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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
March 21, 2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
IPC APEX EXPO has wrapped up another successful year, and the 25th anniversary proved to be another great event with record attendance, a robust technical conference, and interesting professional development tracks. In addition, dozens of standards development committees were in session, and we look forward to what comes of those. Can we get some virtual applause for our 100% volunteer standards committee members?
In the busy I-Connect07 booth, we conducted more than 60 video interviews with many of today’s top industry influencers. I’m tired, my voice is shot, and ready to go home but it’s been a great week. Stay tuned for all the great post-show coverage that we will be sharing in our newsletters and at Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2025 in the coming weeks. There is so much news to share, it’s hard to choose just five, but here are my pics for this week’s must-read items in articles and news.
IPC APEX EXPO 2025: And So It Begins
Published March 19
The show floor officially opened on Tuesday to large crowds and busy booths. Nolan Johnson covers the highlights of this first day, and previews what was to come next. Please also read my review of the Emerging Engineer reception. I’m so excited about this program and the way it encourages and mentors young professionals in the industry. “Hot topics already include AI concepts and applications, advanced packaging, ultra HDI, and inter-machine data exchange,” Nolan writes. If you were unable to make it this year, read on for a small intro into the big show.
Technica USA Appoints Jason Perry as New President
Published March 19
Big news coming out of IPC APEX EXPO: Jason Perry has been appointed as the new president of Technica USA, a leading provider of materials, equipment, assembly, MEMS, and semiconductor industries. With 26 years of experience, Jason brings deep industry knowledge and a proven track record of leadership. His appointment marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Technica USA, a company we enjoy working with. Congratulations, Jason.
Electronics Manufacturers Double Down on Sustainability Efforts Despite Challenges, According to New Report by IPC
Published March 18
At APEX EXPO this week, sustainability was a popular topic. IPC is committed to this initiative, and in this announcement, shared details of Evolve, a comprehensive program designed to help electronics companies move sustainability forward on an accelerated path. “Sustainability isn’t just about compliance—it’s about opportunity,” says John Mitchell, IPC President and CEO. “The electronics industry has an unprecedented chance to drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and meet the growing demand for sustainable products." No doubt, there will be more to come on the Evolve program, so stay tuned.
Paige Fiet: From Emerging Engineer to Quality at TTM
Published March 19
It seems fitting as we end this show week to highlight Paige Fiet, a graduate of the Emerging Engineers program and a previous columnist for PCB007 Magazine. Paige is now a quality engineer for TTM and a great example of what the IPC Emerging Engineer Program provides to young engineers. They are new to the industry and trying to find their footing while charting a potential long-term career path. This is a great feel-good feature and I appreciate Paige sharing it with us.
Punching Out: Fewer Than 150 PCB Shops Remain in North America
Published March 20
It likely comes as little surprise to most of us that the number of PCB fabricators who actually make boards has continued to decline. In Tom Kastner’s latest column, he recounts the situation, citing 42 known acquisitions between 2020 and 2024, with the current number of PCB shops having fallen below 150. With so much talk about bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., it is difficult to know what this means for domestic fabrication, especially defense and critical infrastructure. A dedicated U.S. supply chain has immediate needs, but for the hard numbers and current estimates on mergers and acquisitions, I encourage you to read on.
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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/08/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.
Global Electronics Association to Testify at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Panel on Section 301 Structural Excess Capacity
05/08/2026 | Global Electronics AssociationChris Mitchell, Vice President for Global Government Relations at the Global Electronics Association, will testify before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Panel on Section 301 Structural Excess Capacity on Friday, May 8.
Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
TTC-LLC and TTCI: Smarter Training, Stronger Test at PCB East 2026
04/27/2026 | The Test Connection Inc.The Training Connection LLC (TTC-LLC) and The Test Connection, Inc. (TTCI) will be exhibiting together at PCB East 2026, taking place April 28–May 1 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Attendees can find both teams at Booth #103 during the main exhibition day on Wednesday, April 29.