Global Citizenship: Together for a Perfect PCB Solution
Smart Automation: Odd-form Assembly—Dedicated Insertion Equipment Matters
Nolan’s Notes: Everyone Has Their Eye on India
Sustainability and Selective Soldering
September 15, 2025 | Dr. Samuel J. McMaster, Pillarhouse InternationalEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword for the electronics industry; it’s a key goal for all manufacturing processes. This is more than a box-ticking exercise or simply doing a small part for environmentally friendly processes. Moving toward sustainable solutions drives innovation and operational efficiency.
Reducing wastage in manufacturing can make processes more cost-efficient, thereby increasing the manufacturer's profit. Safety also must be considered.
We all have trusted products for certain tasks, but it’s not news to anyone working in electronics that many chemicals are hazardous. As an industry, we’ve moved away from leaded solder and adapted well to alternatives. There’s no reason we can’t adapt to other elements of the manufacturing process.
This article will explore the initiatives driven by the Global Electronics Association, the inclusion of sustainability as a topic at IPC APEX EXPO (and the articles presented therein), and how selective soldering as a manufacturing process can contribute to sustainability.
A Growing Momentum
The Global Electronics Association (formerly known as IPC) recently launched Evolve, a program designed to help companies accelerate their move to sustainable processes. This platform brings together relevant articles, educational materials, industry standards, and event information. Evolve will grow with the increasing industry demand for collaboration and resources.
Momentum is growing for sustainability solutions. In a white paper, “Wired for Change: Electronics Industry Sentiment on Sustainability,” co-authored by the Global Electronics Association and the Clean Electronics Production Network (CEPN), 59% of the companies in the survey report they will increase their focus on sustainability in 2025, and 78% report being optimistic about their ability to meet their sustainability goals.
The two highest drivers for increasing sustainability are regulatory compliance and company values or culture. Other drivers, such as cost savings and efficiency, technological advancement, competitive advantage, and consumer demands, were found to be influenced mostly by customers and regulatory bodies.
Continue reading this article in the Summer 2025 issue of Community Magazine, a publication of the Global Electronics Industry and I-Connect007.
Share on:
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
I-Connect007 Launches Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest
09/15/2025 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 is pleased to announce the launch of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest (AEPD), a new monthly digital newsletter dedicated to one of the most critical and rapidly evolving areas of electronics manufacturing: advanced packaging at the interconnect level.
Global Interposer Market to Surge Nearly Fivefold by 2034
09/15/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamRevenue for the global interposer market is projected to climb from $471 million in 2025 to more than $2.3 billion by 2034, according to a new report from Business Research Insights. The growth represents a CAGR of nearly 20 percent over the forecast period.
ICAPE Group Unveils Exclusive Report on Sustainability in Electronics Manufacturing
09/15/2025 | ICAPE GroupICAPE Group, a global leader in printed circuit boards (PCBs) and custom electronics manufacturing, today announces the launch of its 2025 Industry Outlook & Innovation Report: Sustainability in Electronics Manufacturing. This exclusive report is accompanied by fresh insights from a dedicated Statista survey of 100 electronics manufacturing professionals, commissioned by ICAPE Group.
Smartphone Production Rises 4% QoQ in 2Q25 as Inventory Adjustment Ends
09/12/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest investigations reveal that global smartphone production reached 300 million units in 2Q25, up 4% QoQ and 4.8% YoY, driven by seasonal demand and the recovery of brands such as Oppo and Transsion following inventory adjustments.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/12/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007We may be post-Labor Day, but it is still hot-hot-hot here in the great state of Arizona—much like our news cycles, which have continued to snap, crackle, and pop with eye-raising headlines over this past week. In broader global tech news this week, AI and tariff-type restrictions continues to dominate with NVIDIA raising its voice against U.S. lawmakers pushing chip restrictions, ASML investing in a Dutch AI start-up company to the tune of $1.5 billion, and the UAE joining the ranks of the U.S. and China in embracing “open source” with their technology in hopes of accelerating their AI position.