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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
August 5, 2022 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

By now, you have probably heard that I-Connect007 has joined forces with IPC; Andy Shaughnessy led with that news in his Top 5 last week. I-Connect007 is constantly the source of news in the industry, but it’s not often that we’re the subject of the news. This week, it’s a different story.
To top it off, this week has been particularly newsy. So, I’m making the executive decision to include the merger news item as a piece of bonus news. If you haven’t read the July 28, 2022 press release by now, you’re getting another chance to find it here:
The Top 5 list this week contains industry analysis from IPC’s Shawn DuBravac, news on the passage of the U.S. “CHIPS Plus” bill, new materials from Ventec, and a chemistry company completing their acquisition, plus a brand new book in the I-Connect007 eBooks series.
We’ll see you next week, and for many weeks to come (we promise!)
'CHIPS Plus' Bill Passed with IPC’s Active Support
Published August 2
From the press release, this passage jumps out, “IPC advocated strongly for the passage of legislation that would fund the CHIPS Act and urged Congress to include $2.5 billion in the first fiscal year for the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program. IPC applauds both the Senate and the House for reaching an agreement and sending the bill to the President’s desk.” Click through here to read all the particulars and see the high-level numbers associated with CHIPS Plus.
Q4 Concerns: Hold on to Your Hats
Published August 3
With our industry booming, even as we face inflation, rising interest rates, and a worker shortage so acute it might be slowing company growth, and a potential economic recession on the horizon, the signals are decidedly mixed. I-Connect007 talks with IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac, looking ahead to the end of the year. DuBravac does his best crystal ball reading to tell us what to expect.
Ventec Expands Flex-rigid Material Range for Critical Military, Aerospace, and Ultra-high Reliability Applications
Published August 2
The new materials from Ventec include a flex-rigid No Flow / Low Flow prepreg range – tec-speed 4.0 (VT-462(L) PP NF/LF), offering high-Tg, low Dk, low loss, and excellent thermal reliability, designed for military, aerospace/space, and other ultra-high reliability applications. Get a sense for the specification details here.
New Book from I-Connect007 Examines Evolution of Electronics Industry NPI
Published August 1
In “The Electronics Industry’s Guide to…The Evolving PCB NPI Process,” Siemens topic experts Mark Laing and Jeremy Schitter offer a timely look at how the slowdown of production and delivery of materials and components in recent years has impacted the NPI process in the global marketplace. Check it out.
MKS Instruments, Atotech Receive China Antitrust Clearance for Pending Acquisition of Atotech
Published July 29
Mergers and acquisitions continue. MKS Instruments and Atotech “have received unconditional merger approval from China’s State Administration for Market Regulation for MKS’ pending acquisition of Atotech. The transaction has now received all required regulatory clearances.” Now is the time for making acquisitions.
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Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
Imec Launches 300mm GaN Program to Develop Advanced Power Devices and Reduce Manufacturing Costs
10/13/2025 | ImecImec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, welcomes AIXTRON, GlobalFoundries, KLA Corporation, Synopsys, and Veeco as first partners in its 300mm gallium-nitride (GaN) open innovation program track for low- and high-voltage power electronics applications.
NEDME Returns October 22 — The Northwest’s Premier Design & Manufacturing Expo
10/13/2025 | NEDMEThe Northwest Electronics Design & Manufacturing Expo (NEDME) returns on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Wingspan Event & Conference Center, Hillsboro. The event brings together engineers, product designers, manufacturers, educators, and community partners for a full day of industry connection, learning, and networking.
Critical Minerals: The New Power Play in Global Trade
10/13/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Access to critical minerals essential for electronics manufacturing, and China’s monopoly of them, is increasingly under scrutiny, with gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge)at the forefront of this discourse. However, all critical minerals imported from China share a similar narrative, and understanding the implications of this dependency and the risks to both U.S. commercial and defense sectors has created an urgent need for a comprehensive electronics strategy to secure and diversify access to these vital minerals. In this candid interview, USPAE Executive Director Jim Will discusses the issues and the mitigation steps that must be taken to adequately address them.
Precision PCB Acquires Assets of Microplace
10/13/2025 | Precision Technologies Inc.Precision Technologies Inc., doing business as Precision PCB, a One-Stop PCB Fabrication and Assembly services company with 27 years of experience providing Quality, Reliability and Excellence in customer service, has acquired the assets of Microplace, Inc.
Electronics U Expands Global Workforce Training for the Electronics Industry
10/13/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association unveiled Electronics U, the new name and expanded vision for its workforce training and certification platform.