IPC APEX EXPO: Some Thoughts About Growth
May 16, 2024 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
After 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.
This event has grown from a group of the leading suppliers in the industry of the late 20th-century PCB fabrication industry—mostly focused in the U.S. at that time—to a global trade show that includes extremely impressive exhibits (and a few not-so-impressive ones) exhibiting PCB assembly, fabrication, and design manufacturing equipment; raw materials; process materials and chemicals; software and design tools; and components. These come from contract manufacturers and large suppliers of all sizes. If you attend IPC APEX EXPO, you can explore every segment and anything needed to design and build an electronic device, from the design to the assembled device. I think the next logical step would be to see the completed device shown and marketed at CES or in stores.
This year, many of us who were involved years ago in the dream of IPC having such a show were discussing how this event has grown in ability, complexity, and value over the past quarter-century. There is a lot of pride in how this event has matured. This includes the show floor, the design and fab meetings, the ability of senior management in all segments of the industry to discuss and plan for the future, and the valuable assets provided to assist those just entering the industry.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the 2024 issue of Show & Tell Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Cadence, Samsung Foundry Accelerate Chip Innovation for Advanced AI and 3D-IC Applications
06/13/2024 | Cadence Design SystemsCadence Design Systems, Inc. announced a broad collaboration with Samsung Foundry that includes technology advancements to accelerate design for AI and 3D-IC semiconductors, including on Samsung Foundry’s most advanced gate-all-around (GAA) nodes. Cadence Design Systems, Inc. announced a broad collaboration with Samsung Foundry that includes technology advancements to accelerate design for AI and 3D-IC semiconductors, including on Samsung Foundry’s most advanced gate-all-around (GAA) nodes.
Tim’s Takeaways: One for the Archives
06/13/2024 | Tim Haag -- Column: Tim's TakeawaysWell over 10 years ago, I was looking for a new hobby to fill in the gaps of my free time. As a kid, I used to build all kinds of models, including cars, tanks, airplanes, and rockets. Many of those assembly skills helped shape my career in PCB design and manufacturing. Therefore, it seemed appropriate to return to my roots and revisit the world of model building.
eCADSTAR Sets New Standards for Compact PCB Design with Etched Inductor Parts
06/12/2024 | ZukenZuken announces the 2024 release of eCADSTAR, Zuken’s next-generation PCB design system for small and medium businesses. The new release includes a number of improvements ranging from enhanced design reuse, simplified revision tracking and more robust schematic design.
Rogers Expands Capabilities and Services With New Application Laboratory
06/12/2024 | Rogers CorporationRogers Corporation announced that the new application laboratory was completed, expanding the company's assembly, testing and inspection capabilities and services at the curamik® production site in Eschenbach.
The Shaughnessy Report: All Together Now—The Value of Collaboration
06/12/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportPCB designers could learn quite a bit from NASA and the private companies that develop spacecraft: Every one of these vehicles is a testament to the value of collaboration among disparate stakeholders. Without a collaborative culture, the rocket might never get off the ground.