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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
June 7, 2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

It’s been a great week. I spent part of the week at PCB East, which was held at the Boxboro Regency in Boxboro, Massachusetts. I haven’t been to Boxboro in about 20 years. The last time I was at PCB East in Boxboro, design instructor Mary Sugden had a hot plate and a supply of bologna in her room, because she preferred fried bologna to anything she could get in a restaurant. Never a dull moment with PCB designers!
PCB East has been growing since it re-opened a few years ago. The conference was well attended, and Wednesday’s expo was busy all day long. These one-day tabletop shows are the way to go, as we’ve seen lately with the success of SMTA’s local shows. I’ll have a post-show write-up next week.
But I’m glad to be home. Here’s a roundup of this week’s top news as you head into the weekend.
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Published December 8
Technology Editor Happy Holden has been following the growing development of “bend-to-install” or “semi-flex” materials. In this update, Happy breaks down the details of this process, which, unlike flexible circuits, utilizes standard FR-4 materials and processes. We’re seeing a lot of “hybrid” processes like this now, and we’ll continue to follow this technology.
My Experience as an International Student
Published June 5
It must be really stressful being an international student; I had a hard enough time graduating from college in the country where I was born. But Palash Vyas is a little more of a go-getter than I was, to say the least. In this article, the recent doctoral graduate outlines his path from Mumbai to Auburn University, his volunteer efforts with IPC and SMTA, and winner of Best Poster Award at this year’s IPC APEX EXPO.
The Pulse: Overconstraining: Short, Slim, and Smooth
Published June 6
As columnist Martyn Gaudion says, small is beautiful in high-speed design and high reliability. To avoid overconstraining your high-speed board, Martyn explains why keeping things “short, slim, and smooth” are watchwords and why designers must take cost and DFM into account with each design.
Has It Really Been Survival Mode?
Published June 6
This is a topic that we’ve been hearing about for years: Companies in the EMS industry that are doing well have done so by being in “survival mode” for years. But is that really the case? Mark Wolfe examines this issue, starting with the four questions that each EMS manager answers before accepting every job.
Advancing PCB Technology: A Conversation With John Johnson
Published June 4
In this audio interview, John Johnson of American Standard Circuit discusses the industry’s continued movement toward finer lines and spaces and additive processes, as well as the need for a “mindset shift” and training in order to meet the needs of this new technology. He also discusses the need to focus on cleanliness and material adhesion with ultra-fine lines.
Suggested Items
Managing Energy Flow with Proper Stackup Design
02/13/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007At Design Con 2025, I had the opportunity to speak with Dan Beeker, technical director at NXP Semiconductor, about his technical session, which focused on optimizing PCB layers to best direct signal and power supply energy between these layers. In this interview, Dan discusses the complexities of board stackup and the significance of understanding dielectric layers for effective signal transmission. Dan is something of a “fields evangelist,” spreading the word about the need for designers to focus on fields, not just circuit theory. Toward the end, Dan summed up much of the design segment: Designing something that didn't make it break is not the same thing as designing it correctly.
Kitron: Q4 2024 - Profitable Execution in a Shifting Market
02/13/2025 | KitronKitron reported fourth-quarter revenue at EUR 160.6 million, operating profit (EBIT) was EUR 11.8 million and profitability expressed as EBIT margin was 7.3 per cent.
Thailand’s Smartphone Market Grew 17.1% in 2024 to 16.9 Million Units
02/13/2025 | IDCAccording to International Data Corporation ’s (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Thailand’s smartphone market shipped 16.9 million units in 2024, marking a 17.1% year-on-year (YoY) growth.
Foxconn Floats Partnership with Struggling Nissan
02/12/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamStruggling Nissan, who was Japan’s second largest automaker after Toyota until 2020, continues to be in the news. As talks have broken down with Honda, who it was announced would acquire Nissan several weeks ago, Foxconn appears to be joining the discussing, or trying.
IPC Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Doug Pauls
02/12/2025 | Dan Feinberg, Technology Editor, I-Connect007Over the years, IPC members who have contributed significantly to IPC and our industry have been awarded the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame (HOF) Award. Though many early HOF members have passed away and are unknown to today’s IPC membership, their contributions still resonate. This special series on IPC Hall of Fame members provides a reminder of who was honored and why. As a bonus, for those who are still around, we get to find out what these talented individuals are up to today.