Suggested Items
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Tariffs and Supply Chains in U.S. Electronics Manufacturing
04/01/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOChris Mitchell, VP of Global Government Relations for IPC, discusses IPC's concerns about tariffs on copper and their impact on U.S. electronics manufacturing. He emphasizes the complexity of supply chains and the need for policymakers to understand their effects.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Revitalizing the U.S. Microelectronics Industry with PCBAA
04/01/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOPCBAA president David Schild discusses his experience in the PCB and aerospace sectors, focusing on the mission of the PCBAA and its collaboration with IPC. He highlights the decline in PCB manufacturing in the U.S. and the importance of public policy in restoring capacity.
IPC APEX EXPO 2025: We’ve Got It Covered
04/01/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIPC APEX EXPO is the largest electronics manufacturing trade show in North America, bringing together professionals from all sectors of the supply chain to educate, network, and share their products and services. We’ve put all our coverage of the show in one easy-to-find location. Just click on “Videos,” “Show Coverage” and “Photos” to find what you’re looking for. Check back regularly as more content is added. You won’t want to miss any of our unique coverage.
Zenaida Valianu, IPC, Earns IPC Excellence in Education Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2025
03/31/2025 | IPCThe IPC Excellence in Education award was presented to Zenaida (Zenny) Valianu, IPC, at IPC APEX EXPO 2025, recognizing her significant contributions to workforce development and leadership.
IPC APEX EXPO 2025 Review: Expecting the Unexpected
03/31/2025 | Tom Kastner, GP VenturesOne of the best things about trade shows is not the scheduled meetings but the chance meetings that come up unexpectedly. Just because you happened to go down one aisle instead of the next, you bump into an old acquaintance that you have not seen for years, or you happen to talk to the guy in line next to you to get a $5 Pepsi, and it turns into a great, new connection.