Defense Speak Interpreted: If CHIPS Cuts Back, What Happens to Electronics Packaging Funds?
American Made Advocacy: Where’s the Budget for a Modern Military Run on Microelectronics?
Beyond the Board: Orbital High Ground—Why Space Superiority Is Slipping Away
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
June 26, 2020 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Updates on trade shows, conferences, and associations dominated industry news this past week. Some events are returning to a physical venue; others are opting for a virtual version in 2020. Add to that a spate of cross-association cooperative agreements and new programs for career development coming from multiple associations, and you’ve delivered four of my top five picks.
Of course, our new “Just Ask Happy” with Happy Holden project must make the list not only because it’s fun but also because it’s extremely interesting.
Next week, check the Friday edition of our Daily Newsletter for Andy Shaughnessy’s picks.
SMTA International Conference and Expo Goes Virtual
Published on June 23, 2020
For industry attendees, exhibitors, and researchers submitting papers to SMTA International, this announcement is a must-read.
Atotech to Participate in SEMICON China and CSTIC 2020
Published on June 19, 2020
As if Atotech’s news wasn’t reason enough to include in my picks, the fact that Atotech is showing at two China shows seals the deal. While we still have a ways to go, news like this points the way to a return to normal. SEMICON and CSTIC 2020 are delivering physical venue shows. Best of luck to Atotech, SEMICON, and CSTIC 2020.
New Opportunity for Managers Announced, Special Attention to ‘Emerging Managers’
Published on June 19, 2020
Management is a skill. A technical team can thrive with the careful assistance of a manager who knows how to lead, navigate the management structure when facing obstacles, and when to simply get out of their team’s way. To have IPC focus on Emerging Engineers and now Emerging Managers is big news.
IPC and Automotive Industry Action Group Enhance Partnership Agreement
Published on June 22, 2020
With industry sources projecting that over 50% of the componentry of an automobile will be electronics in the near future, automobiles and automobile design need to look at the auto in very different ways. Quoting from the press release, “IPC and AIAG agreed to work closely in the areas of thought leadership, quality and supply chain best practices, and community awareness building. Together, the industry associations will educate the automotive supply chain on compliance requirements, evaluate how IPC standards and AIAG guidelines align and impact both industries, and work together to identify training that builds on professional standards.”
Just Ask Happy: Routing BGAs With High-Speed Diff Pairs
Published on June 25, 2020
This past week, we’ve been encouraging readers to pose a PCB-related question to Happy Holden, a pioneer in high-density printed circuit fabrication techniques. Boy, did you have questions! Happy has been cheerfully compiling answers, and we’ll periodically bring his answers to the newsletter. To submit your own question for Happy Holden, take the survey by clicking here. Then, bookmark the page so you can ask Happy a question any time!
Share on:
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Remembering Walt Custer: An Extraordinary Business Associate and Friend
09/09/2025 | Dan Feinberg, Technology Editor, I-Connect007The passing of Walt Custer marks the end of an era for all those who knew him and were helped and impressed by his presence, both personally and professionally. Walt's life was characterized by his unwavering commitment to the industry, his profound wisdom and willingness to share it, and his infectious enthusiasm for everything he did.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/05/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007It’s almost fall here in Atlanta, and that means that the temperature is finally dropping. And it quit raining! It’s been raining since March, and I’m so over it, as the social influencers say. Last night we grilled out on the deck, and it wasn’t hot, and we didn’t get rained on. Life is good. It was a busy week in the industry. In this installment of my must-reads, we say goodbye to Walt Custer, the man who made PCB data points interesting for the rest of us.
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI Technology and Industry 4.0
09/03/2025 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsUltra high density interconnect (UHDI) technology is rapidly transforming how smart systems are designed and deployed in the context of Industry 4.0. With its capacity to support highly miniaturized, high-performance, and densely packed electronics, UHDI is a critical enabler of the smart, connected, and automated industrial future. Here, I’ll explore the synergy between UHDI and Industry 4.0 technologies, highlighting applications, benefits, and future directions.
Nolan’s Notes: Everyone Has Their Eye on India
09/03/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesIn this issue of SMT007 Magazine, we turn our attention to the Indian EMS market. We start with an interview with David Bergman, whose foresight in the early 2000s opened doors for the Global Electronics Association to begin helping Indian EMS companies with standards and certifications that would give EMS companies a footing to enter a global EMS market.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
08/29/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007This week, we bring you Global Electronics Association’s Chris Mitchell’s government relations column on—you guessed it—trade deals. TTM is balancing its facilities between East and West. The Global Electronics Association released July numbers for North American PCB shipments, and the news is good. Meanwhile, the corresponding report for EMS might seem like bad news, but that’s misleading. Be sure to look deeper for the rest of the story. Finally, for a bit space-science palate cleansing, I’m sharing news of the latest launch of NASA’s X-37B.