I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

I try to avoid discussing the weather or the changing of the seasons when introducing my must-reads. But on any news broadcast, you’ll always find both weather and sports. Sometimes we just have to include those here, you know? Well, now I’ve included both words in my summary, I can move on.

If you’re in the U.S. today, odds are you’re at home enjoying the aftermath of a Thanksgiving holiday meal. Let me just say that whether you had a Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family, friends, or both, I hope it was joyous. If you know someone who doesn’t have friends or family with whom to share this time, please reach out and include them. Chronic loneliness can exact a measurable toll on our mental and physical health. Wherever you are on the globe this holiday season, I encourage you to reach out to someone who might be battling loneliness and connect. It will make a difference to them. Not only will it help get you in the mood for your winter holiday of choice, but it’ll be good for your mental health as well.

Subdued Electronics Industry Sentiment Continues in November
Published November 25

After reading this report, “subdued” seems the perfect description. It’s not all bad news, though IPC chief economist Shawn DuBravac points out that there are concerns and optimism simultaneously. Read more here.

Real Time with... electronica 2024: SPEA's AI Integration—Innovations in Test Equipment
Published November 25

Recorded onsite at electronica in Munich, I-Connect007 technical editor (and industry icon), Pete Starkey talks with SPEA vice president Andrea Furnari. Substrate trends, AI integration and an update on SPEA’s research and development are key topics in this audio interview. As they say, “sound up for this one.”

Winners of IPC Hand Soldering World Championship at electronica 2024 Announced
Published November 21

Okay, I fibbed. Sort of. The IPC Hand Soldering competitions are the sports league for our industry. The regional events promote winners up to the world championships, which are held at productronica/electronica each year. So, while watching that American football game on the television, check in on who’s this year’s hand soldering world champion.

SMTA Announces Program for 2025 Ultra High Density Interconnect (UHDI) Symposium
Published November 26

Scheduled for Jan. 23, 2025, this event “sets the stage for researchers, engineers, designers and academia to address the complexities and innovations reshaping the world of Ultra HDI technology, which is producing printed circuit boards and semiconductors with lines and spaces well below 50 microns.”

If you’re watching the UHDI space–whether a fabricator or an assembler–you should be there.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces CHIPS Incentives Awards with BAE Systems, Rocket Lab
Published November 25 

In two separate awards under the CHIPS Incentives Program’s Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities, BAE Systems Electronic Systems was awarded up to $35.5 million in direct funding, and Rocket Lab was awarded up to $23.9 million in direct funding. Find out more about how these funds will be utilized by clicking through to the announcement.