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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
September 25, 2020 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

It’s show time! Yes, once again, the trade show season is upon us. But it’s a little bit different this year, with every industry trade show and conference relegated to virtual formats because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Virtual shows are the only game in town, and a lot of companies see them as a great opportunity. After all, with a virtual show, anyone in the world can attend and see your latest products. There are no plane tickets, hotel rooms, restaurants, or rental cars to pay for. Do you think the virtual show is here to stay, even after COVID-19 is a thing of the past, or are people getting tired of logging on to these events?
In this week’s picks, we bring you news about the upcoming SMTA International 2020, IPC’s plans for the fall, a move for Burkle North America’s headquarters, and advice on how to select the correct CAD tool. And we have the first installment of our newest series: “Just Ask John Mitchell.”
Next week, Nolan Johnson is back with his top five recommendations.
Visit Real Time with… SMTAI 2020 for Complete Show Coverage
Published September 24
SMTA International gets underway next week, with a virtual exposition scheduled for September 28–30, 2020. We started early, featuring pre-show video interviews with a variety of executives, managers, and engineers in the SMT segment. At I-Connect007, we’ll bring you complete coverage of SMTAI, so check back with Real Time with… SMTAI.
The Government Circuit: Green Regulations, the Economy, COVID-19, and ‘Decoupling’ in Focus for IPC This Fall
Published September 21
Quite a few people read Chris Mitchell’s latest column on the IPC’s plans for the fall. In this article, Mitchell explains how IPC is dealing with everything from EPA regulations and COVID-19 to Asian markets and communicating with your elected officials. Is North America going to continue to “decouple” from China? Mitchell breaks it down.
Burkle North America Announces Headquarters Move to Greensboro Technology Center
Published September 21
Do I detect a trend? One study found that approximately 1,800 businesses left California during 2016, the most recent year with available data. Now, we can add Burkle North America to that list, and who can blame them? By relocating from Cypress, California, to Greensboro, North Carolina, the company will save millions of dollars over time, allowing them to better serve their customers. And the new digs are only a short drive from Research Triangle Park. Good move.
Just Ask John Mitchell: Are IPC’s Positions Dictated by Politics?
Published September 21
After the success of our previous “Just Ask” installments that posed technology and market questions for Happy Holden, Joe Fjelstad, and Eric Camden, we knew it was time to find some “new blood.” Fortunately, IPC President and CEO Dr. John Mitchell was ready and willing to answer your questions. The first question that came in for John had to do with whether IPC’s programs are driven by politics, and in this election year, a lot of you clicked on this article.
Connect the Dots: How to Know If a CAD Tool Is Right for You
Published September 21
In this column, Sunstone Circuits’ Matt Stevenson and Bob Tise discuss some of the lesser-known criteria to consider when selecting a new CAD tool, especially the free and budget-priced tools. This duo digs in and provides tips for selecting and trying out everything from open-source design tools to layout tools provided by PCB fabricators. They also explain why open-source tools are definitely not for everyone.
Suggested Items
Hunting for Clues: Feng Xue Solving Circuit Board 'Crimes' With AOI Standard
05/08/2025 | Linda Stepanich, IPCWhen residents in sleepy English villages needed a top-tier detective to solve a murder, they called on Belgian super-sleuth Hercule Poirot, author Agatha Christie’s fictional detective famous for using his “little grey cells” to solve crimes. In the same way, IPC standards development committees, when creating a standard to detect defects in circuit boards using Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), call on IPC A-Team, Hercule.
IPC Strengthens Global Focus with Promotion of Sanjay Huprikar to Chief Global Officer
05/08/2025 | IPCIPC, the global electronics association, announces the promotion of Sanjay Huprikar to chief global officer. This newly created position reflects the association’s forward-looking strategy and industry needs to strengthen the electronics supply chain.
Navigating Global Manufacturing in an Era of Uncertainty
05/07/2025 | Philip Stoten, ScoopThe EMS industry faces unprecedented challenges as global trade tensions rise and tariff announcements create market uncertainty. In an overview of IPC Europe’s podcast, MADE IN EUROPE, industry experts from GPV and Zollner examine how these developments impact our businesses and customers, and what strategies will prevail in this new landscape.
Nick Koop Launches IPC Flex Design Class
05/06/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineNick Koop is director of flex technology for TTM Technologies, and he’s been a staple of IPC’s flex committees for decades. He’s also a longtime flex design instructor, and he’s about to debut a new IPC class, Flex and Rigid-Flex Design for Manufacturability, which will run May 12–21. In this interview, Nick tells us about this new class and what attendees can expect to learn.
The Government Circuit: Trump’s Trade War Disrupts the Electronics Ecosystem
05/06/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitThere is certainly no shortage of work to be done in the IPC Government Relations department, as the U.S. waged a tariff campaign on practically every industrial country in the world and several countries embarked on high-tech initiatives with a mix of approaches to the crucial foundations of electronics manufacturing. Indeed, the breadth and speed of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign continues to be a serious challenge for our industry.