Learning With Leo: UHDI—The Next Leap in PCB Manufacturing
Nolan’s Notes: Is Mexico the Pulse of Electronics in the Americas?
Standard of Excellence: Speed vs. Quality in Customer Service
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.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Real Time with... productronica 2025: Looking Ahead to productronica, and a Stronger European Electronics Ecosystem
11/13/2025 | Real Time with...productronicaNext week at productronica, the Global Electronics Association Europe will be hosting a full program each day of the show at their booth in Hall A1. Philippe Leonard, head of the Association’s European office, recently shared what’s happening for our industry in Europe, details of the Hand Soldering World Championship at the show, a preview of a new Cable & Wire Harness competition kicking off in 2026, and information about the impressive lineup of speakers at the Electronics Industry Forum at the Association’s booth.
Pushing Boundaries in Measuring Board Warpage
11/12/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineAkrometrix is a key player in metrology equipment. It focuses on accurately assessing warpage and strain in PCBs and PCBAs and prospers through continuing R&D and local sourcing. I recently met with Neil Hubble, president of Akrometrix, and Paul Handler, director of sales, for a tour of their Georgia facility. We discussed the growing challenge of quality measurement for advanced products and denser designs and the need for industry standardization.
The Right Approach: Electro-Tek—A Williams Family Legacy, Part 2
11/13/2025 | Steve Williams -- Column: The Right ApproachIn Part 2 of the history of Electro-Tek, columnist Steve Williams discusses the ups of downs of being part of a family business, the transfer of the business, and lessons gained from the experiences. The business is one of the earliest and most enduring PCB manufacturers in the industry. The closing of Electro-Tek after 56 years prompted Steve to tell his family's story.
Becoming Grant-ready in the Private Sector
11/11/2025 | Nyron Rouse, Global Electronics AssociationCompanies in the electronics industry are expected to innovate faster, modernize operations, deliver resilient supply chains, and compete on a global stage. It’s a high bar to meet for manufacturers facing tightening margins, talent shortages, and evolving economic and policy conditions, but opportunities remain for those prepared to take action.
Mycronic Secures Turnkey Solution Order from a Nordic Defense Actor
11/05/2025 | MycronicMycronic has received a full-line, ready-to-use solution order from a major defense industry supplier based in the Nordic region. The order encompasses a complete solution for advanced circuit board manufacturing, including high-tech production equipment and integrated software systems.