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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
October 3, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

It’s been a busy week. We’ve been covering PCB West, and we’ll be bringing you a variety of news and interviews from the show in the next few weeks. We’ll also be attending SMTA International later this month, and productronica as trade show season rolls on.
This week, we have a number of interesting columns and news items. We start with a positive story about North American PCB sales, which were heading in the right direction in August. Don Ball writes about the ins and out of working with overseas partners, and there’s a great column by Dan Beaulieu on avoiding the temptation to offer discounts when your customer gets squirrely.
We have an announcement about our new companion guide to The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to... SMT Inspection: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond, an I-Connect007 book written by Koh Young’s Brent Fischthal. The companion piece delves deeper into the metrology of advanced semiconductor packages. Finally, columnist Kelly Dack discusses the similarities between multilayer stackups and multilayer cakes. I hope you’re hungry!
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North American PCB Industry Sales Up 12.8% in August
Published October 2
We had some good news recently, with August’s PCB industry sales up 12.8% YOY, according to the North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio clocked in at 0.98, and bookings were down 4.1% over the same year-ago period, but we’re looking positive. August’s YTD bookings were up 14.5% over the same period in 2024, so let’s hold a good thought.
The Chemical Connection: The Practice of Doing Business in Foreign Lands
Published October 1
Don Ball has a great column about conducting business in other countries. He explains why Chemcut decided to use a system of reps in Asia and Europe, and how little things that can trip up a relationship, potentially costing a company millions in the long run. Some of his “horror stories” might remind you of your own company’s experiences across the pond.
It’s Only Common Sense: Pricing PCBs? It’s All in Their Heads
Published September 29
It must be human nature to give in when we think we might lose a negotiation, in any situation. The pressure to cave is much worse in a tight industry like PCB fab. But, as Dan Beaulieu says in this week’s column, you’re not just selling PCBs—you’re selling value, reliability, and a relationship. When you offer a 10% discount, as Dan says, “You just told them your value was negotiable, and they were right to doubt you.” Stick to your guns, folks.
Now Available—The Companion Guide to… SMT Inspection: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond: Mastering Metrology for Advanced Semiconductor Packages
Published October 1
It’s always nice to have companions. Well, if you’ve read Koh Young’s I-Connect007 book The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to... SMT Inspection: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond, written by Brent Fischthal, you won’t want to miss this companion guide. This handy tome focuses on the metrology of advanced chip packages, and like the original book, it’s free to download. Check it out.
Target Condition: Rethinking the PCB Stackup Recipe
Published October 1
Columnist Kelly Dack starts out with a short history lesson, and he explains why creating the perfectly optimized stackup is much like baking the perfect layer cake. It’s usually best to let the PCB “bakers” do their thing. As Kelly points out, calling out a specific brand name of resin is like ordering a cake with only “non-GMO cacao from Ecuador.” Read on, but you might get hungry!
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Taiwan PCB Industry Projects NT$915.7 Billion Output in 2025, Driven by AI Demand
10/03/2025 | TPCATaiwan's PCB manufacturing output is projected to reach NT$218.2 billion in the second quarter of 2025, a 14.4% increase over the same period in 2024.
PCB West 2025 Showcases Success: An Interview with Mike Buetow
10/03/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007For more than 30 years, PCB West has served the PCB and design industries in Silicon Valley, bringing together engineers, fabricators, and designers for technical sessions and networking. The show is organized by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA), and this year, PCEA President Mike Buetow was named the association’s first Hall of Fame award recipient. Marcy LaRont spoke with Mike at PCB West to learn firsthand about its origins and mission.
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 12.8% in August
10/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the August 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 0.98.
Technica Hosts In-House Visit from PCBAA
10/01/2025 | Technica USADavid Schild, Executive Director of PCBAA (Printed Circuit Board Association of America) visited Technica USA to discuss the activity in the market and the advocacy of the PCBAA. The organization was formed to work on Capitol Hill, educating, advocating and getting congressional support to legislate on behalf of building a stronger PCB and substrate manufacturing base in the U.S.A.
Nolan’s Notes: Tariffs, Technologies, and Optimization
10/01/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesLast month, SMT007 Magazine spotlighted India, and boy, did we pick a good time to do so. Tariff and trade news involving India was breaking like a storm surge. The U.S. tariffs shifted India from one of the most favorable trade agreements to the least favorable. Electronics continue to be exempt for the time being, but lest you think that we’re free and clear because we manufacture electronics, steel and aluminum are specifically called out at the 50% tariff levels.