-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueProduction Software Integration
EMS companies need advanced software systems to thrive and compete. But these systems require significant effort to integrate and deploy. What is the reality, and how can we make it easier for everyone?
Spotlight on India
We invite you on a virtual tour of India’s thriving ecosystem, guided by the Global Electronics Association’s India office staff, who share their insights into the region’s growth and opportunities.
Supply Chain Strategies
A successful brand is built on strong customer relationships—anchored by a well-orchestrated supply chain at its core. This month, we look at how managing your supply chain directly influences customer perception.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
ACDi Celebrates Milestone with $10,000 FCPS Donation
August 30, 2018 | ACDiEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban met with American Computer Development, Inc. (ACDi) President and CEO William Hornbaker today to accept a generous $10,000 donation from the electronics manufacturing services firm. ACDi presented the donation to mark a major milestone in the firm’s history—its 10,000th design order. The donation is targeted to support STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—programs and inspire students to pursue STEM careers.
“ACDi has a strong history of community involvement,” says Hornbaker. “This donation to FCPS’s robotics program feels like the perfect fit for who we are as a company and a celebration of our past and our future.”
ACDi’s Engineering Services Manager Garret Maxson was also on hand for the presentation: “As a result of participating in a robotics program at my high school, I chose to study engineering at the University of Maryland. It’s exciting to think that what we do day in and day out may help spark the creativity of others and launch another career in technology.”
“Our STEM programs are world-class,” says Superintendent Alban. “They are designed to give students real-world skills in cutting-edge fields like robotics and programming. We rely on community leaders like ACDi to partner with us to create opportunities for the next generation of STEM leaders. We are extremely grateful for their efforts on behalf of our students.”
SoleNet, Inc. is the company that contracted with ACDi for the 10,000th design order: “ACDi is our go-to partner when we need printed circuit board layout,” said SoleNet President Sasan Rostami, also present for the donation. “We are honored to be part of their 10,000th design celebration.”
Based in Frederick and Nashville, NC, ACDi was founded in 1984 by President and CEO Bill Hornbaker. It started out as a four-person printed circuit board design and documentation company. With the acquisition of Patapsco Design in the early 2000s, it added manufacturing capabilities, transforming the company into a full-service electronics manufacturing services provider with two locations and over 100 employees. The original design team had one computer and used the Racal Redac software package. Today, the PCB layout team consists of 10 PCB designers with over a century of combined experience including Mentor Graphics, Cadence, Altium, OrCAD, Valor NPI, and Polar Speedstack. According to ACDi, the firm is an integral resource to companies who need a trusted partner for dynamic electronics manufacturing, engineering and design expertise to successfully bring their electronic products to market.
In Germantown, MD, SoleNet, Inc. is an electronic design engineering firm, providing turnkey solutions from concept to production. According to SoleNet's leaders, the company’s expertise includes RF and wireless design, FPGA development, embedded software, and mechanical design. They provide services such as system performance and reliability analysis, feasibility studies, and project management.
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
Technica USA Partners with Creative Electron
10/22/2025 | Technica USATechnica USA is proud to announce the partnership with Creative Electron Inc. located in San Marcos, CA.
MES Software Tools Need Thoughtful Integration
10/21/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineThe Global Electronics Association recently published a survey report on the state of EMS production software. This project, led by Thiago Guimaraes, director of industry intelligence, connects the dots across the global electronics value chain to uncover practical insights that individual companies might not have seen on their own. In this interview, Thiago discusses the whys and hows of this report.
Light-curable Solutions for Reliable Electronics in Space Applications
10/15/2025 | Virginia Hogan, DymaxDesigning electronics for space environments, particularly those in low Earth orbit (LEO), requires careful consideration of materials that can withstand extreme conditions while supporting long-term reliability. Engineers designing satellite systems, aerospace instrumentation, and high-altitude platforms face a familiar set of challenges: contamination control, mechanical stress, thermal cycling, and manufacturability.
Analog Devices Launches ADI Power Studio™ and New Web-Based Tools
10/14/2025 | Analog Devices, Inc.Analog Devices, Inc., a global semiconductor leader, announced the launch of ADI Power Studio, a comprehensive family of products that offers advanced modeling, component recommendations and efficiency analysis with simulation. In addition, ADI is introducing early versions of two new web-based tools with a modernized user experience under the Power Studio umbrella:
Elementary, Mr. Watson: High Power: When Physics Becomes Real
10/15/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonHave you ever noticed how high-speed design and signal integrity classes are always packed to standing room only, but just down the hall, the session on power electronics has plenty of empty chairs? It's not just a coincidence; it's a trend I've observed over the years as both an attendee and instructor.