I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
July 19, 2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, PCBDesign007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Are you ready for the weekend? Fin de semana? I think we all are!
In this week’s roundup, we have one article on what it takes to thrive in the industry today, as well as an interview that discusses one student’s drive to succeed as a PCB designer. We also have an article by our newest columnist, Tom Yang, who introduces us to his family-owned PCB company. Columnist Hanna Grace brings us an interview with her mentor, and Anaya Vardya continues his UHDI coverage with an article that explains UHDI’s use in the RF/microwave arena.
It's hot as the hinges of hell, as my mom used to say, so stay cool, people!
Marcy’s Musings: The Art, Science, and Reality of Thriving
Published July 19
We all want to do more than just survive. We want to thrive. But what does it take to thrive in this industry? In her July PCB007 Magazine column, Marcy LaRont breaks down the technological, cultural, and psychological components that contribute to a company’s ability to thrive in today’s business atmosphere. Do you have what it takes to thrive?
A Great Recipe: Collaboration, Motivation, and Design Classes
Published July 17
Speaking of thriving, what does it take to become a great PCB designer? Design instructor John Watson, CID, explains how one of his students, living in Tunisia at the time, took John’s Palomar College design class from 2-5 a.m. local time and was motivated enough to pass his class and become a PCB designer. Are you that motivated?
Global Citizenship: Bringing Two Cultures Together in PCB Manufacturing
Published July 17
Let’s welcome our newest columnist, Tom Yang, the CEO of CEE PCB. In this column, Tom discusses how his family-owned business has managed to blend the best of American and Chinese influences, and why his column is a sort of “crossroads” between the continents. Check it out.
An Interview With My Mentor, Christina Rutherford
Published July 17
Columnist Hannah Grace has only been in the electronics industry for a few years, but she’s been active in the industry since she was in college. In this column, Hannah interviews her mentor, Honeywell’s Christina Rutherford. Don’t miss this one.
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI for RF Microwave Applications
Published July 16
Our contributor Anaya Vardya is one of the biggest proponents of UHDI in the US, and he often discusses the ins and outs of designing and manufacturing these tiny features. In this article, Anaya explains how UHDI can be used in various RF and microwave applications. If your motto is “Let’s get small,” this is a must-read.
Suggested Items
IBIDEN Selected for Multiple MSCI ESG Indexes for 2025
07/14/2025 | IBIDENIBIDEN Co, Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has been selected for inclusion in MSCI Inc.'s MSCI Selection Indexes (formerly the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes), MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index, and MSCI Nihonkabu ESG Select Leaders Index.
Rogers Corporation Announces CEO Transition
07/14/2025 | Rogers CorporationThe Board of Directors of Rogers Corporation announced that Colin Gouveia has left his position as President and CEO and has resigned from the Board on July 12, 2025.
Maybank Becomes First Southeast Asian Bank to Grant Sustainability-Linked Loan to Austria’s AT&S
07/14/2025 | AT&SMaybank announced it is granting a Sustainability-Linked Loan (SLL) amounting to USD150 million to Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Malaysia (AT&S Malaysia).
PCBAA’s David Schild: Where U.S. Electronics Manufacturing Stands Today
07/14/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007As the U.S. Congress looks toward a summer break, David Schild of PCBAA discusses the growing momentum in U.S. electronics manufacturing policy, emphasizing bipartisan support for reshoring efforts, the importance of targeted tax incentives, and the challenges posed by global competition. He highlights PCBAA’s growth, advocacy on Capitol Hill, and the need for sustained investment to revitalize the PCB industry.
Digital Twin Concept in Copper Electroplating Process Performance
07/11/2025 | Aga Franczak, Robrecht Belis, Elsyca N.V.PCB manufacturing involves transforming a design into a physical board while meeting specific requirements. Understanding these design specifications is crucial, as they directly impact the PCB's fabrication process, performance, and yield rate. One key design specification is copper thieving—the addition of “dummy” pads across the surface that are plated along with the features designed on the outer layers. The purpose of the process is to provide a uniform distribution of copper across the outer layers to make the plating current density and plating in the holes more uniform.