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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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IMI Celebrates 50th Anniversary
April 5, 2021 | IMI, Inc.Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
IMI, Inc. the specialty fabricator of printed circuit boards and substrates announced that the company celebrates its 50th anniversary in May 2021 making it one of the oldest circuit board fabricators in America.
Founded as Integrated Memories Incorporated in 1971 by several successful Boston area entrepreneurs led by William McConnell, the company was originally an OEM producer of memory cards. The company’s initial product offering was a line of CROM 48-bit 2k memory cards for what then was advanced computing applications. As memory products transitioned from cards to chips the company refocused as a fabricator of printed circuit boards and in 1979 changed its name to IMI, Inc.
As a fabricator of printed circuit boards IMI successfully advanced in layer count and technology while also focusing on becoming an early “quick-turn” supplier. Company milestones include purchasing and moving into our current facility in Haverhill, MA in 1985; achieving MIL 55110 certification in 1992; beginning to process PTFE laminates in 1994; achieving ISO certification in 1995; achieving AS9100 certification in 2008; becoming ITAR registered in 2009; achieving MIL 31032 certification in 2017; and most recently achieving IPC-1791 “Trusted Supplier” certification in 2020.
Over the past 50 years IMI has fabricated circuit boards for storied programs such as the original Mars Rover project; participated in significant military weapons programs; supplied PTFE products to support 3G, 4G and now 5G communication; provided prototypes for next generation technologies as well as producing production volume product for the who’s-who in the RF/microwave and telecommunications industries.
Peter Bigelow, President & CEO commented, “IMI has been an industry pioneer since its inception and continues to be focused on providing excellence in product and service to its customers.” Continuing “we are grateful to the original founders, many great employees who have served with us over the last half century as well as the hundreds of wonderful customers, large and small, who have, and continue to rely on IMI to be the innovative, highly focused manufacturer we are and have always been.” Adding “because of our customers we have been able to continually make the investments in equipment and processes necessary to assure that long term IMI remains an industry leader.”
IMI has been and continues to be actively involved with industry associations, government task groups and other organizations that promote technological advancement and policy insight so the company continues to offer the technology needed with the certifications required by leading, world class companies. “Today IMI is proud to be actively supporting our industry and gratified that we are recognized as one of the industry’s leading companies” added Bigelow.
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05/14/2026 | SIAThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and a broad coalition of 17 other top business and trade groups in a letter urged Congress to extend the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit (AMIC) – a highly impactful tax credit for chip production that is set to expire at the end of this year – and expand it to cover semiconductor design and other critical R&D activities.
New Courses: Advance Your Electronics Expertise in June and July
05/14/2026 | Global Electronics AssociationStay current with design, manufacturing, and quality standards by enrolling in one of these online instructor-led courses starting in June and July from ElectronicsU at the Global Electronics Association, designed to help professionals at every level sharpen their skills and advance their careers. These live, expert-led sessions combine flexibility with real-time interaction, allowing participants to learn directly from seasoned industry professionals while collaborating with peers worldwide. Access to all applicable IPC standards is included in the courses.
The Journey from Dilution to Zero Liquid Discharge
05/11/2026 | Richard Nichols, GreenSource EngineeringIf you’re familiar with the PCB industry, and a little long in the tooth like me, you may remember the cry, “The water board is here!” (or an equivalent authority). This was the signal for a frantic but regularly rehearsed exercise to turn on all the rinses. This anecdote demonstrates that in the early days of PCB production, prevailing practices revolved around a “dilution is the solution” mentality, in which manufacturers used copious amounts of water to dilute contaminants before discharging them into regulated municipal wastewater systems or natural water bodies.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/08/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.
Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.