Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Elevate: Push Beyond Your Limits'
The Marketing Minute: The First Step to More Sales—Marketing
It’s Only Common Sense: Customer Service Is Sales in Disguise
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
January 29, 2021 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
We’re a month into the new year, and so far, so good. I’m just glad to be out of 2020. As Chris Farley said in “Tommy Boy” after his character fell off of a mountain, “What in the hell was that all about?”
This week, we have a variety of news and articles to share, and it’s all positive. We have a new president, and he’s pledging to help American businesses. December PCB sales were up 4.5% over the same period a year ago. Atotech is just about ready to launch an IPO. Sunstone has tweaked its free CAD tool, PCB123, to make it even easier for designers to receive their Gerber files. And columnist John Watson breaks down what we all learned during the chaos that was 2020.
IPC Welcomes President Biden’s 'Buy American' Executive Order
Published January 25
Newly sworn-in President Joe Biden has signed dozens of executive orders in his first week at the White House. There are ongoing arguments, pro and con, about the merits of many of these EOs, but here’s one that we can all get behind. The “Buy American” Executive Order states that it will “close current loopholes” that can hamstring American companies, while helping smaller companies get access to federal contracts, among other things. IPC agrees with this EO, and the organization is asking Biden to continue to support U.S. manufacturers.
Atotech Commences Initial Public Offering
Published January 25
Time to go public! German specialty chemicals company Atotech is moving forward with an IPO designed to raise about $700 million. The 34 million common shares are expected to bring between $19 and $22 per share. Atotech’s customers include manufacturers of consumer electronics, automotive electronics, and smartphones, as well as communication and cloud computing companies.
Gerber File Option Added to Sunstone's PCB123 Order Process
Published January 26
There are several free PCB design tools available today, and one of the better ones comes courtesy of Sunstone Circuits—PCB 123. Now, PCB123 users no longer have to call or email Sunstone for a copy of their Gerber files. All they have to do is check a box during the ordering process to receive their Gerbers. By giving customers their Gerbers, Sunstone is signaling it’s confident that you’re going to come back again.
Elementary, Mr. Watson: 2020—The Year that Taught Us Resilience
Published January 23
Altium’s John Watson penned a great column about what we all learned in 2020. And let’s face it—as crazy as it was, the trials and tribulations of 2020 made many of our companies stronger and smarter than they’ve ever been. John discusses some of the main takeaways from last year, including the need to be proactive, and that it’s okay to fail.
North American PCB Industry Sales up 4.5 Percent in December
Published January 27
In more IPC news, December’s PCB industry sales were up 4.5% over the same month last year. And PCB bookings shot up 9.2% YOY, and 9.1% over the previous month. In a sign of the resiliency of this industry, the PCB community closed out 2020 on a positive note. Let’s hope we can carry this into 2021.
Share on:
Suggested Items
The Government Circuit: Three Inescapable Conclusions About Global Trade Policies
07/17/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitAmid a series of recent moves by U.S. President Donald Trump to escalate trade policy pressure on key U.S. partners, including Europe, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Malaysia, the Global Electronics Association’s recent report on global trade flows in the electronics industry is overflowing with relevant insights. The main message is that electronics supply chains are more globally integrated than any other industry, surpassing even the automotive sector in cross-border complexity.
The Wire Association International’s Wire Expo to Co-Locate with the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE)
07/16/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Wire Association International Inc. (WAI) announces plans to co-locate its biennial Wire Expo with the Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA)/Global Electronics Association’s Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE) May 6-7, 2026. The two shows will co-locate at the Baird Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
The Pulse: Design Constraints for the Next Generation
07/17/2025 | Martyn Gaudion -- Column: The PulseIn Europe, where engineering careers were once seen as unpopular and lacking street credibility, we have been witnessing a turnaround in the past few years. The industry is now welcoming a new cohort of designers and engineers as people are showing a newfound interest in the profession.
Flexible Circuit Technologies Welcomes Regional Business Development Manager Derek Rossberg
07/15/2025 | Flexible Circuit TechnologiesFlexible Circuit Technologies a Minnesota-based flexible circuit and advanced electronics contract manufacturer, welcomes Derek Rossberg as Regional Business Development Manager.
IPC Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Lionel Fullwood
07/15/2025 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007Many IPC members who have contributed significantly to IPC and our industry have been awarded the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame (HOF) Award. Though many early HOF members have passed away and are unknown to today’s IPC membership, their contributions still resonate. This special series on IPC Hall of Fame members provides a reminder of who was honored and why. As a bonus, for those who are still around, we get to find out what these talented individuals are up to today.