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Marcy's Musings: It's Show Time!

It’s hard to believe another year has gone by and it is time, once again, for IPC APEX EXPO. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this iconic show for the electronics industry and, in addition to all the usual suspects, there are some special things in store to celebrate this milestone. Last year, IPC themed the event, “What’s Next is Now.” This year’s theme, “Reimagine the Possibilities,” feels like a wholly appropriate follow-on.

This month’s issue of PCB007 Magazine kicks off with Dr. John W. Mitchell, IPC President and CEO, taking us through the meaning of the theme and providing a glimpse of what’s in store for attendees. Also inside this issue, we share information on this year’s impressive keynote speakers, something not to be missed. 

In my article, “Breaking Down the IPC APEX EXPO Experience,” I look at the show through the lens of its various elements with recommendations on how you can get the most out of your show experience. To help you even further, columnist Dan Beaulieu provides a thorough tutelage for exhibitors on maximizing the significant investment of having a booth at a major show. On the lighter side, columnist Don Ball gives us a hilarious recounting of some of his most memorable trade show experiences over the years.

On the program side, Udo Welzel and Stanton Rak, chairs of the Technical Program Committee, share insights into this year’s Technical Conference, as well as information on the two special sessions on advanced packaging. Teresa Rowe, IPC senior director of assembly and standards technology, talks about why standards committee work is so important and rewarding. Thomas Marktscheffel discusses standards work specifically for Factory of the Future, explaining the various elements from a standards perspective. Kelly Scanlon, IPC’s lead sustainability strategist, gives a thorough year-in-review on sustainability and previews what’s next for IPC in this important area. Finally, we highlight the IPC Emerging Engineer program with a spotlight on Hannah Grace and Paige Fiet, two alumni of the program now working in the industry.

Dan Feinberg continues his special series on IPC Hall of Famers, this month acknowledging Denny Fritz. PCBAA chair Shane Whiteside continues his discussion on how our business sector must deal with the current environment in Washington, D.C., staying laser-focused on our goals for U.S. PCB fabricators. And we have some fun infographics this month looking back at 25 years, which I know you will enjoy.

When you say it out loud, 25 years sounds like a long time, but in many ways feels like the blink of an eye. Yet, what has been accomplished, the arc of technology over these past two and a half decades, has had an impact that is nothing less than epic. Look for these trends to continue. So, let’s begin to “Reimagine the Possibilities” and learn more about IPC APEX EXPO 2025: What you have to look forward to, and what you don’t want to miss.

This column originally appeared in the February 2025 issue of PCB007 Magazine.