The Right Approach: Get Ready for ISO 9001 Version 6
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Still Broke: Walmart’s Remarkable Transformation'
Driving Innovation: Depth Routing Processes—Achieving Unparalleled Precision in Complex PCBs
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:
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
Zhen Ding Drives AI-Powered Digital Transformation
09/12/2025 | Zhen DingDriven by the surging demand for computing power fueled by AI, the semiconductor and PCB industries are forging closer integration, expanding their ecosystems, and pursuing shared growth. PCB has already become another NT$ trillion-dollar industry in Taiwan, growing in tandem with the semiconductor sector.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/12/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007We may be post-Labor Day, but it is still hot-hot-hot here in the great state of Arizona—much like our news cycles, which have continued to snap, crackle, and pop with eye-raising headlines over this past week. In broader global tech news this week, AI and tariff-type restrictions continues to dominate with NVIDIA raising its voice against U.S. lawmakers pushing chip restrictions, ASML investing in a Dutch AI start-up company to the tune of $1.5 billion, and the UAE joining the ranks of the U.S. and China in embracing “open source” with their technology in hopes of accelerating their AI position.
Zhen Ding Expands PCB into Semiconductors at SEMICON Taiwan 2025; Advantech Drives AI Smart Parks
09/12/2025 | Zhen DingZhen Ding Technology Holding Co., Ltd., a global leader in the PCB industry, returned to exhibit at SEMICON Taiwan 2025. Positioning itself as an industry pioneer in "PCB expanding into semiconductors," the company showcased its latest strategic layout
Direct Imaging System Market Size to Hit $4.30B by 2032, Driven by Increasing Demand for High-Precision PCB Manufacturing
09/11/2025 | Globe NewswireAccording to the SNS Insider, “The Direct Imaging System Market size was valued at $2.21 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $4.30 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.68% during 2025-2032.”
Advint Incorporated Brings Artificial Intelligence to Electroplating Training
09/11/2025 | Advint IncorporatedAdvint Incorporated is introducing a new dimension to its electroplating training programs: the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This initiative reflects the company’s commitment to providing PCB fabricators and manufacturers in the USA and Canada with training that is practical, forward-looking, and directly relevant to today’s production challenges.