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Beyond the Rulebook
What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
March Madness
From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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A New Strategic Partnership in Europe
March 18, 2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Marcy LaRont connects with OMR Italia General Manager Sara Menclossi and Connexion Technologies CEO Craig Wright to discuss the new strategic partnership between OMR Italia and Connexion Technologies: a merger between advanced PCB manufacturing and engineering-led PCB sourcing that “connects two very complementary strengths.” What does that mean for the two companies, their customers, and the electronics industry in Europe?
Sara and Craig, congratulations on the exciting partnership. Let’s start with a brief introduction to your company, the services you offer, and the markets (applications) you serve.
Craig Wright: Connexion Technologies is a UK-based advanced manufacturing group focused on high-reliability sectors like aerospace, defence, energy, life sciences, and communications. We cover a wide range of capabilities from advanced PCB manufacturing and semiconductor packaging through to RF systems, precision engineering, and integrated supply chain support. At our core, we support complex programs where performance, traceability, and long-term reliability really matter.
Sara Menclossi: OMR has been part of the European PCB landscape for over 50 years. Today, we’re focused on engineering-led PCB sourcing, technical support, and supply chain management. We work with carefully selected manufacturing partners across Europe and Asia, managing projects end-to-end through our technical team. That includes supplier selection, engineering support, and quality supervision to ensure consistency and reliability.
Wright: What makes this partnership work is that it connects two very complementary strengths. OMR brings deep PCB expertise. We bring broader advanced manufacturing capability. Together, that’s a powerful combination.
To continue reading this interview, which originally appeared in the March 2026 edition of SMT007 Magazine, click here.
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Simon Khesin - Schmoll MaschinenSuggested Items
Is China Plus One Still Happening in the PCB Industry?
04/28/2026 | Manfred Huschka, Manfred Huschka Management Consulting (Shenzhen) Ltd.For much of the past five years, China Plus One has been shorthand for supply-chain diversification: reducing dependency on mainland China by adding manufacturing capacity elsewhere in Asia. In the PCB industry, however, in early 2026, it is more nuanced. It looks less like a clean geographic shift and more like a layered, capital-intensive rebalancing of global capacity, one that still leaves China deeply embedded at the center.
XJTAG Launches Free Standalone ODB++ Layout Viewer for Fast PCB Signal Navigation
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Cadence Reports Q1 2026 Financial Results
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American Made Advocacy: Rebuilding America’s Military Stockpiles Begins With Microelectronics
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Cleaning Is Critical
04/27/2026 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineMike Bixeman, president of Magnalytix, and his colleagues Vladimir Sitko, founder of PBT Works, and Adam Klett, PhD, director of science at KYZEN, discussed how cleaning can affect reliability in a Professional Development Course at APEX EXPO 2026. We spoke to Mike after the session to better understand the context for the current activity in cleaning technology.