Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘The Next RenAIssance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential’
The Chemical Connection: When the Industry Moves Faster Than the Standards
Driving Innovation: Selecting the Right Laser Source
April Issue of I-Connect007 Magazine: Beyond the Rulebook
April 14, 2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: Less than a minute
What happens when the old rulebook no longer applies—and all that’s left is new ground to break? Today’s designers and fabricators are being asked to build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist. This is where design for invention begins.
In this month’s I-Connect007 Magazine, we asked PCB designers, fabricators, and suppliers what it really means to operate without a rulebook. Their perspectives vary, especially between seasoned designers and experienced fabricators, but a common thread emerges: progress depends on pushing boundaries and finding a way forward, even when the path isn’t clear. In many ways, this mindset has always been part of what we do, whether we’ve called it that or not.
Hear from experts including John Watson, Kelly Dack, Stephen V. Chavez, Kristin Moyer, Anaya Vardya, Ventec, Mike Carano, Vern Solberg, Matt Stevenson, and more. They’re tackling the challenges head on and making bold assumptions about the future of design and manufacturing.
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Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘The Next RenAIssance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential’
04/29/2026 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfZack Kass delivers something truly special in "The Next RenAIssance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential," a book that doesn’t just explain artificial intelligence—it reframes how we think about our future as individuals, leaders, and innovators. Written in a tone that is both accessible and deeply insightful, Kass manages to turn a complex, often intimidating subject into an energizing call to action. This is not a book about machines replacing humans. It’s a book about humans becoming more of who they’re capable of being.
ASC’s John Johnson Bullish on the U.S. and High-tech PCBs
04/28/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007It was a good couple of days at the SMTA UHDI Symposium in Avondale, Arizona, in early April, where John Johnson, head of technology at American Standard Circuits (ASC) and resident PCB expert on UHDI in the real-world of manufacturing, was a presenter. As the symposium ended, I visited with John, who reflected on what he considered most important and what had made the greatest impression on him.
The Chemical Connection: When the Industry Moves Faster Than the Standards
04/29/2026 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionAs a supplier of wet processing equipment, we have rules and standards we must adhere to, including both regional and national electrical codes and safety and environmental regulations, as well as myriad other standards to make the equipment safe to use. Things are a little different when it comes to rules and standards for manufacturing PCBs, though, because technical advances and requirements change so quickly that standards can’t keep up.
Meet Emerging Engineer Dennis Donovan, Kratos Space Commercial
04/29/2026 | Michelle Te, I-Connect007Like many of today’s engineers, Dennis Donovan grew up interested in how things worked. He wanted to see what was inside and how to make it better. Now, he has three bachelor’s degrees, is earning his master’s, and works as an electrical engineering technologist. He aspires to work in PCB assembly with a particular focus on aerospace electronics. He’s a sharp, well-spoken young man with an eye on his future.
It's Only Common Sense: See Your Marketing as a Discipline, Not a Department
04/27/2026 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseWhat does marketing mean to you? Is it a corner office with cool posters on the wall? Is it the person running your LinkedIn page or the trade show booth with the shiny graphics and the bowl of candy? Yes, marketing is those things, but it’s more than that. It’s a discipline, and if you treat it like a department, you’re already losing.