I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
September 27, 2024 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

If you know Dave Hoover of TTM, then I am honored to inform you that he has retired from the industry as of this week. Dave and I met about six years ago, at a conference, when we were introduced by my colleague Andy Shaughnessy. We quickly established a shared love for American blues music; we even had mutual music industry friends. Dave has been a wealth of industry knowledge for me, just as he has influenced so many of us throughout the years. I’m sure I speak for all who know him that he’ll be missed in the industry. But we can keep tabs on him through his weekly online blues radio program “Groovy Hoovy’s Different Shades of Blue Radio and Video Show.” Congratulations on your transition to “civilian” life, Dave.
This week’s editor’s picks are a real potpourri of industry news items and a bonus column. There's a lot happening in our segment of the electronics world. We'll be covering the Anaheim Electronics Manufacturing Show next week, PCB West after that, followed up by SMTA International. We hope to see you there.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces First CHIPS Award to Polar Semiconductor, Establishing U.S. Foundry
Published September 25
The CHIPS Act money is starting to roll out. In this case, the funds will be used to expand and update the fab in Bloomington, Minnesota. Undoubtedly there will be more news like this in coming weeks and months, and we’ll bring you that news. It will be interesting to see just how much impact the CHIPS investment will have on U.S. manufacturing.
Connect the Dots: Designing for Reality: Outer Layer Imaging
Published September 26
ASC/Sunstone’s Matt Stevenson has been documenting the PCB fabrication process in great detail lately. If you haven’t listened to his podcast series at “On The Line With..” you should (find it at most of the major podcast sites). In this column, Matt adds additional detail on outer layer imaging. If you’re a designer, you should give this a read.
AI to Boost Wafer Foundry Market by 20%
Published September 19
The wafer foundry market is expected to see a recovery in 2025, with an estimated annual growth of 20%, up from 16% in 2024. This is happening while many components have had their manufacturing scaled back to meet lessened demand. But components specific to AI infrastructure are at the root of this growth number. Learn more here.
iNEMI Announces End-of-Project Webinar for PCB Connector Footprint Tolerance Project
Published September 23
Designers and assemblers may find value in this webinar, scheduled for Sept. 30, 2024. The project’s objective was to equip product designers with the necessary information to ensure predictable quality levels when using high-bandwidth connectors. Through a comprehensive literature review and the expertise of the project team, potential risks were identified, followed by the creation of a survey designed to assess supplier capabilities for quality mitigation in the PCB industry.
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 35% in August
Published September 23
That headline is very large when it comes to sales numbers. The 35% refers to the previous year comparison (not to spoil the surprise). The rest of the report might be less rosy, but the news is not exactly bad. Read more here.
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AI Is the Golden Track Reviving Electronics and PCBs
08/06/2025 | Edy Yu, Chief Editor, ECIO, and the I-Connect007 Editorial TeamRemember 2021? Despite COVID, the electronics industry hit a high. Then came the slide. By 2023, the industry was deep in the red. With inflation, policy shifts, and exchange rate shocks, the problems were long, and the outlook was bleak. Recovery finally appeared in 2024, but it was fragile. Automotive electronics slumped, wireless demand stayed soft, and the ride up was anything but smooth. Yet, amid the uncertainty, one bright track emerged: artificial intelligence (AI).
Review: PCEA Orange County Summer Meeting
08/06/2025 | Dan Feinberg, Technology Editor, I-Connect007The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) represents a community of engineers, designers, and industry influencers dedicated to the advancement of PCB technology, design, and manufacturing, and the growth and knowledge of its membership. PCEA regularly hosts events to share the latest developments, best practices, and visions for the future of electronic design and manufacturing. The Orange County chapter seems to be one of the largest and most active ones and I was invited to attend the latest chapter event on July 24 in Costa Mesa, California.
Register Now for the HATS²™ Technical Day at GEN3 HQ
08/05/2025 | GEN3GEN3 a world-leading manufacturer of testing, measurement and production solutions for electronics reliability. Headquartered in Farnborough, UK, GEN3 is announcing the final call for registrations to attend the exclusive HATS²™ Technical Day — a hands-on, live demonstration event showcasing the Highly Accelerated Thermal Shock Tester (HATS²™), the groundbreaking innovation from industry pioneer Bob Neves.
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI Technology and Industry 4.0
08/05/2025 | Anaya Vardya, American Standard CircuitsUltra high density interconnect (UHDI) technology is rapidly transforming how smart systems are designed and deployed in Industry 4.0. With its capacity to support highly miniaturized, high-performance, and densely packed electronics, UHDI is a critical enabler of the smart, connected, and automated industrial future. This article explores the synergy between UHDI and Industry 4.0 technologies, highlighting applications, benefits, and future directions.
Nolan’s Notes: The Interconnectedness of a Global Supply Chain
08/04/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesYou may recall when I’ve discussed the research and development of a particular magazine issue topic and how, at times, I’ve pivoted at the last minute because of what I learned from the information I’ve gathered. This month, my original focus was on cultivating your brand, but the more I investigated the topic, the more my subject experts leaned toward international supply chain strategies. Not surprisingly, these two disparate topics are far more interrelated than they might seem.