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Current IssueVoices of the Industry
We take the pulse of the PCB industry by sharing insights from leading fabricators and suppliers in this month's issue. We've gathered their thoughts on the new U.S. administration, spending, the war in Ukraine, and their most pressing needs. It’s an eye-opening and enlightening look behind the curtain.
The Essential Guide to Surface Finishes
We go back to basics this month with a recount of a little history, and look forward to addressing the many challenges that high density, high frequency, adhesion, SI, and corrosion concerns for harsh environments bring to the fore. We compare and contrast surface finishes by type and application, take a hard look at the many iterations of gold plating, and address palladium as a surface finish.
It's Show Time!
In this month’s issue of PCB007 Magazine we reimagine the possibilities featuring stories all about IPC APEX EXPO 2025—covering what to look forward to, and what you don’t want to miss.
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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
The Right Blend: Mixed Wireless Technologies
05/08/2025 | Kirsten Zima, Siemens EDAA common trend recently is to employ as many radios as possible on a single PCB. With the increase of wireless standards and the downscaling of PCB size, it can be difficult to know what the most critical design parameters are to focus on. In this article, we’ll discuss the most important considerations to make when designing with mixed wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi, on a single PCB. These considerations include antennas, frequencies, FCC compliance, shielding, and layout with and without transition vias.
Navigating Global Manufacturing in an Era of Uncertainty
05/07/2025 | Philip Stoten, ScoopThe EMS industry faces unprecedented challenges as global trade tensions rise and tariff announcements create market uncertainty. In an overview of IPC Europe’s podcast, MADE IN EUROPE, industry experts from GPV and Zollner examine how these developments impact our businesses and customers, and what strategies will prevail in this new landscape.
Voices of the Industry: Alpha Circuit
05/06/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazinePrashant Patel, founder and president of Alpha Circuit, takes a pragmatic approach to doing business: “Commerce always wins out,” he says. How will potential tariffs and shifts in the economy affect PCB manufacturing? Prashant offers sound advice.
AMI Achieves 52 Consecutive Weeks of First Pass Yield Rates Above 98.72%
05/06/2025 | Alternative Manufacturing, Inc.AMI, a leading provider of high-quality PCB assembly (PCBA) solutions, proudly announces the achievement of 52 consecutive weeks of first pass yields at test, maintaining an exceptional success rate of 98.72% or better. This remarkable accomplishment underscores the company's unwavering commitment to manufacturing excellence, quality assurance, and customer satisfaction.
Taiwan's PCB Industry Chain Is Expected to Grow Steadily by 5.8% Annually in 2025
05/05/2025 | TPCAAccording to an analysis report jointly released by the Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute's International Industrial Science Institute, the total output value of Taiwan's printed circuit (PCB) industry chain will reach NT$1.22 trillion in 2024, with an annual growth rate of 8.1%.