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
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
July 1, 2022 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The summer is heating up, and our news this week is on fire, literally. Eltek has resumed making deliveries after a fire at their facility in Petach-Tikva, Israel. There’s never a dull moment in this industry.
And we have some good news: EIPC’s conferences are now live events again, and Editor Pete Starkey is back in the saddle, bringing us a review of the two-day conference. I know Pete was getting tired of sitting around his house and watching these events on video.
We have a Siemens column that offers an update on some of the CMMC and NIST cybersecurity documents published this year, and their effect on assembly and fabrication providers. (It’s a nice tie-in to our July issue of SMT007 Magazine, which publishes today.) Cadence columnists Jorge Gonzalez and Luke Roberto also discuss the developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
And Dan Beaulieu has a great primer for us “mature” adults who aren’t sure what to make of the millennials and younger folks in general. As Dan explains, it may just be a matter of misperception.
Stay cool, everyone!
Eltek Resumes Deliveries to Customers
Published July 1
Eltek Ltd. Is taking care of business on the heels of a fire at an Eltek facility in Petach-Tikva, Israel, and has resumed making deliveries. The company is using an alternative production line while work is under way to repair of the damaged line. Eltek is communicating with customers and its insurance company. That’s good news.
All Systems Go: Accelerate Your PCB Designs with Machine Learning
Published June 30
Though artificial intelligence and machine learning seem to be new concepts, they’ve actually been in development for decades. In this column, Cadence’s Jorge Gonzalez and Luke Roberto trace the lineage of AI and ML, and their path into today’s PCB design software tools. Did you know that we’re in the second modern era of AI? Read on!
EIPC Summer Conference 2022: Day 1 Review
Published June 28
Technology Editor Pete Starkey has been going stir-crazy for the past few years. Up until COVID, this English gentleman attended almost every industry conference in Europe, writing fantastic reviews that often went viral. After years of watching videoconferences of these events, Pete was ready for the road again, and he recently attend this live EIPC conference in Örebro, Sweden. Check out Pete’s coverage, which, as usual, makes you feel like you’re sitting in the audience with him, sipping Earl Gray.
It’s Only Common Sense: Misconceptions About Millennials and How to Embrace Their Truth
Published June 27
My grandmother didn’t think much of the scrappy young Frank Sinatra that my mother was swooning over. It seems that every generation thinks the next one isn’t cut from the best cloth, and the reaction of people my age to Generation Z and the millennials is a case in point. But as Dan Beaulieu points out in this column, many of our beliefs about younger people may be built upon misconceptions. Check it out.
Lean Digital Thread: The Secure Digital Thread
Published June 29
Intellectual property security is a big challenge for manufacturers, and a variety of cybersecurity documents have been published recently. In this column, Zac Elliott of Siemens discusses the U.S. Department of Defense Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMMC) program, a recent draft released by NIST, and how they affect PCB fabricators and assemblers.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
April Issue of I-Connect007 Magazine: Beyond the Rulebook
04/14/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn this month’s I-Connect007 Magazine, we asked PCB designers, fabricators, and suppliers what it really means to operate without a rulebook. Their perspectives vary, especially between seasoned designers and experienced fabricators, but a common thread emerges: progress depends on pushing boundaries and finding a way forward, even when the path isn’t clear. In many ways, this mindset has always been part of what we do, whether we’ve called it that or not.
Defense Speak Interpreted: Hypersonics Report Back After Six Years of Silence
04/07/2026 | Dennis Fritz -- Column: Defense Speak InterpretedIt’s been six years since my Defense Speaks column about hypersonic weapons. Back then, these weapons were the most sought-after technology as there was little defense for them. They were the cornerstone of the “strike any location on earth within one hour” scenario. Of course, the war in Ukraine, and now the action in Iran, have grabbed the weapons headlines, but hypersonics still play a role and development continues. Here is the update.
SMTA Dallas Expo & Tech Forum: A National-level Local Event
03/31/2026 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Gary Tanel is the long-time chapter president of SMTA Dallas. He has been active in the industry for many years, retiring from Texas Instruments and Raytheon and then starting his own contract manufacturing company. He has been on the board of directors of SMTA and has held every office at the national and local level. He has received both the Founder’s and the Excellence in Leadership Awards from SMTA. Gary has been the SMTA Dallas Expo chair for many years, including for the 23rd annual show.
Punching Out: How Many PCB Companies Are There in North America Now?
03/19/2026 | Tom Kastner -- Column: Punching Out!When I am asked how many PCB shops are still in the U.S., my answer is usually, “About 130. How many do you want to buy?” However, I do not really know the number. My job is either to sell PCB shops or help people buy them, not to count them. I probably should keep better track of them, but many are small (70% have revenue below $10 million), or they say they are making boards even if they rent out their facility as an auto repair shop.
From Classroom to Boardroom: One Year Yields a World of Perspective
03/15/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Few college seniors can say their first plane ride took them straight into a global electronics boardroom. However, Emily Daley, a Michigan Technological University electrical engineering student, spent her senior year as the Student Board Member to the Global Electronics Association Board of Directors. She brought a fresh, student-centered perspective to the industry as she attended APEX EXPO, as well as board meetings in Taiwan and Lake Tahoe.