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

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

It may not officially be March Madness until March 17, but it feels pretty mad to me. Let’s just say it out loud: We are T-4 weeks to the IPC APEX EXPO. As I reviewed the big news of the week, I noticed quite a bit from mil/aero, and I recommend that you look for those headlines. But for now, I am more interested in the IPC Technical Conference and the ways that one engineer says you can get the most from your time spent at the show; Pete Starkey’s take on the world and European markets through the view of the EIPC keynote presenters; the reported growth in the global PCB market and the European EMS market; and what we are actually doing to remedy our workforce problems.

IPC APEX EXPO 2024 Technical Conference:  Innovation Communication
Published March 6

I can’t help it, but I am really excited about the IPC APEX EXPO 2024’s Technical Conference. With IPC hosting ECWC16 (Electronic Circuits World Convention), the access to global knowledge and research has made for an impressive line-up of technical presentations. If you come for nothing else, go to IPC APEX EXPO 2024 for all that this year’s technical conference has to offer curious minds!

Ups and Downs in the World Market
Published February 29

As with so many of you, I love Pete Starkey. Aside from his lovely demeanor and sharp mind, he happens to be an excellent technical editor. No one covers a technical conference in such great depth and detail quite like Pete. In his latest review, in which he covers the keynote speeches of the EIPC Winter Conference, he writes, “The keynote session for the EIPC 2024 Winter Conference addressed several topics, ranging from applications for superconductivity to the fluctuating European financial market and the importance of IC substrates.” With an uncertain and somewhat precarious future in terms of growth, wisdom from distinguished individuals such as Dr. Hayao Nakahara and Andreas Folge of Nanya Plastics, were eagerly received.

European EMS Market Grew to a Record Level in 2023 But May Experience Challenges in 2024
Published March 7

Dieter Weiss, founder and president of In4ma, has produced his annual survey once again which, among other things, highlights that 81% of European EMS companies achieved higher revenues than in the prior year and employment is up by 5.9%. Take a read to get a good beat on the European EMS market, something which informs all of us in the supply chain.

Real Progress Toward Solving U.S. Workforce Problems
Published March 6

IPC achieved a landmark milestone in 2023 by creating an apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. IPC’s Cory Blaylock, director of workforce partnerships and programs, has overseen the development and the beginning implementation of IPC’s important apprenticeship program. It is no secret that, from design through PCB fabrication through EMS, we are looking at a vast chasm of knowledge loss from the pioneers in our industry who have, or will soon, retire. For those of us who have been around long enough to remember when the trades were celebrated as fine careers in the United States and are humble enough to acknowledge some of our own blue-collar beginnings in this great industry, this apprenticeship program is a big step in the right direction. Thank you, IPC, and bravo! I look forward to hearing more.

Report: PCB Market Size to Grow by $19.05 Billion from 2022 to 2027
Published March 7

In this announcement, the increasing role of automation inside PCB shops is highlighted, as is the global technology drivers of 5G adoption for smart phones, the general trend toward miniaturization, and the ever-increasing needs around thermal and power requirements. This piece ends with a cautionary note, “However, the rapid evolution of electronics also raises concerns about Electronic Waste and Hazardous Materials such as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, and Brominated Flame Retardants present in PCBs. Efforts are being made to mitigate environmental impact through initiatives like CSIL (Circular Supply-Chain Initiative for Lead-Free Electronics).” This teases well toward the March issue of PCB007 Magazine, which is all about sustainability.