Powering the Future: Why Thermal Management Defines the Future of Electronics
Standard of Excellence: Engineering Is the New Sales—How Technical Collaboration Wins Business
SMT Perspectives & Prospects: Artificial Intelligence, Part 7—Data Module 2
What’s Next for PCB Materials? I-Connect007 Podcast Series Turns to Supply Chain Resilience
April 16, 2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
I-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.
Building on the foundation established in the first four episodes, the series has explored how PCB materials underpin performance, reliability, and innovation across modern electronics. From the critical role of base laminates in ensuring signal integrity and manufacturability, to the increasing demands driven by AI and high-speed applications, the conversations highlight how materials are evolving to meet next-generation requirements. The series also examines sustainability and the “green circuit” movement, as well as the realities of designing for reliability in harsh environments where strain, thermal cycling, and material behavior over time determine long-term success.
In Episode 5, Isola’s Chief Sales Officer Jim Hartzell draws on lessons learned from recent global supply chain disruptions. The discussion emphasizes that many vulnerabilities were structural, rooted in an industry-wide focus on efficiency over resilience. As supply chain volatility becomes a constant, rather than an exception, the episode explores the need for diversification, scenario planning, strategic inventory management, and stronger supplier partnerships to ensure continuity and long-term stability.
The series will conclude with a sixth and final episode April 30. Listeners can also download a companion guide that brings together key insights from all six discussions. Designed as a practical resource, the guide will help engineers, designers, and decision-makers navigate the increasingly complex landscape of PCB materials.
“PCB materials are often overlooked, but they’re at the core of every breakthrough we’re seeing in electronics,” said Marcy LaRont, host of the series. “This series connects material science to real-world performance, and now, with Episode 5, to the very real challenges of keeping the entire ecosystem moving forward.”
Listen and download today!
Share on:
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
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.
I-Connect007 to Launch Weekly Show & Tell Newsletter Series Featuring APEX EXPO Highlights
03/12/2026 | I-Connect007Building on our tradition of delivering comprehensive coverage of APEX EXPO 2026, I-Connect007 will present a five-episode Show & Tell Newsletter series, arriving in subscribers’ inboxes each Friday, March 27 to April 24. The special series will highlight key moments from the Global Electronics Association’s annual trade show, offering readers an inside look at the people, companies, and ideas shaping the electronics manufacturing industry.
Podcast Episode 2—AI Is Changing the Rules: Are Your PCB Materials Ready?
03/10/2026 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 announces the release of the second episode in its new six-part podcast series, PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics. In “5G, AI & Beyond—Designing for High-Speed Performance,” we explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of electronics design, demanding unprecedented speed, power, and high-frequency performance that push beyond the limits of traditional materials. As AI applications scale rapidly, are yesterday’s materials becoming obsolete?
I-Connect007 Launches Six-Part Podcast Series Highlighting the Critical Role of PCB Materials
02/24/2026 | I-Connect007I-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.”
I-Connect007 Launches Six-Part Podcast Series Highlighting the Critical Role of PCB Materials
02/23/2026 | I-Connect007I-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.