Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Successful Flex Circuit Design Transfer
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
Electronics Industry Reimagines the Possibilities at IPC APEX EXPO 2025
April 7, 2025 | IPCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The electronics industry is driven by innovators and problem-solvers, and IPC APEX EXPO 2025 provided endless opportunities to connect, collaborate, and shape the future.
From hot topics such as artificial intelligence, high performance computing, advanced packaging, and EV electronics covered in keynotes, conference sessions, and standards meeting to the latest innovations in capital equipment on the show floor, this year’s event provided ample knowledge sharing and networking opportunities, for 3,541 attendees from 39 countries.
Four hundred two (402) exhibitors engaged in three days of business development, generating 22,900 qualified sales leads on 132,100 net square feet of Anaheim Convention Center show floor space. IPC APEX EXPO attracted 6,863 total visitors including attendees and exhibitor personnel.
In keeping with the event’s theme, “Reimagine the Possibilities,” the IPC APEX EXPO Technical Program Committee built a strong technical conference program with 15 topic tracks, 28 sessions, and 79 papers, with peer-reviewed content from industry thought leaders from across the globe, detailing original research and innovations.
“Every year, I am reminded what an exciting and fast-paced trade show and conference IPC APEX EXPO is—the colleagues you run into, the new people you meet, the innovations you encounter, and the fascinating discussions you dive into. From attendees and exhibitors alike, feedback was generally positive, but we also walked away with several new ideas for next year to further improve the attendee and exhibitor experience and we’re eager to implement them,” said IPC President and CEO John W. Mitchell.
Commenting on his attendee experience, Josh Hanney, an electronics technician with the Oregon State Lottery, said, “We had a couple of very niche issues with our rework and repair shop. The wide exposure to exhibiting companies at IPC APEX EXPO allowed us to find vendors that were able to provide specific solutions to these problems. We even found products and services to dramatically improve our processes and functionality. I feel like a much better technician for attending!”
The exhibitor experience at APEX EXPO 2025 was equally beneficial. “IPC APEX EXPO 2025 was head and shoulders above the 2024 show. We received more leads in the first day of the show than the full three days last year,” said Gregg Kleinberg, chief technical officer, Microscope World. “Our team was thankful to see the resurgence of activity in the PCB market and were grateful to be part of all the positive energy at the show!”
In 2026, IPC APEX EXPO will return to the Anaheim Convention Center, March 14-19. For more information on IPC APEX EXPO 2026, visit www.ipcapexexpo.org.
Visit I-Connect007's Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025 website for coverage from the show.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Training AI Together—Without Sharing Private Data
05/21/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineArtificial intelligence models work better with more data. While individual EMS companies can certainly create plenty of data over time, the broader the data set, the more insightful the AI results can be. Ben Rachinger, a research assistant at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, received the NextGen Best Paper at IPC APEX EXPO 2025. His research asks: What if a model could be created that allowed industry-wide data in the model, while still protecting proprietary information?
Nolan's Notes: The Next Killer App in Component Manufacturing
05/02/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesFor quite a while, I’ve been wondering what the next “killer app” will be in electronics manufacturing and why it has been so long since the last disruptive change in EMS. I believe the answer lies in artificial intelligence, which has exploded as the next disruptor.
IPC Excellence in Education Award: Zenaida Valianu
05/01/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Zenaida Valianu is the training manager at IPC who brings more than 25 years of expertise in standards and training development to her role. She has revolutionized IPC certification training programs by significantly enhancing their content with comprehensive curricula and engaging materials. She has also been instrumental in developing essential workforce training courses and contributing to various other initiatives.
A Visit With ‘Flexperts’ Mark Finstad and Nick Koop
05/01/2025 | Joe Fjelstad, Verdant ElectronicsAt IPC APEX EXPO 2025, I chatted with seasoned flex experts Mark Finstad and Nick Koop about "Flexperts" and their roles as leading educators and in the realm of standards development for this increasingly indispensable electronic interconnection technology. They have been teaching about lessons learned and how to successfully navigate the “seas” of flexible circuits to help their students avoid the hazards that have taken down many of their predecessors in the past.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Improving the Electronics Industry With Advanced Packaging
04/30/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPODevan Iyer, the Chief Strategist for Advanced Packaging at IPC, shares insights from his recent presentation at the EMS Leadership Summit. The discussion covers the importance of understanding market segments in IoT, power electronics, and high-performance computing. EMS companies are encouraged to specialize, invest wisely, and collaborate to meet customer needs.