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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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EMS Forest Accepted into the Techstars 2021 Program
February 11, 2021 | PRNewswireEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
EMS Forest, the leading provider of AI-powered PCB design quality and supply-chain processes, announces that it has been chosen to join the 2021 class of the STANLEY + Techstars Accelerator. This is the first class focused on solutions for artificial intelligence (AI) in advanced manufacturing.
“We’ve selected a diverse group of companies uniquely positioned to work with Stanley Black & Decker to make a meaningful impact on Industry 4.0,” commented Laila Partridge, Managing Director of the STANLEY + Techstars Accelerator program.
“We feel very excited, honored, and privileged to have been included in the SBD Techstars program,” said Ari Block, EMS Forest CEO.
This year’s Accelerator class began on January 25, and will culminate with a demo day and investor days in late April. For the first time, this class is using a virtual format, which provides the added benefit of expanding the mentor pool to individuals from across the globe. The goal of the class is to help entrepreneurs succeed over the course of a three-month program using mentors and a network of corporate partners, investors and alumni. Techstars provides funding and fundraising opportunities, workshops, curate resources and peer feedback.
“Being in the SBD Techstars Program allows EMS Forest access to domain experts in all aspects of our business. We plan on taking advantage of this access in order to enhance our product and its positioning in the marketplace, as well as accelerate our R&D efforts towards initial product launch.,” added Block.
EMS Forest is one of 10 companies chosen from a large pool of candidates. There are two robotics companies, four software companies and four companies developing solutions by way of digital and hardware components. The startups originate from numerous locations across the states - Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington - and across the globe from Canada to Germany, and India.
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"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
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
How Are You Vetting Your Supply Chain?
04/28/2026 | Didrik Bech, CONFIDEEFor many years, supplier management was largely focused on standard commercial priorities: cost, quality, lead time, and delivery performance. If a supplier met specifications, shipped on time, and remained price competitive, the relationship was often considered healthy. However, the world has changed.
Global Sourcing Spotlight: Building a Supply Chain That Bends, Not Breaks
04/29/2026 | Bob Duke -- Column: Global Sourcing SpotlightThe global supply chain is a complex, interdependent, and shifting organism. In the past few years, pandemics, tariffs, wars, natural disasters, and transportation chaos have tested it like never before, revealing that fragility is expensive. The companies that survive do so not through luck but through resiliency. For decades, companies built sourcing strategies around the illusion of stability—one supplier, region, and price. It worked until a port closed, a single supplier went down, or a production line froze.
TTC-LLC and TTCI: Smarter Training, Stronger Test at PCB East 2026
04/27/2026 | The Test Connection Inc.The Training Connection LLC (TTC-LLC) and The Test Connection, Inc. (TTCI) will be exhibiting together at PCB East 2026, taking place April 28–May 1 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Attendees can find both teams at Booth #103 during the main exhibition day on Wednesday, April 29.
New Guidance Targets Scope 3.1 Emissions Gap in Electronics Supply Chains
04/22/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamA new industry guidance document aimed at improving how electronics companies account for Scope 3 Category 1 (Scope 3.1) emissions marks a significant step toward more consistent and effective supply chain decarbonization. A recent webinar hosted by the Global Electronics Association and the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) addressed a persistent challenge: Despite the material impact of Scope 3.1 emissions, fewer than half of electronics companies currently report them.