-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- I-Connect007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current Issue
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.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - I-Connect007 Magazine
Sustainability Takes Center Stage in ‘On the Line With… Isola’ Podcast, Episode 3
March 25, 2026 | I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
I-Connect007 announces the release of Episode 3 of the podcast series On the Line With…Isola, titled “The Green Circuit—Sustainability in PCB Manufacturing.” In this installment of PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics, host Marcy LaRont speaks with Isola CTO Kirk Thompson about the growing role sustainability is playing in shaping the next generation of PCB materials and manufacturing processes.
As electronics manufacturing places greater emphasis on environmental responsibility and product circularity, the PCB’s base material is becoming central to the sustainability discussion. Thompson introduces the idea of the “green circuit,” exploring how advances in materials science and engineering can reduce environmental impact across the PCB lifecycle.
The conversation touches on key factors influencing sustainable PCB production, including the energy required to process different materials, copper waste during fabrication, and the demand for materials with lower VOC emissions. Thompson also discusses halogen-free materials, PFAS considerations, and design strategies, such as reducing unnecessary board layers to support cleaner, more sustainable electronics manufacturing.
LaRont says, “Our listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how sustainability initiatives are influencing PCB material development and what design and manufacturing teams should consider as they work toward greener electronics.”
PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics can be heard on Apple, Spotify or at I-Connect007.
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
AGC's Advanced PCB Material Solutions
04/17/2026 | Real Time with... APEX EXPOAGC's line includes advanced PCB materials for critical industries such as aerospace, defense, and medical. This interview highlights their commitment to North American sourcing, offering solutions to today's challenges. AGC provides specialized automotive PCB materials including fastRise, a low-loss non-reinforced prepreg designed for high-frequency applications like 77 GHz radar.
What’s Next for PCB Materials? I-Connect007 Podcast Series Turns to Supply Chain Resilience
04/16/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamI-Connect007 continues its six-part podcast series with Isola experts titled, PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics, with the release of Episode 5, which shifts focus to one of the industry’s most urgent challenges: supply chain resilience.
Indium Showcases Solder Alloy Reliability Research for Heterogeneous Integration at ICEP-HBS
04/15/2026 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation Senior Global Product Manager, Semiconductor and Advanced Materials, Sze Pei Lim will present a collaborative International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (INEMI) project comparing SnBi and SAC305 solder alloys for first-level interconnects in complex heterogeneous packages.
Podcast Hits the Mark in a Materials Market
04/15/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007The base material of a printed circuit board is its literal and functional foundation. Isola, founded in 1912 in Düren, Germany, is one of the longest-standing manufacturers of glass-reinforced laminates in the electronics industry. Originally focused on insulation and fiberglass materials, the company played an early role in supplying the foundational substrates that enabled the growth of PCB technology. As electronics advanced, Isola evolved alongside the industry, expanding from basic glass-epoxy laminates into high-performance copper-clad materials and engineered prepregs.
SMTA Ultra HDI Symposium, Day 2: Fragile Supply Chains, Fierce Innovation
04/14/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007The Arizona weather yielded another beautiful day as we gathered for the second day of SMTA’s annual UHDI symposium. After the first full day discussing the role of AI in business and the how-tos of implementation, Avondale Mayor Mike Pineda kicked off day two, proud to showcase his city and to declare its important place in the continued development of the West Valley, an increasingly important area for tech and manufacturing.