Target Condition: Are Autorouters Friend or Foe?
Fresh PCB Concepts: Assembly Challenges with Micro Components and Standard Solder Mask Practices
Elementary Mr. Watson: Retro Routers vs. Modern Boards—The Silent Struggle on Your Screen
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
February 26, 2021 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
We’re seeing an increase in optimism as more people are vaccinated and states under lockdown begin flipping open their shutters. This positive outlook is spreading, albeit slowly.
There’s a lot going on in the industry, and we see this reflected in this week’s Top Five picks. One contributor makes the case for another Roaring Twenties, this time led by Industry 4.0. IPC APEX EXPO is making a big impression, even virtually, as the top technical papers are announced. North American PCB numbers are up year-on-year, but with a caveat. Siemens EDA has a new website that unifies the different organizations under one umbrella. And columnist Christine Davis shares a story in which one customer left her with “nothing to lose, and everything to gain.” You may find yourself cheering for Christine as she goes “Network” on a customer that keeps ghosting her.
Best Technical Paper at IPC APEX EXPO 2021 Selected
Published February 25
IPC APEX EXPO gets under way, virtually, in 10 days. In the meantime, let’s congratulate Sarah Czaplewski, Roger Krabbenhoft and Junyang Tang of IBM for taking home the Best Technical Paper award for “Signal Integrity, Reliability, and Cost Evaluation of PCB Interlayer Crosstalk Reduction.” The paper will be presented on March 11; you know that designers and design engineers will love this.
Her Voice: Nothing to Lose and Everything to Win
Published February 24
The number of views that an article gets in the first 48 hours are a great indication of its “magnetism.” If an article takes off in the first two days, we know that readers were moved as much by emotion as job-related curiosity. This SMT007 column by Christine Davis lifted off like a rocket; I can picture all of our readers cheering when she slams down a file folder and asks a customer to explain what the hell is going on. This is definitely a hot column.
Siemens EDA Launches New Home Website
Published February 23
Siemens EDA has a brand-new website, https://eda.sw.siemens.com, marking the official end of the Mentor name. Siemens EDA, formerly Mentor, A Siemens Business, is now part of Siemens Digital Industries Software. We’ll all have to stop calling the company Mentor, but knowing my colleagues in the industry, that probably won’t happen overnight.
Predicting a ‘Roaring Twenties’ Innovation Boom
Published February 24
The decade didn’t start off too well, but freelance writer and supply chain specialist Hailey Lynne McKeefy believes that we may be about to experience years of growth and innovation. As the pandemic subsides and Industry 4.0 and smart processes take hold, are we due to experience the Roaring Twenties 2.0?
North American PCB Shipments Up 4% in January 2021
Published February 26
We have some good news and some bad news about January’s North American PCB shipments: They’re up 4% over the same period a year ago, but down 16% from December. As IPC’s Shawn DuBravac explains, some of this slowdown is due to the semiconductor shortage. I think we’re due for an uptick in the next few months!
Share on:
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/27/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007While news outside our industry keeps our attention occupied, the big news inside the industry is the rechristening of IPC as the Global Electronics Association. My must-reads begins with Marcy LaRont’s exclusive and informative interview with Dr. John Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. For designers, have we finally reached the point in time where autorouters will fulfill their potential?
Reflections and Priorities: An Update to I-Connect007 Readers
06/24/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007The electronics and manufacturing industry is evolving rapidly—with new technologies, deeper global connections, and a growing drive toward sustainability. To reflect these changes and our place in this dynamic space, we’re refreshing our brand.
The Knowledge Base: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow With EMAC
06/24/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseAs the electronics manufacturing industry races to meet rising global demand and technological complexity, the need for a highly skilled, future-ready workforce has never been greater. At the forefront of addressing this challenge is The Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly Collaborative (EMAC)—a national initiative dedicated to strengthening the talent pipeline through strategic collaboration with SMTA, education, and government stakeholders.
IPC Rebrands as Global Electronics Association: Interview With Dr. John W. Mitchell
06/22/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Today, following a major announcement, IPC is embracing the rapid advancement of technology with a bold decision to change its name to the Global Electronics Association. This name more accurately reflects the full breadth of its work and the modern realities of electronics manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, Global Electronics Association President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell shares the story behind the rebrand: Why now, what it means for the industry, and how it aligns with the organization’s mission.
Global Electronics Association Debuts; New Name Elevates IPC’s 70-Year Legacy as Voice of $6 Trillion Electronics Industry
06/25/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationToday begins a new chapter for IPC as it officially becomes the Global Electronics Association, reflecting its role as the voice of the electronics industry. Guided by the vision of “Better electronics for a better world,” the Global Electronics Association (electronics.org) is dedicated to enhancing supply chain resilience and promoting accelerated growth through engagement with more than 3,000 member companies, thousands of partners, and dozens of governments across the globe.