GEN3's Key Takeaways from IPC APEX EXPO 2020 and Southern Manufacturing & Electronics

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Our GEN3 teams around the globe have been busy out on the road at the IPC APEX EXPO and Southern Manufacturing & Electronics retrospectively. These are our key takeaways for you to read from the comfort of your office, making it easy for you to learn from the event, and feeling like you were there with us.

IPC APEX EXPO is the fastest growing association show in the United States as recognised by the Tradeshow News Network (TSNN). The event brings together more than 9,000 professionals from 45 countries and aims to connect the entire electronics manufacturing supply chain under one roof.  Held over one-week in February every year, in San Diego, US, the event holds the correct mix of educational seminars and exhibitions to enhance networking opportunities. 

As GEN3, when attending APEX, the company carries out several roles. Chairman and CEO, Graham Naisbitt, who has attended APEX since 1988 plays a pivotal part in various committee meeting such as the; TC91 WG3, SIR and the CAF test groups, and J-STD-001. For Graham, the 2020 event was of particular interest as he sees the industry heighten its recognition for responsibility and IPC develop their program to focus attention on reliability in electronics.

For Andy Naisbitt, Operations Director of GEN3, APEX brought the opportunity to support GEN3’s newly appointed distributor for North America, Canada, and Mexico, Horizon Sales.

Horizon Sales became GEN3’s preferred distributor for this geographical network in September 2019, therefore as a relatively new partnership, both parties appreciate the opportunity to come face-to-face to offer one another guidance, product mentoring and market awareness. APEX allows for this.

GEN3 and Horizon Sales co-exhibited to ensure that they had a physical presence at the show, meaning that they were on-hand to engage with new and established customers who were keen to learn about any changes in standards, as well as what GEN3 had within their product portfolio to keep ahead of the reliability in electronics curve.

Both Graham and Andy find APEX one of the key shows in the industry calendar and will continue to support the event via committee membership and by having a presence. They’d like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the APEX team for another successful show.

Graham Naisbitt received a Special Recognition Award for contributions to IPC-CC-830C, Qualification and Performance of Electrical Insulating Compound for Printed Wiring Assemblies.

And the GEN3 team didn’t let jetlag deter them, as one week after APEX wrapped up, they moved onto the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics exhibition on home ground in the UK.  Southern Manufacturing & Electronics is without doubt one of the most important and popular engineering shows in the UK calendar.

Having attended Southern for 12 years, the show continues to present GEN3 with the opportunity to showcase their test and measurement equipment to the UK and Ireland marketplace, as well as liaise with other industry experts and see what is new and hot in the industry.

The GEN3 team left Southern very positive as the footfall seemed to be at its highest and the general mood of the show was of confidence and relief that there would be life after Brexit.  In the classic British way, the show must go on.  Investment in technology is beginning to ramp up and there is a degree of certainty in market conditions and the environment.

So, as we enter into March, what do the next few months hold for GEN3? Well, you can catch up with us here:

• Graham Naisbitt will be presenting a paper on Electrochemical Reliability aka ECM = CAF & SIR Testing C80 at the SMTA 2020 Harsh Environments Abstract.
• Graham Naisbitt will be attending the committee meetings at IPC Summercom in June in Raleigh, USA.
• GEN3 will be attending the SMTA International 2020 in Chicago, they will both be exhibiting via their Distribution network and attending committee meetings.

And not forgetting the e-book that the expert GEN3 team prepared to present at APEX EXPO—The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to...™Process Validation by Graham Naisbitt. This material was well received at the event and you can download your copy for free, from here.

About GEN3

GEN3, testing and measuring the electronics industry for over 40 years. For three generations, Gen3 have designed, engineered, manufactured, and distributed their test and measurement equipment into the electronics industry to shield their clients from failure in the field.

Their reputation for excellence has grown to a global scale. The team is made up of industry experts who work to set the standards around circuit testing, measurement, and compliance. They collaborate with key industry associations, offering our unique experience and expertise to educate all on what it takes to succeed. For product protection the preferred way is GEN3, where precision comes as standard, acting as a mentor and your front-line defender. 

In the high-reliability arena, there is too much at stake to allow room for error. Testing must be finite and flawless. GEN3 understand the need for precision. Get closer to perfection by minimising your risk.