Nolan’s Notes: Our Spotlight on Europe
One World, One Industry: Attending APEX EXPO 2026 Critical for Electronics Manufacturing Leaders
Standard of Excellence: Building the Board of the Future—Materials, Methods, and Mindset
The Evolution of PCB Design from 2D Layouts to 3D Structures
January 22, 2026 | Kris Moyer, Global Electronics AssociationEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Editor’s note: We asked several experts in PCB design and fabrication about the pressures shaping PCB fabrication today, including speed, density, geopolitics, and relentless technological complexity. The results were valuable insights about where we are, where we’re headed, and importantly, what it will take to get there.
Kris Moyer is an experienced PCB designer, instructor, and industry expert with a strong focus on advancing design best practices and workforce development. As an instructor at Sacramento State University, he helps prepare the next generation of electronics designers. He also serves as an instructor for the Global Electronics Association, delivering professional training aligned with IPC standards and emphasizing practical, manufacturable design practices.
With a background that spans complex PCB layout, design for manufacturability, and industry standards, he is widely recognized for his ability to translate technical requirements into clear, actionable guidance. Through teaching, training, and thought leadership, Kris continues to play an important role in strengthening the PCB design community and shares his vision for 2026 and beyond in PCB design and design engineering.
Kris, what are the most influential changes in PCB design over the next several years?
Kris Moyer: Embedded devices will be necessary to support the increasingly faster rise and fall times of digital designs. Ultra HDI designs will also support increasingly faster designs by allowing for smaller feature sizes and better geometric formation of the features, and 3D-printed PCBs will eliminate the signal integrity and manufacturing challenges associated with current PCB designs.
Although still somewhat controversial within the PCB design community, AI adoption will be necessary to improve product design and find creative solutions to many design challenges.
To continue reading this Q&A, which originally appeared in the January 2026 I-Connect007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
New Book Explores How UV Technology Is Transforming Electronics Protection, Efficiency, and Sustainability
03/06/2026 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 announces the release of The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to…™ UV Curable Conformal Coatings. Authored by respected industry technologists Brian Chislea and Cody Schoener, PhD, of Dow, Inc., this new book offers a comprehensive exploration of UV-curable conformal coatings and their expanding role in improving the protection, performance, and sustainability of electronic assemblies.
Making AI Practical for PCB Design
03/05/2026 | Steve Watt, ZukenArtificial intelligence has entered nearly every corner of engineering software. In PCB design, however, meaningful adoption has been slower and for good reason. Unlike image generation or text analysis, PCB layout is not a data-rich, rules-light problem. It is a precision-driven engineering discipline in which creativity, accuracy, and strict compliance with constraints must coexist. Zuken’s work on AI-assisted PCB design reflects this reality. Rather than positioning AI as a replacement for engineering expertise, our CR-8000 Autonomous Intelligent Place and Route (AIPR) applies machine learning selectively in ways that align with how designers actually think and work.
Professional Development Courses for Every Electronics Manufacturing Sector
03/05/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamProfessional Development Courses at APEX EXPO are designed to give electronics professionals focused, instructor-led learning that connects directly to today’s manufacturing realities. The courses are offered Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, and allow attendees to build new skills while still taking part in the broader APEX EXPO experience.
Rethinking Test Strategy: New Book Tackles DFT for Today’s Complex Electronics
03/06/2026 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 proudly announces the release of The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to… Design for Test: A Practical Guide to Test and Inspection. This comprehensive guide explores smarter access strategies for today’s high-density designs, including boundary scan, built-in self-test (BIST), flying probe, in-circuit test (ICT), and functional testing. Central to the book is the PCOLA-SOQ framework, a structured, measurable method for evaluating inspection and test coverage at both the component and pin levels.
Future Electronics, SnapMagic Announce CAD Model Integration to Support Faster Design Cycles
03/04/2026 | SnapMagicFuture Electronics, a leading global distributor of electronic components, and SnapMagic, a provider of CAD models and design enablement tools for electronic components, have announced the launch of integrated SnapMagic CAD models across the Future Electronics global online catalog.