Learning with Leo: Drones—Meeting Demand Without Compromise
Nolan’s Notes: Our Spotlight on North America
Global Sourcing Spotlight: Building a Supply Chain That Bends, Not Breaks
I-Connect007 Launches Six-Part Podcast Series Highlighting the Critical Role of PCB Materials
February 23, 2026 | I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
I-Connect007, the leading media source for the electronics manufacturing industry, today announced the release of the first episode in a new six-part podcast series, “PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics.”
Titled “Material Selection—The Key to Manufacturing Success,” the debut episode examines the critical role PCB base materials play in product reliability, manufacturability, and long-term performance. The discussion features Sean Mirshafiei, president of Isola, who shares his perspective from the PCB laminate materials sector.
Marcy LaRont of I-Connect007 hosts the episode and offers listeners a practical, engineering-focused look at why laminate selection remains one of the most consequential early decisions in any PCB build, often determining success or failure long before fabrication begins.
During the conversation, Mirshafiei discusses how evolving technology demands are shaping the development of new material solutions and highlights Isola’s role in supporting today’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem. He also shares insight into Isola’s current material portfolios designed to address increasingly stringent requirements, particularly in harsh-environment reliability, signal integrity, and power performance.
“This new series is designed to help engineers, fabricators, and decision-makers better understand the fundamentals that most directly impact manufacturing outcomes,” says LaRont. “And it starts where successful builds begin: material selection.”
The six-part series will continue with episodes focused on key topics shaping today’s PCB fabrication and manufacturing landscape.
Listeners can now access the episode via I-Connect007’s podcast platform, or through Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Your magazines are a great platform for people to exchange knowledge. Thank you for the work that you do."
Simon Khesin - Schmoll MaschinenSuggested Items
yieldWerx, WATS Partner to Bridge PCB Test with Chip-Level Manufacturing Data
05/11/2026 | PRNewswireBoard-level and semiconductor test data are often analyzed separately, limiting correlation across the product lifecycle. Linking PCB assembly (PCBA) test results, including in-circuit and functional test, with upstream wafer, sort, and final test data remains difficult, particularly in photonics, advanced packaging, and high-density integration environments.
Rogers Announces Addition of Brett Cope and Eric Starkloff to Its Board of Directors
05/11/2026 | Rogers CorporationRogers Corporation announced that Brett Cope and Eric Starkloff were elected to the Company’s Board of Directors. Both Mr. Cope and Mr. Starkloff bring extensive executive leadership experience and deep expertise in highly relevant markets.
The Journey from Dilution to Zero Liquid Discharge
05/11/2026 | Richard Nichols, GreenSource EngineeringIf you’re familiar with the PCB industry, and a little long in the tooth like me, you may remember the cry, “The water board is here!” (or an equivalent authority). This was the signal for a frantic but regularly rehearsed exercise to turn on all the rinses. This anecdote demonstrates that in the early days of PCB production, prevailing practices revolved around a “dilution is the solution” mentality, in which manufacturers used copious amounts of water to dilute contaminants before discharging them into regulated municipal wastewater systems or natural water bodies.
SPEA Expands Global Footprint with New Hub in Santa Clara, Silicon Valley
05/08/2026 | SPEASPEA has officially landed in the heart of Silicon Valley, with the grand opening of its newest facility in Santa Clara, California.
Nano Dimension Reports 106% YoY Revenue Growth in Q1 2026
05/08/2026 | Nano DimensionNano Dimension Ltd., a leader in digital manufacturing solutions, announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.