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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
August 19, 2022 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Can it be Friday already? Seems like I’ve just barely put away my Tuesday dishes. Some weeks, I wonder where my days went as they fly by so fast I hardly even realize it. As I looked back through the news for the week, it was clear why everything went so fast: There was a lot going on.
In my must-reads this week, I highlight a student design competition supported by Altium and IPC; changes to the who, what, when, where, and even the why, of the CPCA show in October; Sparton’s sonobuoy vendor status is inked; MKS finalizes the acquisition of Atotech; and MX2 Technologies takes us to school for CMMC 2.0.
The news this week had a nice feel to it. It seems like the industry is starting to gain some traction again with shows, mergers and acquisitions, and companies getting to do those “extras” that they wanted to do before the pandemic reared its ugly head. It had a little of that “back to normal” feel, even if we aren’t quite there yet. What do you think? Are we normal yet?
MKS Instruments Announces Closing of Atotech Acquisition
Published August 17
Rather than just trying to deal with short-term problems, companies are starting to look ahead, as is the case with the acquisition of Atotech by MKS. John T.C. Lee, president and CEO of MKS, said the acquisition positions MKS to “accelerate roadmaps for future generations of advanced electronic devices.” Challenges bring about innovation, and MKS looks poised to take the lead. Lee said, “By combining leading capabilities in lasers, optics, motion and now process chemistry, MKS is set to be a leader in the next frontier for miniaturization and complexity.” How this merger affects the rest of the industry remains to be seen.
The CMMC 2.0 Countdown: Will You Be Ready When the Clock Hits Zero?
Published August 16
Divyash Patel is a cybersecurity expert who doesn’t mince words. Get your business ready, or else. Not or else the government is sending a hitman after you. No, it could be quite a bit more complex than that. CMMC 2.0 may be a pared down version, but it’s still a phased-in process that requires your immediate attention. If you haven’t read this piece, you should; it’s eye-opening.
Sparton Received Vendor Status for U.S. Navy Sonobuoy Orders
Published August 15
Do you know what a sonobuoy is? Nope, I didn’t either. But when I saw this news, and understood the implications, I understand why this is such a big deal. Sparton was only recently acquired by Elbit Systems, and together they are advancing technology for some of the U.S. government’s most advanced weapons systems. Sparton has been a long-time partner of the U.S. Navy, and will continue to provide stellar support.
New Date and Venue for CPCA Show 2022
Published August 15
It’s no secret that China has struggled with its zero-tolerance policy regarding the COVID outbreaks, so I wasn’t surprised to see another show postponed. But I take it as a good sign that it was only pushed out one month. China, like the rest of the world, knows that it needs a healthy business outlook to stay in the black. Fortunately, the 2022 International Electronic Circuits Exhibition, now named the 2022 International Circuits (South China) Exhibition, has found a new home at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, and will operate with strict COVID guidelines in place. We’re looking forward to seeing how many companies attend. It should be a good indicator of what’s to come for other shows ahead.
Altium, IPC Education Foundation, and Arduino Announce Student Electronics Design Competition
Published August 17
Altium’s partnership with the IPC Education Foundation and Auduino will allow upcoming PCB designers to hone their skills in a design competition while addressing environmental concerns. It hits right at the core of what so many Gen-Zers are concerned with—preserving their planet for the next generations. Last year’s contestants used Altium design tools to take on a range of environmental issues—from city traffic to honey bee endangerment. To learn more about the program, and competition, be sure to click the link.
Suggested Items
Quantic Electronics Announces Acquisition of M Wave Design
05/20/2024 | Quantic ElectronicsQuantic® Electronics, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, announced the acquisition of M Wave Design, a leading supplier of ferrite-based RF and Microwave components for aerospace, defense, and quantum computing applications.
Textron Systems Collaborates with Kodiak to Develop Uncrewed Military Vehicle
05/20/2024 | PRNewswireTextron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. company, a leading developer of crewed and uncrewed military ground vehicles, and Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a leading self-driving technology developer for the trucking and defense markets, announced that they are collaborating to develop an autonomous military ground vehicle specifically designed for driverless operations.
Spring 2024 Santa Clara County Flexfactor Finals Held at Nextflex
05/20/2024 | NextFlexNextFlex hosts this semester’s FlexFactor. Four teams of high school students competed by pitching their inventive products to a panel of esteemed judges composed of Robert de Neve, General Partner & Chief Strategist General Partner & Chief Strategist at NextPhase Ventures; Christine Holly Ngo, VP of Operations and Business Development at Silicon Valley Elite Manufacturing, Inc; and Jackson Rambough, FHE Design and Process Engineer at NextFlex.
Würth Elektronik in United States Embarks on New Milestone with State-of-the-Art Headquarters
05/17/2024 | Wurth ElektronikWürth Elektronik in the United States, a leading manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical components as well as custom magnetics, has announced the commencement of construction on a new 70,000-square-foot headquarters. This new facility underscores the company’s commitment to innovation and grow in the electronics industry.
IPC APEX EXPO: Some Thoughts About Growth
05/16/2024 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007After two and a half days of wandering the aisles at IPC APEX EXPO 2024, for the first time, I almost felt like I was exploring CES. There were so many booths and exhibits that I could describe, but I’d like to focus on the growth and huge value of this event, which has expanded well beyond just the growing and impressive exhibit show floor.