American Made Advocacy: Rebuilding America’s Military Stockpiles Begins With Microelectronics
The Right Approach: The End of an Era—DoD Proposes MIL-PRF-31032 Cancellation
Defense Speak Interpreted: Hypersonics Report Back After Six Years of Silence
I-Connect007 Magazine: APEX EXPO 2026 Preview Plus AI Tools Designers Are Watching
February 17, 2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The Global Electronics Association’s APEX EXPO returns March 14–20 in Anaheim, bringing together the largest electronics manufacturing audience in the United States.
This month, I-Connect007 Magazine takes you inside the show to spotlight exhibitors and special events on the show floor, fresh insights from the technical conference, updates on apprenticeships and keynotes, and meaningful progress in critical standards development. With strong international participation, including leaders from Mexico, East Asia, and India, APEX EXPO 2026 reflects the truly global nature of today’s electronics ecosystem.
For PCB designers, we focused on AI in design tools that go beyond the dreaded auto-routing. Zuken and AllSpice.io highlight which specific tools offer what in AI, and Siemens provides a thoughtful discussion of the legitimate reasons PCB designers have been skeptical of AI tools in the past and how these must be adequately addressed in all AI tool solutions to be of any real value. We will continue this discussion in March with EDA tool disruptor, Quilter.
Featuring insights from Global Electronics Association contributors and I-Connect007’s trusted columnists, this issue delivers practical content you can put to work right away.
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Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/08/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.
Global Electronics Association to Testify at the Office of the US Trade Representative Panel on Section 301 Structural Excess Capacity
05/08/2026 | Global Electronics AssociationChris Mitchell, Vice President for Global Government Relations at the Global Electronics Association, will testify before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Panel on Section 301 Structural Excess Capacity on Friday, May 8.
Kimball Electronics Reports Q3 Results With Double-Digit Sequential Medical Sales Growth
05/07/2026 | Kimball ElectronicsKimball Electronics, Inc. announced financial results for the third quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
IMI Reports Stronger Performance and Return to Profitability in 2025
05/06/2026 | IMIIntegrated Microelectronics, Inc. (IMI) reported a significantly improved performance in 2025, reflecting the positive results of its multi year transformation focused on operational efficiency, portfolio optimization, and strengthening core capabilities.