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From the drilled hole to registration across multiple sequential lamination cycles, to the quality of your copper plating, via reliability in an HDI world is becoming an ever-greater challenge. This month we look at “The Hole Truth,” from creating the “perfect” via to how you can assure via quality and reliability, the first time, every time.
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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
March 28, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

How was your week? I’ve spent my time recovering from a busy and interesting week in Anaheim for the 25th IPC APEX EXPO. I think back to my first APEX EXPO, and the changes since then are too numerous to count.
I first attended IPC APEX EXPO in 2004, also in Anaheim, back when there was almost no design content in the conference or expo portions of the show. It was just a few years after the downturn, and attendees and exhibitors alike were skittish, almost afraid to show confidence in our industry. A few unemployed design friends handed out copies of their resumes. Travel budgets were still down, and the aisles weren’t exactly packed with traffic.
Contrast that with this year’s APEX EXPO, which I think succeeded in every way. Everyone I spoke with was bullish on their company and the industry in general. There were no really slow times on the show floor, except right before the show closed last Thursday. Almost everyone seemed to be hiring, or planning to hire soon. A few managers said they were worried somewhat about the effect of tariffs on their bottom line, but for the most part, people were excited and happy to be in this industry. And there was plenty of design content this year, from the conference classes to the Design Town Hall.
I watched "John Wick 2" on the trip out, and "John Wick 3" on the way home. (Why are there never any police around when John Wick is being shot at by 13 assassins at the same time in Central Park?) I have about a month until PCB East. Maybe I’ll see you there. So, here are my must-reads of the past week.
Life in the Fast Lane: A Smooth Ride for Bill Cardoso's New Business Converting Cobra Roadsters to Electric
Published March 26
Our contributors are an interesting group of people. Bill Cardoso is one of our columnists in X-ray inspection, but he also has a love of electric cars and Shelby Cobras. In this interview for IPC Community, Bill explains how he found himself converting his gas-powered Cobra into an EV, and eventually manufacturing Cobra EV conversion kits. Scorpion EV now sells complete Cobra EVs, including one that cranks out 1,000 horsepower in a 2,700-pound car, starting at $200,000 apiece. If you have the cash, get in line; there’s quite a waiting list.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Mycronic's Evolution Drives Record-breaking Year
Published March 26
This guy has a clue! (Sorry.) In this interview, Mycronic VP of Global Sales Kevin Clue and Editor Nolan Johnson discuss the company’s move over the past decade from pick-and-place supplier to a provider of full-line solutions, including screen printing, inspection technologies, material handling, and more. Like many companies in our industry, Myrconic isn’t letting the grass grow under its feet.
The Knowledge Base: At the Forefront of Electronics Manufacturing
Published March 26
In his latest Mike Konrad installment of The Knowledge Base, Mike Konrad describes the electronics manufacturing industry as being at a “transformative crossroads.” That seems like an apt description. As he explains, innovations in chip manufacturing, AI, and automation have the power to shape our industry for decades. Mike walks us through these developments and their implications for everyone involved. It’s a great time to be in this industry, but a momentous time as well.
Global PCB Connections: A Field Engineer’s Perspective on the Top 10 Trends to Watch
Published March 27
Jerome Larez is one of the newest columnists in the I-Connect007 stable, and as he points out here, his job as an FAE for a large Chinese PCB company gives him a wide view of the tech trends in our industry. He lists the 10 trends that he thinks will shape PCB manufacturing over the next 10 years. Check it out.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Emphasizing Sustainability in PCB Design with Summit Interconnect
Published March 27
My interview with Summit Interconnect VP of Technology Gerry Partida has something for everyone. Gerry discusses his upcoming paper on design for sustainability, a “Design For” that most PCB designers do not consider. And he shares a great story about a customer realizing that most of the company’s designers have never looked at the appropriate IPC standards. Gerry always tells it like it is.
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/27/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007While news outside our industry keeps our attention occupied, the big news inside the industry is the rechristening of IPC as the Global Electronics Association. My must-reads begins with Marcy LaRont’s exclusive and informative interview with Dr. John Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. For designers, have we finally reached the point in time where autorouters will fulfill their potential?
Reflections and Priorities: An Update to I-Connect007 Readers
06/24/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007The electronics and manufacturing industry is evolving rapidly—with new technologies, deeper global connections, and a growing drive toward sustainability. To reflect these changes and our place in this dynamic space, we’re refreshing our brand.
The Knowledge Base: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow With EMAC
06/24/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseAs the electronics manufacturing industry races to meet rising global demand and technological complexity, the need for a highly skilled, future-ready workforce has never been greater. At the forefront of addressing this challenge is The Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly Collaborative (EMAC)—a national initiative dedicated to strengthening the talent pipeline through strategic collaboration with SMTA, education, and government stakeholders.
IPC Rebrands as Global Electronics Association: Interview With Dr. John W. Mitchell
06/22/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Today, following a major announcement, IPC is embracing the rapid advancement of technology with a bold decision to change its name to the Global Electronics Association. This name more accurately reflects the full breadth of its work and the modern realities of electronics manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, Global Electronics Association President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell shares the story behind the rebrand: Why now, what it means for the industry, and how it aligns with the organization’s mission.
Global Electronics Association Debuts; New Name Elevates IPC’s 70-Year Legacy as Voice of $6 Trillion Electronics Industry
06/25/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationToday begins a new chapter for IPC as it officially becomes the Global Electronics Association, reflecting its role as the voice of the electronics industry. Guided by the vision of “Better electronics for a better world,” the Global Electronics Association (electronics.org) is dedicated to enhancing supply chain resilience and promoting accelerated growth through engagement with more than 3,000 member companies, thousands of partners, and dozens of governments across the globe.