I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

There’s a lot going on in the industry this week, and my top five picks have a little bit of everything.

We have news of a merger of PCB fabricators, an interview about a new chip attach solution, and good news from the U.S. Senate, which, let’s face it, is quite a rarity.

An EDA tool company has been named one of the world’s best workplaces, and I-Connect007 has published another free eBook, written by Christopher Nash and Dr. Ronald C. Lasky of Indium Corporation. 

SMTA International is a few weeks away, and we’ll be there from beginning to end, bringing you interviews with the movers and shakers in the world of SMT. 

NCAB Acquires Elmatica AS in Norway
Published October 19

NCAB just got quite a bit bigger. This acquisition of Elmatica will make NCAB a global powerhouse in the high-mix, low-volume field. And both companies write monthly columns for I-Connect007, so congratulations, guys.

SMTAI Pre-Show Interview: Dan Hart of MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions
Published October 21

In this audio interview, Nolan Johnson and Dan Hart, application development manager for MacDermid Alpha Electronic Solutions, discuss the paper on non-bleed chip attach solutions that Dan’s team will be presenting at SMTA International 2021. As Dan explains, a new chip attach method not only fixes a problem, it increases reliability too.

Learn How to Avoid Solder Defects With New Book Authored by Indium Corporation
Published October 19

We just added another title to our growing I-Connect007 eBook library. The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to… Solder Defects is co-authored by Indium’s Christopher Nash and Dr. Ronald C. Lasky, and addresses the top six solder defects, as well as methods for avoiding them. And it’s free, so what are you waiting for?

Cadence Named One of World's Best Workplaces
Published October 21

Cadence Design Systems was once again named one of the “World’s Best Workplaces,” this time coming in at number 17. Anirudh Devgan, incoming president and CEO of Cadence, said, “This award reflects the many Great Place to Work recognitions we have received globally, and I want to thank every employee for their determination as we accelerate innovation, delight our customers, support our communities and celebrate diversity.”

IPC Welcomes Language in Senate Defense Appropriations Bill Supporting R&D on Lead-Free Electronics
Published October 21

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has included in its appropriations bill for 2022 language that specifically supports R&D for lead-free electronics in mission-critical applications. This is a first, and it’s definitely time for this kind of R&D. It’s getting tougher to source the lead-based components required by the Department of Defense for U.S. military electronics.