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

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

We’re in the middle of show season, and it certainly “shows.” Thank you very much. I’m here all week. Don’t forget to tip your wait staff.

This week, we published a variety of articles, columns, and news items, and much of it centered on trade shows. Technical Editor Dan Feinberg brings us a report from CES 2023. IPC announced the winners of the Best Technical Paper awards for IPC APEX EXPO 2023. And we have an interview with Altium’s Rea Callender about the company’s educational efforts at APEX and around the globe. 

We saw some big M&A news this week as APCT acquired Advanced Circuits, continuing APCT’s years-long growth streak. And Sam Sadri of QP Technologies discusses an alternative to ceramic packaging—open-cavity plastic packaging—that might be a great solution to the DoD’s packaging material supply chain issues.

It’s been a busy week, and it’s about to get much busier. If you’re at APEX next week, stop by and say hi. Then I’m off to DesignCon a few days later. I’ll be home eventually. I hope to see you on the road!

Fein-Lines: An Eye-Popping Eureka Park and ShowStoppers at CES 2023
Published January 16

Technical Editor Dan Feinberg has been at every CES show for over a decade, and he’s become our go-to guy for coverage of the consumer electronics market. In this review, Dan discusses all kinds of cool gadgets that he checked out at the show. I never knew I needed an air-to-water dispenser that transforms moisture in the air into alkaline water. 

Altium Focuses on Design Education
Published January 16

In this interview, Rea Callender, Altium’s VP of education, explains the firm’s partnerships with colleges that provides EDA software for students. Rea also discusses their special focus on outreach to women in electronics design. Altium is supplying the software for this year’s Design Competition at APEX as well.

Compass Diversified Announces Sale of Advanced Circuits to APCT
Published January 17

Mergers and acquisitions continue in this industry, with APCT entering an agreement to buy Colorado-based Advanced Circuits. If approved, this deal would be worth $220 million and add a variety of technologies to APCT’s offerings. APCT has been acquiring board shops for the past few years.

Durability and Cost Benefits Drive Mil-Aero Demand for OCPP
Published January 17

OCPP? Well, you know me. Military and aerospace contractors are having a rough time securing a solid supply chain for next-gen packaging materials. But as Sam Sadri explains, open-cavity plastic packaging (OCPP) is a lower-cost, reliable option that may be the answer to your mil-aero packaging needs.

Best Technical Papers at IPC APEX EXPO 2023 Selected
Published January 16

The best technical papers from this year’s APEX have been named, and they run the entire gamut. The authors represent 18 countries and 15 are in the “next generation” category—five years or less in the industry. It’s good to see new, young people taking an interest in the industry; they will be running things in 20 years, and we’re feeling pretty good about that.