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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
September 16, 2022 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

“You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with.” This saying is attributed to Jim Rohn, and I couldn’t help thinking of that quote as I put together this week’s listings. Hear me out: 1) There are five items on our list; 2) These items zoomed to the top based on reader interest; 3) Every single one of these news items has an “association” association—IPC, iNEMI, SMTA, and NextFlex are all represented in what you, dear reader, chose to explore this last week.
Seems well-timed, actually. Trade show season kicks off with the first major conference in early October and continues into the spring of 2023. So, if you haven’t yet spent time with this association news, now’s your chance. Have a great weekend, everyone!
IPC Symposium Puts Spotlight on IC Substrate and Package Assembly
Published September 9
This inaugural two-day symposium on advanced packaging technology aims to move past the hype and focus on the business and technology for IC packaging. Twenty-eight speakers will fill out eight different sessions. For industry professionals for whom packaging advanced packaging R&D is of interest, this symposium is a must. Get all the details from IPC here.
Flexible Thinking: The Rapidly Expanding Realm of Stretchable Circuits
Published September 12
Industry pioneer and I-Connect007 columnist Joe Fjelstad sees a rise in interest in flex circuitry applications. Joe updates us on the progress in developing stretchable materials for use in applications such as wearable devices. He also highlights the work done by the NextFlex organization to provide a demonstration center which engineers can use as a lab space to get comfortable with flex materials. If you’re looking into how flex works for your applications, click through here.
Women’s Leadership Program Announces Presentation Program during SMTA International 2022
Published September 15
SMTA is sponsoring a Women’s Leadership Program as a part of the upcoming SMTA International 2022 conference and exposition in Minneapolis. Chairing the two presentation sessions and the social to follow are Tanya Martin, Jessica Molloy, Debbie Carboni, Julie Silk, Michelle Ogihara, and Sherry Stepp. The event is free; everyone is welcome to attend. Find more information here.
iNEMI Workshop: Reliability Challenges and Solutions for Automotive Electronics
Published September 14
Oct. 20 in Shanghai is where ZESTRON and iNEMI will host a workshop on the requirements and challenges facing electronics reliability for automotive applications. The speakers list is a deep pool of automotive electronics talent. If automotive is your area of interest, this is a valuable resource.
Pricing Strategies With Michael Carano
Published September 13
We spoke with Mike Carano, vice president of quality at Averatek, I-Connect007 columnist, and member of the IPC Thought Leaders Program, about the current market pressures on pricing. Carano had some interesting insights to share on the subject, and some strategies for increasing margins through pricing, yield and technology improvements. Spoiler alert: Many fabs are clawing back margin they gave up over the years.
Passing the Test With SMTA’s Rob Boguski
Published September 14
Andy Shaughnessy recently spoke with Rob Boguski, president of Datest, an SMTA vice president and board member. Rob explained why today’s test customers are asking for more information than the traditional pass/fail, offers a preview of SMTA International, and gives an update on SMTA’s planning strategy for the next five years. Whether test is your jam, or SMTA long-range planning is, you certainly should give this interview a read.
Suggested Items
IPC Day France: Aerospace Electronics
09/18/2023 | IPCIPC Day France: Aerospace Electronics is an aerospace-focused networking event featuring key industry experts from NASA and Airbus and will take place on October 2, 2023 .
TRI to Unveil New High-Throughput AOI and AXI at productronica 2023
09/15/2023 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading test and inspection systems provider for the electronics manufacturing industry, will join productronica 2023, which will be held at Messe München Center from November 14 – 17, 2023.
An Overview of Rigid-flex Design
09/13/2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamFor this month’s issue on rigid-flex design, we spoke with instructor Kris Moyer, who teaches the IPC class “PCB Design for Flex and Rigid-Flex Boards.” In this wide-ranging interview, Kris breaks down the hurdles facing rigid-flex designers and offers a variety of solutions for rigid board designers taking on their first rigid-flex circuits. He also provides a few horror stories to illustrate what happens if you don’t follow sound design practices, rules, and standards. And, as Kris points out, “Your fabricator is your friend.”
Winners of IPC Hand Soldering and Rework Competition at NEPCON Vietnam 2023 Announced
09/13/2023 | IPCIn conjunction with NEPCON Vietnam 2023, IPC hosted its popular IPC Hand Soldering and Rework Competition in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 6-8, 2023.
Sinclair Manufacturing Orders Hentec/RPS Pulsar Solderability Testing and Photon Steam Aging Systems
09/13/2023 | Hentec Industries/RPS AutomationHentec Industries/RPS Automation, a leading manufacturer of selective soldering, lead tinning and solderability test equipment, is pleased to announce that Sinclair Manufacturing has purchased Pulsar solderability testing and Photon steam aging systems for installation in their Chartley, Massachusetts facility.