Connect the Dots: Designing for the Future of Manufacturing Reality—Solder Mask and Legend
Target Condition: An Exploration of Flooding PCB Layers
Happy’s Tech Talk #47: Automation for Complex Multilayer Fabrication Stackups
My Top 7 Takeaways from APEX EXPO 2026
April 3, 2026 | Chris Mitchell, VP of Global Government Relations, Global Electronics AssociationEstimated reading time: 6 minutes
I’m back from APEX EXPO 2026 in Anaheim, California, and it was another great year. Even amid significant global volatility, the industry is growing, innovating, and building partnerships. As I reflect on the experience, I want to share my top 7 takeaways and explain why each matters.
1. The Advanced Electronics Packaging Conference Was a Standout
This year’s Advanced Electronics Packaging Conference (AEPC) delivered outstanding, peer-reviewed content and strong participation, reflecting how central advanced electronics packaging has become across the industry. The program featured 25 sessions across seven tracks with an added Monday Opening Session focused on next‑gen compute and two Thursday special sessions on aerospace and defense packaging and the future of EV/autonomous electronics. In total, AEPC drew technical papers presented by 78 authors from 20 countries, including 21 Ph.D. authors. More than 100 companies were represented across keynotes, speakers, panels, committees, the design village, and the tech pavilion.
The throughline this year was the component-to-system packaging connection—how design, materials, fabrication, and test come together to deliver higher-performance systems. That convergence is exactly where the toughest technical and strategic questions now live, and AEPC is a key place where the industry is coming together to work through the challenges. Congratulations to Matt Kelly, Devan Iyer, Chris Jorgensen, Peter Tranitz, and the entire Association Solutions team for an exceptional event.
2. The EMS Leadership Summit Delivered Real Value Through Live Benchmarking
More than 60 EMS companies, including a number from Europe, came together at APEX EXPO for the EMS Leadership Summit. The Summit has become a must for EMS executives looking to engage with peers on the issues shaping the future of the industry. What made this year's summit especially valuable was the addition of instant benchmarking, supported by the Association's Industry Intelligence team. Attendees provided real-time data on supply chain, operations, workforce, and other key issues, and that data was shared back to the room immediately, prompting grounded and productive discussion.
There is no question that this approach elevated the conversation, providing for more actionable discussion. Congratulations to Summit chair Allison Budvarson of Out of the Box Manufacturing, and to Association staff Mark Wolfe and Tracy Riggan, for a great event. Thanks also to the Industry Intelligence team for helping make this Summit stand out.
3. The AI Conversation Has Matured; Industry from Awe to Action
AI was a major focus again this year, but the nature of the conversation felt very different. Last year, many companies were approaching AI with more uncertainty than direction. This year, they were far more focused on understanding how to intelligently integrate AI into their operations, whether in sales, administration, workforce development, or manufacturing. It's not that companies have figured it all out, but the posture has shifted. Instead of standing still, they are finding real motivation to identify where AI makes sense so they can make the right investments.
Page 1 of 2
Share on:
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
Breaking the Manual Quoting Bottleneck in Wire Harness
04/15/2026 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineArik Vrobel has spent more than 35 years in wire harness manufacturing—starting in EL-Com, his father's shop, building it into a nationally recognized contract manufacturer, and ultimately selling to Aptiv/Winchester in 2021. But retirement didn't last long. Within months, Arik was back, not as a manufacturer this time, but as a technologist. His new company, Cableteque, is building the quoting and data automation platform he always wished existed.
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.
New EIPC President: Building Strength Through Unity in Europe’s Electronics Industry
04/14/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Industry veteran Rico Schluter, newly appointed president of EIPC, discusses his decades-long journey through the European PCB industry and his vision for its future. From building advanced manufacturing operations to leading large-scale facility development in Lithuania, Rico shares insights into automation, workforce evolution, and the challenges of scaling production. He emphasizes the urgent need for stronger collaboration across European industry organizations to effectively influence policy in Brussels, particularly around supply chain resilience, trade regulations, and energy-related incentives.
2026 IPC Masters Competition China Wraps Up With Record Participation
04/07/2026 | Blair Yan, Global Electronics Association East AsiaThe three-day 2026 IPC Masters Competition concluded March 27 at productronica China in Shanghai, bringing together the largest and most highly skilled group of electronics assembly professionals in the event’s 16-year history. With 623 participants from 77 companies across China—up 30% from last year—the competition reflected a growing focus on the practical application of electronics manufacturing standards.
Siemens Joins European Space Agency’s EPIC Initiative to Empower European Startups
04/06/2026 | SiemensSiemens has partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) by joining its Partnership Initiative for Commercialisation (EPIC) program, offering new opportunities for startups coming out of ESA’s Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs).