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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
August 19, 2022 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
![](https://iconnect007.com/application/files/9816/9086/9878/Top5_picks.jpg)
Can it be Friday already? Seems like I’ve just barely put away my Tuesday dishes. Some weeks, I wonder where my days went as they fly by so fast I hardly even realize it. As I looked back through the news for the week, it was clear why everything went so fast: There was a lot going on.
In my must-reads this week, I highlight a student design competition supported by Altium and IPC; changes to the who, what, when, where, and even the why, of the CPCA show in October; Sparton’s sonobuoy vendor status is inked; MKS finalizes the acquisition of Atotech; and MX2 Technologies takes us to school for CMMC 2.0.
The news this week had a nice feel to it. It seems like the industry is starting to gain some traction again with shows, mergers and acquisitions, and companies getting to do those “extras” that they wanted to do before the pandemic reared its ugly head. It had a little of that “back to normal” feel, even if we aren’t quite there yet. What do you think? Are we normal yet?
MKS Instruments Announces Closing of Atotech Acquisition
Published August 17
Rather than just trying to deal with short-term problems, companies are starting to look ahead, as is the case with the acquisition of Atotech by MKS. John T.C. Lee, president and CEO of MKS, said the acquisition positions MKS to “accelerate roadmaps for future generations of advanced electronic devices.” Challenges bring about innovation, and MKS looks poised to take the lead. Lee said, “By combining leading capabilities in lasers, optics, motion and now process chemistry, MKS is set to be a leader in the next frontier for miniaturization and complexity.” How this merger affects the rest of the industry remains to be seen.
The CMMC 2.0 Countdown: Will You Be Ready When the Clock Hits Zero?
Published August 16
Divyash Patel is a cybersecurity expert who doesn’t mince words. Get your business ready, or else. Not or else the government is sending a hitman after you. No, it could be quite a bit more complex than that. CMMC 2.0 may be a pared down version, but it’s still a phased-in process that requires your immediate attention. If you haven’t read this piece, you should; it’s eye-opening.
Sparton Received Vendor Status for U.S. Navy Sonobuoy Orders
Published August 15
Do you know what a sonobuoy is? Nope, I didn’t either. But when I saw this news, and understood the implications, I understand why this is such a big deal. Sparton was only recently acquired by Elbit Systems, and together they are advancing technology for some of the U.S. government’s most advanced weapons systems. Sparton has been a long-time partner of the U.S. Navy, and will continue to provide stellar support.
New Date and Venue for CPCA Show 2022
Published August 15
It’s no secret that China has struggled with its zero-tolerance policy regarding the COVID outbreaks, so I wasn’t surprised to see another show postponed. But I take it as a good sign that it was only pushed out one month. China, like the rest of the world, knows that it needs a healthy business outlook to stay in the black. Fortunately, the 2022 International Electronic Circuits Exhibition, now named the 2022 International Circuits (South China) Exhibition, has found a new home at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, and will operate with strict COVID guidelines in place. We’re looking forward to seeing how many companies attend. It should be a good indicator of what’s to come for other shows ahead.
Altium, IPC Education Foundation, and Arduino Announce Student Electronics Design Competition
Published August 17
Altium’s partnership with the IPC Education Foundation and Auduino will allow upcoming PCB designers to hone their skills in a design competition while addressing environmental concerns. It hits right at the core of what so many Gen-Zers are concerned with—preserving their planet for the next generations. Last year’s contestants used Altium design tools to take on a range of environmental issues—from city traffic to honey bee endangerment. To learn more about the program, and competition, be sure to click the link.
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor's Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
09/06/2024 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007This week’s Top 5 starts with steps you can take to cultivate a culture of thriving. We also have bullish news from the global semiconductor sector, advice on how to tease out hidden cost drivers during the PCB design cycle, how the Altium-Ansys collaboration will affect design, and Happy Holden’s version of Occam’s Razor—three simple tools to keep your wet processes in line.
Impact of the Altium-Ansys Partnership on PCB Design
09/05/2024 | Josh Moore, AltiumThere’s a saying in electronics hardware design: “There are two types of electronics designers: those who have signal integrity problems and those who will.” This adage emphasizes the inevitability of encountering and the need to address signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) issues.
Hidden Cost Drivers in PCB Design
09/05/2024 | Cherie Litson, CID+, Litson1 ConsultingI recently taught a CID+ course, and if you’ve ever taken a CID or CID+ course, you know that we discuss cost adders quite a bit. When I asked the class of 15 design engineers their ideas on the biggest cost adders, the first and strongest response: the project manager. Are you surprised by their answer? After over 40 years in the industry, I wasn’t. If you step back and look at the process of product development, you’ll see that many decisions that affect costs down the line really do take root with the project manager.
Altium, Mouser Team Up to Advance Electronics Education and Careers Worldwide
09/05/2024 | AltiumAltium LLC, a global leader in software and solutions for the electronics industry, and Mouser Electronics, a global authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components, are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at advancing electronics education and careers worldwide.
Young Professionals Spotlight: Process Engineer Kevin Dial, American Standard Circuits
09/05/2024 | Dan Beaulieu, D.B. Management GroupWhen I heard that my friends at American Standard Circuits had hired a new, fresh-out-of-college process engineer, I was anxious to meet him. Now, you get to read this interview. It’s a rare perspective of a young man new to our industry.