Beyond the Board: The Future of Innovation—Why the Electronics Industry Needs You
American Made Advocacy: New Congress, New Opportunities
The Government Circuit: News on Defense Electronics, Europe, and Sustainability
PCB Carolina’s Formula: Industry Experts and Catered Food
November 18, 2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 1 minute
PCB Carolina organizers at the Better Boards design bureau seem to have found the perfect formula: Industry experts plus catered food equals a constantly expanding show. This one-day tabletop show has been growing for two decades, and that trendline continued with this year’s event on November 13.
Located in NC State’s McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, PCB Carolina has gone from a small local show to a regional event that draws exhibitors and attendees from around the U.S.
The day started with breakfast and a keynote speech by Saugat Sen of Cadence Design Systems. The 16 technical sessions covered everything from PCB design and DFM techniques to assembly and product safety. The show squeezed quite a bit into a one-day event.
Once again, the show floor was sold out, with exhibitors setting up booths in the lobby and in several classrooms. Exhibitors represented the entire PCB supply chain, including EDA companies, fabricators, CEMs, component and laminate suppliers, distributors, and service providers.
Show manager Randy Faucette said the number of attendees was up 8% over last year. In addition to PCB designers and electrical engineers, I spoke with attendees from the semiconductor, packaging, fab, and assembly segments. Most attendees were from the RTP areas, but some drove five hours or more to the show.
Some repeat attendees joked that the catered food was enough to draw PCB technologists back year after year. After enjoying a lunch of barbecued brisket and a Mexican dinner with local craft beers, it’s hard to disagree. No one likes boxed lunches.
Over the years, I’ve met technologists who only attend PCB Carolina, because their companies don’t have the budget to send them to the bigger shows in our industry. Regional shows provide a real service, and PCB Carolina’s managers make sure that you won’t have to eat “conference chicken” while staying up to date with changes in technology.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Growth and Innovation at FCT
02/26/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007During DesignCon, I met with Tony Plemel, senior applications engineer at Flexible Circuit Technologies (FCT), to discusses the company’s growth and expansion opportunities, including its expansion of its inTFlex EMS facility. In this interview, Tony explains how FCT’s commitment to customer service and focus on communication and responsiveness allow the company to leverage its capabilities for continued expansion.
Discover the New Podcast Series on Thermal Management—Now Available
02/27/2025 | I-Connect007In this premiere podcast episode, Ryan Miller of NCAB breaks down why thermal management is a must for PCB designers. What are the main causes of excess heat in our designs today? Why does it matter? And how can designers keep their boards cool under pressure?
New Book Explores History of X-ray Technology and Application in Electronics Today
02/27/2025 | I-Connect007As the field of electronics continues to evolve, X-ray inspection has become an indispensable tool for ensuring quality and reliability in manufacturing processes. In The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to... X-ray Inspection, author Dr. Bill Cardoso, Creative Electron, discusses the development of contemporary X-ray machines, which incorporate advanced imaging, motion, and decision-making steps that facilitate precise defect detection.
Elementary, Mr. Watson From Classroom to Career—Bridging the Gap in PCB Design Talent
02/27/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonHas anyone else felt we're doing more with less in our industry and we constantly need more and better talent? Although we are in the middle of what I consider the golden age of the PCB industry in terms of innovation, we still don’t have the necessary talent to fill positions. We need to take a serious look at our industry, figure out how we found ourselves in this position, and what we can do to turn the situation around.
Global PCB Connections: How Technology Can Level the Playing Field
02/25/2025 | Jerome Larez -- Column: Global PCB ConnectionsTechnology can help us all become equal by leveling the playing field. It doesn’t matter where you build PCBs because the rules of physics are universal. There are several ways global standardization helps when it comes to working together to create the best possible products.