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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
January 29, 2021 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
We’re a month into the new year, and so far, so good. I’m just glad to be out of 2020. As Chris Farley said in “Tommy Boy” after his character fell off of a mountain, “What in the hell was that all about?”
This week, we have a variety of news and articles to share, and it’s all positive. We have a new president, and he’s pledging to help American businesses. December PCB sales were up 4.5% over the same period a year ago. Atotech is just about ready to launch an IPO. Sunstone has tweaked its free CAD tool, PCB123, to make it even easier for designers to receive their Gerber files. And columnist John Watson breaks down what we all learned during the chaos that was 2020.
IPC Welcomes President Biden’s 'Buy American' Executive Order
Published January 25
Newly sworn-in President Joe Biden has signed dozens of executive orders in his first week at the White House. There are ongoing arguments, pro and con, about the merits of many of these EOs, but here’s one that we can all get behind. The “Buy American” Executive Order states that it will “close current loopholes” that can hamstring American companies, while helping smaller companies get access to federal contracts, among other things. IPC agrees with this EO, and the organization is asking Biden to continue to support U.S. manufacturers.
Atotech Commences Initial Public Offering
Published January 25
Time to go public! German specialty chemicals company Atotech is moving forward with an IPO designed to raise about $700 million. The 34 million common shares are expected to bring between $19 and $22 per share. Atotech’s customers include manufacturers of consumer electronics, automotive electronics, and smartphones, as well as communication and cloud computing companies.
Gerber File Option Added to Sunstone's PCB123 Order Process
Published January 26
There are several free PCB design tools available today, and one of the better ones comes courtesy of Sunstone Circuits—PCB 123. Now, PCB123 users no longer have to call or email Sunstone for a copy of their Gerber files. All they have to do is check a box during the ordering process to receive their Gerbers. By giving customers their Gerbers, Sunstone is signaling it’s confident that you’re going to come back again.
Elementary, Mr. Watson: 2020—The Year that Taught Us Resilience
Published January 23
Altium’s John Watson penned a great column about what we all learned in 2020. And let’s face it—as crazy as it was, the trials and tribulations of 2020 made many of our companies stronger and smarter than they’ve ever been. John discusses some of the main takeaways from last year, including the need to be proactive, and that it’s okay to fail.
North American PCB Industry Sales up 4.5 Percent in December
Published January 27
In more IPC news, December’s PCB industry sales were up 4.5% over the same month last year. And PCB bookings shot up 9.2% YOY, and 9.1% over the previous month. In a sign of the resiliency of this industry, the PCB community closed out 2020 on a positive note. Let’s hope we can carry this into 2021.
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Zentech First to Adopt IPC Apprenticeship National Program Standards
05/20/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIPC achieved a landmark in 2023 by creating an apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. With such a registered framework in place, industry can work through IPC to secure local, state, and federal dollars for workforce development in a way they’ve never been able to do before. Zentech Manufacturing, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, with production facilities in Bloomington, Illinois, and Richardson, Texas, is the first employer partner to adopt IPC’s national program. Click here to read their story.
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Additive Manufacturing: PCB007 Magazine May 2024 Issue
05/20/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamThough modern semi-additive and fully additive technologies are still emerging for PCB manufacturing, additive technology itself is not new. In this month’s issue, we explore additive manufacturing technology for the PCB fabricator: where it stands today, the true benefits, and where it seems to be headed.
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Insulectro on Attracting Young Talent to the Electronics Manufacturing Industry
05/16/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOInsulectro's Doug Gotelli and Mitchell Benson explore the challenges of drawing young talent into the electronics manufacturing industry. They underscore the significance of manufacturing and the urgency of tackling the workforce shortage. They also discuss internship programs, the industry's resilience amid the pandemic, and the rewarding experiences of working in this sector.
European Chips Skills Academy Launches Summer School in Italy to Promote Microelectronics Industry Careers
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