Elementary, Mr. Watson: High Power: When Physics Becomes Real
The Shaughnessy Report: Watt About Power Integrity?
Global PCB Connections: Understanding Your Fabricator’s Capabilities (or Niche)
PCB East Continues to Expand
May 6, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
It was a perfect week for a conference and trade show in metropolitan Boston, with high temperatures in the 70s. PCB East took place at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center April 29–May 2, with the expo on April 30. PCB East has been expanding since its relaunch a few years ago, with conference and show attendance rising each year. This year was no different, with show managers pointing to conference and expo attendance increases of 2% and 5% respectively over last year.
The show floor was pretty busy throughout the day, and the free lunch on the floor kept attendees from wandering away in search of sustenance. Similarly, conference attendees were treated to free lunch throughout the week, and one thing that all designers love is free food.
Speaking of free, the “Free Wednesday” conference program has proven to be a big draw, and this year’s free classes included presentations by Stephen V. Chavez, Rick Hartley, and Todd Westerhoff. Designers, much like journalists, enjoy anything that is gratis.
It was like Homecoming Week at PCB East. I ran into local PCB designers, fabricators, and EDA tool company staff who don’t usually travel to PCB West, DesignCon, or IPC APEX EXPO. The storytelling was off the chart, especially during “Beer on the Floor” at the end of the expo. Following that, a PCB Design Community Meetup was held in front of the hotel; the hard-working bartenders simply pushed one of the mobile bars out of the expo hall and into the meetup.
Over 60 exhibitors filled the expo hall, including fabricators, EDA tool vendors, test companies, design bureaus, and material providers. These tabletop shows offer a serious bargain; if you get one order out of the event, you’ve more than paid for the show and kept your name out there among the people you want to reach. Most exhibitors I spoke with said they clocked in plenty of good leads at this year’s show.
The mood about the industry was upbeat. Some global companies reported that the new tariff negotiations were keeping them a little too busy, but they also acknowledged that other countries had definitely been sticking it to the U.S. with excessive tariffs for decades, and that change was long overdue. Everyone was bullish on the PCB design segment, and excited about new technology. As usual, there was a lot of uncertainty about AI and its use in PCB design, but most people I spoke with said that AI was here to stay, one way or another.
It was a great show, and it was nice to see everyone again.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
China Expands Rare Earth Export Restrictions, Tightening Grip on Global Supply Chains
10/16/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamChina sharply expanded its rare earth export restrictions on Oct. 9, adding additional elements and refining technologies to its control list while imposing stricter rules on foreign users in the defense and semiconductor industries.
India: A Rising Exporter Still Dependent on Global Inputs
09/29/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationIndia has long been viewed as a country with vast potential in electronics manufacturing. Its large population, low labor costs, and growing domestic demand have made it an attractive destination for global companies looking to diversify production beyond China. In recent years, that potential has begun to materialize. Between 2017 and 2023, India emerged as one of the fastest-growing sources of finished electronics imports globally. This rapid expansion has been built on a foundation of imported components.
TSMC and South Korean Rivals Lose U.S. Fast-Track Export Privileges for China
09/03/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamWashington has revoked Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s (TSMC) special fast-track status for U.S. chip-making equipment exports to its Nanjing, China, plant, Reuters reported on Sept. 2. The move comes days after similar actions against South Korean chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
The Wire Association International’s Wire Expo to Co-Locate with the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE)
07/16/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Wire Association International Inc. (WAI) announces plans to co-locate its biennial Wire Expo with the Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA)/Global Electronics Association’s Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE) May 6-7, 2026. The two shows will co-locate at the Baird Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Driving Innovation: Direct Imaging vs. Conventional Exposure
07/01/2025 | Simon Khesin -- Column: Driving InnovationMy first camera used Kodak film. I even experimented with developing photos in the bathroom, though I usually dropped the film off at a Kodak center and received the prints two weeks later, only to discover that some images were out of focus or poorly framed. Today, every smartphone contains a high-quality camera capable of producing stunning images instantly.