Elementary Mr. Watson: Running the Signal Gauntlet
The Shaughnessy Report: Winning the Signal Integrity Battle
Connect the Dots: How to Avoid Five Common Causes of Board Failure
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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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.
Standard of Friendship: Debbie McDade and Symon Franklin Went From Classmates to Colleagues
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MS2 Technologies, LLC/P. Kay Focuses on Central America with First Installation in Honduras
08/24/2025 | P. Kay Metal, Inc.This year MS2 Technologies has turned their focused to the growing electronics market in Central America. With that focus came the adaptation of MS2 and the Akila System from a Honduras-based corporation with manufacturing plants in both Honduras and Mexico.
Meet with The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI) at SMTA Guadalajara 2025
08/18/2025 | The Test Connection Inc.The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI), a trusted provider of electronic test and manufacturing solutions for more than 45 years, is pleased to announce its participation at the upcoming SMTA Guadalajara Expo & Tech Forum, taking place September 17–18, 2025, at Expo Guadalajara, Salón Jalisco Hall D & E.
Creating Connections in Mexico
07/30/2025 | Michelle Te, Community MagazineA concerted effort by the Global Electronics Association—Mexico team over the past year has created inroads for the Global Electronics Association (formerly IPC) with leading electronics companies, government offices, and academic institutions in Mexico. “Our goal is to bring more awareness to what the Global Electronics Association is and what it offers,” says Lorena Villanueva, senior director. “We also aim to increase our membership. Of 3,200 members of the Global Electronics Association, only 180 are in Mexico.”