I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
March 7, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

It’s been a busy week. My must-reads include articles and news items on global trends and challenges, groundbreaking technology, the hunt for the elusive young PCB designers, and some personnel changes. We also have a great column on the value of following up and keeping promises. We’re all guilty of “dropping the ball” from time to time, aren’t we? So, how do you recover?
IPC APEX EXPO takes place in Anaheim, California, March 18-20, and we’ll be there from ribbon-cutting through the final announcement telling everyone that the show is closed. We’ll be bringing you Real Time with… video interviews with the movers and shakers in PCB design, fabrication, assembly, and test. I’ll be glad to get out of Atlanta—it’s freezing here.
If you’re at the IPC show, stop by our booth and say hello. In the meantime, have a good weekend.
IMAPS’ Annual Conference Opener in Phoenix ‘Blew My Mind’
Published March 5
PCB007 Editor Marcy LaRont brings us this review of the first day’s events at the IMAPS Device Packaging Conference in Phoenix this week. As she explains, there was a lot of attention paid to AI and advanced packaging substrates, including glass. I understand the appeal of glass at the packaging level. I’ve heard some PCB fabricators discuss using glass; has anyone on the PCB side ever utilized glass?
UHDI Fundamentals: UHDI Advances Neurotechnology
Published March 5
If you’ve been following Anaya Vardya’s UHDI series, you’re aware that his new technology is a real game-changer. In this installment, Anaya explains how UHDI figures into the development of neurotechnology, especially brain-computer interfaces (BCI). It’s a brave new world for UHDI, and the innovation is only getting started.
Summit Interconnect Announces Key Executive Appointments: Sean Patterson Named CTO, Michael Norman Joins as President and COO
Published March 6
Summit Interconnect has new leadership now, with COO Sean Patterson becoming the company’s first CTO. Michael Norman joins Summit from Raytheon, becoming president and COO. Shane Whiteside will continue as CEO and chairman of the board.
It’s Only Common Sense: Follow Through and Keep Your Promises
Published March 3
Dan Beaulieu really nails it this week: We work in a blizzard of emails and texts, so following up is a real necessity. There’s really no excuse for failing to follow up, and we’re all guilty of this at one time or another. But we all know which of our friends, customers, and suppliers are the most likely to follow up, and they’re the ones we tend to want to deal with. Dan says, “Following through on promises isn’t a common trait.” I’d like to disagree, but he may be right. Check it out.
Recruiting the Next Generation of PCB Designers at Garmin
Published March 6
It’s no secret that we’re running out of PCB designers and design engineers. There are open PCB design jobs around the globe, and there aren’t enough designers to fill these jobs. In this interview, Garmin’s design engineering manager, LB Yates, explains the company’s plans to recruit and train the next generation of PCB designers.
Suggested Items
OKI Develops 124-Layer PCB Technology for Next-Generation AI Semiconductor Testing Equipment
04/28/2025 | BUSINESS WIREOKI Circuit Technology, the OKI Group printed circuit board (PCB) company, has successfully developed 124-layer PCB technology for wafer inspection equipment designed for next-generation high bandwidth memory, such as HBM mounted on AI semiconductors.
North American PCB Industry Shipments Down 3.1% in March
04/28/2025 | IPCIPC announced the March 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.24.
Candor Elevates PCB Fabrication Services with Continued Facility Upgrades
04/28/2025 | Candor CircuitsOntario-based circuit board manufacturer, Candor Circuit Boards has recently completed a series of facility upgrades to improve their PCB offerings. These investments will allow Candor to provide higher volumes of complicated boards more efficiently with better yield. The new technology has allowed the company to take on exciting high technology projects and collaborations in industries such as Military and Aerospace, Medical, Energy and more.
LITEON, Elephantech Deepen Partnership to Further Drive Innovation and End-to-End Sustainability
04/24/2025 | LITEON TechnologyLITEON Technology has signed a second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Elephantech, deepening their strategic partnership in advancing green Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) manufacturing. Announced on Earth Day (April 22), the renewed collaboration highlights their joint commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
Elementary Mr. Watson: Navigating RF—A Glide Path Approach to Design Success
04/24/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonOn a flight, I can always tell when we begin our descent because that subtle drop in my stomach tells me the altitude has changed. Landing an airplane involves a gradual, precise process called the glide path. It descends at the correct speed and 3-degree angle to touch down smoothly and safely on the runway without bouncing or coming to a sudden stop. Pilots use specialized tools like the Instrument Landing System (ILS) or GPS to stay on the correct path. Lights on the ground, called PAPI lights, help pilots know if they are too high or too low.