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In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
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Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
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This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
March 17, 2023 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The captive shop used to be the rule, not the exception. Until outsourcing caught on, that is. North American captive shops went the way of the dodo bird, and the PCB market hasn’t been the same since. Even R&D went out the window, or offshore, if you want to be technical about it.
But Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) is something of a wild card. The company recently opened a new captive facility in Idaho, and the industry is paying close attention.
This week, Nolan Johnson goes deep with an interview with SEL technologists, who discuss the new facility and their plans for the future. Is the captive format the way forward for PCB manufacturing, or is this an anomaly?
We also feature an interview with designer Adam Thorvaldson, who came in second in the IPC Design Competition, and Pete Starkey’s thorough review of the ICT annual general meeting. Don’t forget to read Mark Laing’s state of the union for the EMS industry, and Kelly Dack’s twist on “The Tale of Five Monkeys,” or in this case, CAD monkeys.
Schweitzer: Building Inner Strength
Published March 15
How many captive shops are there in the U.S. now? We’re about to have one more, as Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) ramps up production on its new captive facility in Boise, Idaho. Nolan Johnson conducted this interview with three SEL managers, who outline their plans for this state-of-the-art North American facility.
Runner-up Discusses IPC Design Competition
Published March 16
PCB designer Adam Thorvaldson had quite a run in the IPC Design Competition. He came in second place, despite being quite new to the EDA tool. But he plowed ahead and took care of business. He even came close to winning the competition. Check it out.
ICT Seminar 2023 Review: Energy, Thermals, and Assistive Technology
Published March 16
Technical Editor Pete Starkey has been busy lately—he’s our “go-to guy” for covering industry seminars in Europe. He recently attended the annual general meeting of the Institute of Circuit Technology, which culminated in Rex Rozario OBE receiving an ICT Honorary Fellowship. Among the news to come out of this event: Europe’s share of PCB production has plummeted in the last 20 years, but revenues have remained fairly stable.
The EMS ‘State of the Union'
Published March 15
Following on the heels of the presidential State of the Union address, Mark Laing of Siemens Digital Industries Software offers this SOTU of the American EMS segment. As he points out, high-mix is the watchword of the day, and EMS providers are now stocking inventory to preclude future supply chain snafus.
Target Condition: The Tale of Five CAD Monkeys
Published March 16, 2023
You may have heard “The Tale of Five Monkeys,” which deals with a handful of primates learning new behaviors through negative reinforcement. Columnist and noted folklorist Kelly Dack brings us a new twist on this story, now focusing on five PCB designers—or CAD monkeys. Grab a banana and read on!
Suggested Items
SEMICON West 2024 to Spotlight U.S. Chip Industry Investments, Supply Chain Resilience, Talent, and Global Growth and Innovation
05/15/2024 | SEMISEMICON West 2024 will gather industry experts and leaders July 11-13 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco for insights into the latest trends and innovations in sustainability, supply chain management, workforce development and other critical industry issues.
A Potpourri of Design PD Classes
05/14/2024 |What is invention without innovation? What is innovation without capability? Kelly Dack addresses these questions and more in this review of the Professional Development courses at IPC APEX EXPO, including the flex course lead by "Flexperts" Mark Finstad and Nick Koop.
Viscom’s Approach to Inline X-Ray
05/14/2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007In this interview, Viscom President Ed Moll and CEO Jesper Lykke discuss the importance of inline X-rays for real-time data and board inspection. They also discuss AI integration, customer inquiries, and ROI considerations. Also, as Ed moves into semi-retirement, he reflects on his long career, recent developments, and the evolving X-ray industry. He shares his insights on career opportunities for emerging engineers in the industry.
SEMI Applauds U.S. CHIPS Act Award for Polar Semiconductor Facility in Minnesota
05/14/2024 | SEMISEMI, the industry association serving the global semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, applauded the United States Department of Commerce’s announcement of a Preliminary Memorandum of Terms for an award under the CHIPS and Science Act to support the expansion and modernization of Polar Semiconductor’s fab in Minnesota.
Siemens Partners with Microsoft to Deliver AI-enhanced Solutions for Resilient Product Lifecycle Management with Azure
05/14/2024 | PRNewswireSiemens Digital Industries Software announced an expansion of its partnership with Microsoft to make the Siemens Xcelerator as a Service portfolio of industry software available through Microsoft's cloud and AI platform Azure and integrating it with generative AI and Copilot features.