I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Estimated 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.