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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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Trackwise Signs Flex PCB Agreement with UK EV Manufacturer
October 6, 2020 | Trackwise Designs PLCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Trackwise Designs has signed a three-year agreement to manufacture and supply flexible printed circuit (FPC) boards to a UK manufacturer of electric vehicle (EVs). The agreement has the potential to be worth up to £38 million over the period.
The large quantity and precisely defined cell connections and monitoring locations in battery modules are well-suited to FPCs. Using FPCs in EVs saves part count and assembly time, leading to increased efficiencies during build processes. They also save space and weight in the final product, enabling the vehicle to go further on a single charge and reducing vehicle emissions. FPCs produced using Trackwise’ patented Improved Harness Technology™ (IHT) can be made to any length depending on requirements and manufacturers are no longer restricted to traditional, shorter lengths.
The UK government has ambitions for domestic companies to be at the global forefront of ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) development, manufacture and use. In 2017, their Industrial Strategy included an investment of £274 million into the Faraday Battery Challenge to develop, design and manufacture world-leading batteries in the UK. The resulting increase in green vehicles will contribute to economic growth whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality.
Commenting on World Electric Vehicle Day on 9 September 2020, UK Business and Industry Minister, Nadhim Zahawi said, “From multi-million-pound investments in electric vehicle charging points to consulting on ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans, we’re making certain that the future of UK transport is green.”
Philip Johnston, CEO of Trackwise, commented, “The UK was the first major economy to set a legally binding target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net-zero’ by 2050. We’re delighted to be working with a UK-based EV manufacturer at the forefront of driving the adoption of sustainable technologies and we acknowledge and are grateful to the support of the Faraday Battery Challenge. The selection of Trackwise to help power EVs at scale is a fantastic endorsement of how our technology can help the UK build a robust and reliable domestic supply chain. This in turn will help the government achieve its goal in significantly reducing CO? emissions.
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Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
ESD Alliance Reports Electronic System Design Industry Posts $5.5 Billion in Revenue in Q4 2025
04/15/2026 | SEMIElectronic System Design (ESD) industry revenue increased 10.3% to $5,466.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 from the $4,955.2 million registered in the fourth quarter of 2024, the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, announced today in its latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report.
Punching Out: How Many PCB Companies Are There in North America Now?
03/19/2026 | Tom Kastner -- Column: Punching Out!When I am asked how many PCB shops are still in the U.S., my answer is usually, “About 130. How many do you want to buy?” However, I do not really know the number. My job is either to sell PCB shops or help people buy them, not to count them. I probably should keep better track of them, but many are small (70% have revenue below $10 million), or they say they are making boards even if they rent out their facility as an auto repair shop.
EIPC Winter Conference 2026 Review: The Keynote Sessions
02/11/2026 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007Aix-en-Provence (pronounced “ex-ahn-pro-vonse”), a historic city and commune in the south of France, about 20 miles north of Marseille, was the pleasant venue for EIPC’s Winter Conference in early February. Industry delegates from 11 European countries, as well as from the U.S. and China, gathered at the Renaissance Hotel for a two-day programme, “Driving the Future: Innovation, Energy, and Sustainability in PCB Technology.” An added attraction was a privileged visit to the ITER fusion power project at the Cadarache research and development centre.
SMTA Space Coast: What's Needed to Modernize Defense Solder Standards
12/23/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Long-time lead-free solder investigator, Denny Fritz, hit the SMTA Space Coast Expo in November to drum up support for an initiative to include lead-free solder in milaero-based printed circuit board assemblies. In this interview, Denny provides background on the genesis of the “consider all solders” project and why it matters to continue leading this effort.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
11/28/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Yesterday was the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. The traditional meal is, of course, roast turkey with “all the trimmings.” Although not everyone observes that menu, most do, and it was reported that 42 million turkeys were consumed on that day. With an average weight of 16 pounds per turkey, we cooked up 672 million pounds! With approximately 342 million people in the U.S, that pencils out to just under two pounds of drumstick and white meat per person. That, my friends, is a whole lot of leftovers.