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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
September 5, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

It’s almost fall here in Atlanta, and that means that the temperature is finally dropping. And it quit raining! It’s been raining since March, and I’m so over it, as the social influencers say. Last night we grilled out on the deck, and it wasn’t hot, and we didn’t get rained on. Life is good.
It was a busy week in the industry. In this installment of my must-reads, we say goodbye to Walt Custer, the man who made PCB data points interesting for the rest of us. Speaking of data, we have a look at the results of a survey that asked EMS companies to compare what they need from their software with what they actually get.
We have news about the new Design Village that will be launching at APEX EXPO next year, and Denny Fritz does a deep dive into CHIPS Act spending and potential cuts. And IPC instructor Kris Moyer discusses his upcoming six-week class on designing PCBs with emerging technologies. If you’re a senior designer, this should be on your schedule.
Talk to you all soon.
Walt Custer: Making Data Interesting
Published September 3
The industry lost another star this week. Walt Custer passed away August 30, and he hadn’t been feeling well for some time. Walt was famous for his presentations on industry trends, which featured cartoons to spice up what could have been uninspiring data points. Walt really made data interesting, and we’ll miss him.
What EMS Firms Want from Their Software—and What They Get
Published September 3
What do you want from your software? In this article, Thiago Guimaraes of the Global Electronics Association discusses the findings of the 2024 EMS Software Survey, which focused on how electronics manufacturers qualified and selected software. Some of the results will surprise you. Check it out.
The Global Electronics Association Launches Design Village at APEX EXPO 2026
Published September 2
Does it really take a village? We’re going to find out! The Design Village will debut at APEX EXPO 2026, centered around a Technology Pavilion that features technical presentations and panel discussions. If you’re involved in PCB design or design engineering, you won’t want to miss this.
Defense Speak Interpreted: If CHIPS Cuts Back, What Happens to Electronics Packaging Funds?
Published September 2
As we said years ago, we’ll have to keep a close eye on the CHIPS Act, and Denny Fritz is doing just that. In this column, Denny discusses the state of CHIPS Act expenditures, and what could happen in our industry in the event of cutbacks. There are still plenty of projects being funded, but many of these are $20 million projects. As Denny points out, “…$20 million will buy a fair amount of research, a few pieces of equipment each, but not much brick and mortar.” Stay tuned.
Kris Moyer Discusses His Emerging Design Technologies Class
Published September 4
IPC instructor Kris Moyer is known for living in an RV on his property near Sacramento, but we like to joke that he lives in a “van down by the river.” In this interview, conducted from his RV, Kris discusses his upcoming six-week class on designing PCBs with emerging technologies. His class runs from October 7 to November 13 and meets Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you want to be ready for the technologies of tomorrow, this class is for you.
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FCT Leverages Flex Design and Total Build Solutions to Drive Innovation
10/22/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineWhat’s hot in flexible circuits right now? At PCB West, I spoke with Ben Savage, business development manager at Flexible Circuit Technologies (FCT), about their flex design services and end-markets where FCT sees the most flex activity. We also discussed the company’s focus on providing supply chain resiliency, as well as the constant search for new flex engineers. If you’re looking for a new opportunity in flexible circuits, FCT is hiring.
Waging the Battle for American PCB Reshoring
10/21/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineLegislation is shaping global trade, tariffs, and sustainability and environmental regulations. David Schild of PCBAA discusses exactly where the U.S. stands in its efforts to reshore printed circuit board manufacturing for critical industries. This conversation at PCB West occurred on the first day of the federal government’s shutdown, so it seemed especially timely to hear David's thoughts and insights on how the current political climate is affecting efforts to achieve the U.S. industry’s reshoring goals.
MES Software Tools Need Thoughtful Integration
10/21/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineThe Global Electronics Association recently published a survey report on the state of EMS production software. This project, led by Thiago Guimaraes, director of industry intelligence, connects the dots across the global electronics value chain to uncover practical insights that individual companies might not have seen on their own. In this interview, Thiago discusses the whys and hows of this report.
It’s Only Common Sense: If You’re Not Differentiated, You’re Dead
10/13/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common Sense“Good enough” is not good enough in business. Not anymore. “Good enough” is a death sentence in today’s market. Too many companies hide behind their ISO certificates, ITAR registrations, and shiny badges of compliance as if those are supposed to impress customers, but certifications are table stakes. Everyone has them. If you think that’s your differentiator, you’re already in the grave; you just don’t know it.
Catching Up With Mark Wood, Microart Services
10/08/2025 | Dan Beaulieu, D.B. Management GroupMicroart Services has been in business for over 40 years, growing from a design PCB layout company to a full-service EMS company focused on serving its customer base with standard and custom solutions. I’ve heard from my rep friends, their competitors, and even my Canadian PCB friends that Microart is “one of the best EMS companies in North America.” That’s why I decided to speak with CEO Mark Wood to discover the secret to his company's success.