Fresh PCB Concepts: The Importance of Bare Board Testing for Reliability
Elementary, Mr. Watson: Design Intent Over Design Speed
Beyond Design: Managing Linear Workflow Bottlenecks
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
January 31, 2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The year is off to a roaring start across the globe, but especially in the U.S. We’ll all be carefully watching the changes in policy, legislation, and enforcement coming out of Washington D.C., in the coming weeks and months. One thing is clear, though. No matter what your opinions or political affiliations are, things will change.
That said, it is impossible to look at last week’s news and draw any conclusions about how everything will equilibrate in the end. Frankly, it’s just too soon for that sort of analysis. In the meantime, here are last week’s five top stories. If you’ve read nothing else about the industry this week, read these.
Flexible PCB Market Size Projected to Reach $50.90 Billion by 2030
Published January 27
Business Wire reports, “The global flexible printed circuit boards market size is projected to reach USD 50.90 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 13.7% from 2025 to 2030.” Why? They suggest that “tegulated demand from the IT and telecom sector in view of growing need for circuits with higher data processing speed and higher working temperature is further augmenting the growth.” Read more here.
GlobalFoundries Announces New York Advanced Packaging and Photonics Center
Published January 24
Plans to create a new center for packaging and testing are supported by investments from the State of New York and the Department of Commerce. The intent is to provide packaging capabilities for U.S.-made essential chips. This development is where supply chain and national security overlap. Read the details here.
The Test Connection, Inc. Launches The Training Connection to Address Critical Test Engineering and Development Needs
Published January 24
Responding to the critical need to train skilled workers, The Test Connection has launched The Training Connection. Focusing on critical methodologies such as Design for Test (DFT) and IPC standards, The Training Connection posits that it is poised to empower professionals with the tools and expertise they need to excel.
Connect the Dots: Designing for Reality—Surface Finish
Published January 29
If you haven’t been following the “On The Line With…” podcast series with ASC/Sunstone’s Matt Stevenson, you should. Matt’s easily digestible explanations for each PCB fabrication process step will help you understand how all the various steps connect to deliver your printed circuit board. In this episode, Matt discusses surface finishes. Give it a listen.
SMTA Expands Access to All Online Training Courses for Members
Published January 27
The announcement says it best: “During its final meeting of 2024, the SMTA Board of Directors approved a proposal to include all online training courses for active members. This initiative aims to add substantial value to SMTA membership and streamline access to essential training resources. Members can now effortlessly sign in to order courses which will be immediately available to access in their SMTA Classroom.” Membership has its advantages. Read more about this in the February 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine, which publishes next week.
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The Training Connection’s Bill Graver: Among Four U.S. IPC-6012 Trainers, Setting the Standard in Testing and Training
01/15/2026 | The Training Connection, LLCThe Training Connection, LLC (TTC-LLC), a premier provider of test engineering and development training, proud to announce that Bill Graver, IPC Master Trainer with The Training Connection, is one of only four trainers in the United States qualified to teach IPC-6012, the IPC standard governing the performance and qualification of rigid printed circuit boards.
Infineon, NIELIT Partner to Strengthen India’s Semiconductor Talent
01/14/2026 | PRNewswireInfineon Technologies AG and the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Ahmedabad.
Learning with Leo: The Cost of Training on Skills and Knowledge Development
01/07/2026 | Leo Lambert -- Column: Learning With LeoThe ability to manufacture electronic products requires specific skills and knowledge, which have traditionally been developed through on-the-job experience and training. These experiences and training programs are expensive to implement, yet they are necessary to meet customer demands and remain competitive in the marketplace. Today, manufacturers, including government contractors, rely on industrial specifications in the design, fabrication, and assembly of electronic products.
Beyond Federal Dollars: How State and Local Funding Powers Workforce Growth
01/02/2026 | Victoria Hawkins, Global Electronics AssociationEmployers in the electronics sector face constant pressure to secure skilled talent. For years, federal funding has been the primary driver of workforce development initiatives. Yet, with federal dollars increasingly constrained, the most impactful opportunities are now being found at the state and local levels.
A.R.T. to Showcase its Award-Winning Formula at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026
12/22/2025 | A.R.T. Ltd.Advanced Rework Technology Ltd. (A.R.T.) will exhibit at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026, where the company will focus on supporting electronics manufacturers with both the application of recently released IPC standard revisions, as well as independent technical consultancy.