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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
April 11, 2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
The word for this week (again) is tariffs. Another week has gone by, and the tariff mandates continue with neither the U.S. or China backing down on a course that could be disastrous for businesses and the economy in the short term. As we all wait and watch the geopolitical volley, our businesses forge ahead. As one industry leader recently said, “We’ve been through this before.” Well, maybe not exactly this, but the resilience of our industry and business leaders has been proven over and over, decade upon decade.
Along those lines, in this week’s must-read features, I highlight my IPC APEX EXPO interview with IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac. Another must-read is Barry Matties’ interview with futurist Kevin Surace, whose insights seemed wholly appropriate as we all wish for a crystal ball for the weeks and months ahead. Columnist Bob Duke gives advice on how to avoid global sourcing pitfalls, and if you haven’t checked out NCAB’s podcast on thermal management with engineer Ryan Miller, I highly recommend it. NCAB’s Companion Guide to the podcast is also now available. Finally, I recommend our coverage of the latest IPC tariff webinar, which includes a snapshot of the tariff situation as it stands now. But it's not over, not by a long shot.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Navigating Economic Headwinds in the Electronics Industry
Published April 8
Though certainly much has happened in the weeks since IPC AEPX EXPO, IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac’s thoughts and counsel remain sound. He states that both the economy and the industry have held up but acknowledges that the tremendous amount of uncertainty, particularly around tariffs and global trade, is creating headwinds and hesitation for businesses with no immediate end in sight for that dynamic. He balances that with the acknowledgment that pockets of technology markets are growing, and uses the example of data centers driven by AI. “The U.S. is still the best house on an ugly street,” he says.
A Look Into the Future with Futurist Kevin Surace
Published April 7
I always love the keynotes at IPC APEX EXPO, and this year was no exception. I was terribly curious as to what a “futurist” actually is. Kevin Surace did not disappoint. I was particularly struck by how positive and excited Kevin is about the future. From his humble beginnings with an A/V company at the age of 18 to electronics and even entrepreneurship in clean technology, his story is a good one. Additionally, he answers the uber-controversial question as to the essential role that AI will inevitably play in the PCB design arena, whether or not the reality is currently embraced. This interview is a must-read.
New Guide Offers In-Depth Look at Thermal Management in PCB Design
Published April 9
Thermal management and materials in PCB design is, quite literally, one of the hottest topics for designers and printed circuit board fabricators today, not to mention the OEMs. Check out NCAB’s companion guide to its popular podcast series. It’s a great guide to the podcast, and you can’t go wrong either way. (Personally, I recommend both.) “Created for engineers and PCB designers, this guide offers a comprehensive look at critical thermal management strategies essential for today's high-performance electronics.”
Global Sourcing Spotlight: Watch Out! Avoiding Pitfalls in Global Sourcing
Published April 9
Who isn’t concerned about global sourcing right now? In Bob Duke’s most recent column, he outlines seven pitfalls of global sourcing that you want to avoid. “This landscape is fraught with challenges that can jeopardize even the most well-planned sourcing initiatives,” he says. Planning for geopolitical instability and mitigating risk are just two of them, and certainly things that every business is currently addressing.
IPC Webinar Review: Tariff Tensions Influence Electronics Supply Chain
Published April 11
This week IPC hosted its second webinar (in what appears to be a series that will be announced in real time) on current tariff activity and developments in global trade policy. This second webinar focused on Europe specifically and the advocacy work that is being done there by IPC’s European team. At the time of the webinar, the U.S. presidential administration had put a 90-day hold on most tariff activity and Europe was coming to the table for negotiations. But what we know for sure is that this is a story that will continue to evolve in the days and weeks ahead. Stay tuned!
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EIPC Technical Snapshot: Sustainability in Electronics Manufacturing
11/06/2025 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007EIPC selected the highly topical issue of sustainability in electronics manufacturing for the 24th Technical Snapshot webinar on Oct. 29, with guest speakers Satoshi Konagai of Elephantech and Liisa Hakola of the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The program was moderated by Kirsten Smit-Westenberg, executive director of EIPC, who also introduced each speaker.
Target Condition: Distribution of Power—Denounce the Ounce
11/05/2025 | Kelly Dack -- Column: Target ConditionHave you ever wondered why the PCB design segment uses ounces to describe copper thickness? There’s a story behind all of this—a story that’s old, dusty, and more than a little absurd. (Note that I didn’t add “Like many of us.”) Legend has it that back in the days of copper tinkers and roofing tradesmen, the standard was set when a craftsman hammered out a sheet of copper until it weighed one ounce, when its area conveniently matched the square of the king’s foot.
Life Is a Highway: A Family of 8 Turned the Entire U.S. Into a Learning and Working Environment
11/04/2025 | Steven Bowles, Lockheed MartinIt’s 6:45 a.m. in a modern A-frame cabin tucked into the misty edges of the Cascade Range in Arlington, Washington. I’ve just made a quick Nespresso, checked my calendar of virtual meetings, and verified the Airbnb’s Wi-Fi speed is holding steady. In the next room, my wife Lynsey corrals our six kids into breakfast while planning a day trip to Seattle’s Children’s Museum. By 7:30, I’m camera-ready in a makeshift office nook, leading a discussion on HDI PCB design for an IPC standards committee. After a busy day, our Bowles crew, ranging in age from 1 to 10 years old, is hands-on with activities and exhibits in the museum.
TTM Technologies Receives Two Awards from the Global Electronics Association at the 2025 IPC CEMAC Conference
11/03/2025 | Globe NewswireTTM Technologies, Inc. announced that two of its team members received prestigious Asia Steering Committee Outstanding Service Awards from the Global Electronics Association (formerly named IPC connecting global electronics industry) at the 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference in Shanghai.
TTCI Brings Hands-On Test Engineering and IPC Training Expertise to PCB Carolina 2025
10/31/2025 | The Test Connection Inc.The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI), a trusted provider of electronic test and manufacturing solutions, and The Training Connection LLC (TTC-LLC) will exhibit at PCB Carolina on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the McKimmon Center at NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Attendees can visit Table 4 to say hello to Bert Horner and Bill Graver, and learn more about their test engineering services and technical training programs.