-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueSales: From Pitch to PO
From the first cold call to finally receiving that first purchase order, the July PCB007 Magazine breaks down some critical parts of the sales stack. To up your sales game, read on!
The Hole Truth: Via Integrity in an HDI World
From the drilled hole to registration across multiple sequential lamination cycles, to the quality of your copper plating, via reliability in an HDI world is becoming an ever-greater challenge. This month we look at “The Hole Truth,” from creating the “perfect” via to how you can assure via quality and reliability, the first time, every time.
In Pursuit of Perfection: Defect Reduction
For bare PCB board fabrication, defect reduction is a critical aspect of a company's bottom line profitability. In this issue, we examine how imaging, etching, and plating processes can provide information and insight into reducing defects and increasing yields.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Advancing in a New Era
March 22, 2023 | John W. Mitchell, IPCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

What goes down must also come up. This is not the idiom we’re used to hearing, but I’d like to apply it to IPC APEX EXPO 2023. After a few years of lower attendance numbers due to the COVID pandemic, 2023 ushered in a re-invigorated group of attendees, exhibitors, speakers, event contractors, and staff to the show floor and meeting rooms.
IPC APEX EXPO 2023 was fueled by the possibilities of new advances in electronics manufacturing. We saw this in the exhibition, where a multitude of high-tech machinery (artificial intelligence, in some cases) showcased cutting-edge assembly, testing and inspection equipment, software automation, laser systems, additive manufacturing, and Factory of the Future technologies. The Technical Conference sessions and Professional Development courses covered such hot-topic tracks as Smart factories, PCB fabrication and materials, and high-density interconnects.
From what I observed and heard directly from exhibitors, the exhibition experience was positive for the 376 exhibitors who showcased their products and services on 122,700 square feet of show floor space. Davina McDonnell, global marketing manager for Cogiscan, told me, “IPC APEX 2023 was a big hit for us—the best show in years! Our booth was consistently packed with every demo station in use by customers. Our team had meaningful and productive conversations with lots of new contacts and we all left the show energized and excited about what’s in store for the rest of the year. This was the best IPC APEX EXPO we have participated in.”
From attendees, I was pleased to hear accolades on technical program offerings, many stating that it was the best conference in years; attendance was at an all-time high in more than a decade. The Technical Program Committee built a strong program with five tracks, 28 sessions, and 104 papers, with peer-reviewed content from 18 countries, detailing original research and innovations from industry experts around the world. The paper presenters—international subject matter experts—eagerly shared their knowledge and expertise, and provided attendees with quality technical content not found or presented anywhere else. We are very proud of the Technical Conference and set the bar high for paper submissions.
New this year were two special technical sessions, one on advanced packaging presented by IPC’s Chief Technical Officer Matt Kelly, and another on e-mobility led by Brian O’Leary of Indium and Jason Schwartz of KYZEN. Both special sessions drew capacity crowds and earned high marks from attendees for their thoroughness of content.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the 2023 edition of Show & Tell Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
TRI to Exhibit at SMTA Queretaro Expo 2025
07/16/2025 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading provider of test and inspection systems for the electronics manufacturing industry, is pleased to announce plans to exhibit at the SMTA Querétaro Expo 2025, scheduled to take place on July 24, 2025, at the Querétaro Centro de Congresos y Teatro Metropolitano.
Global PCB Connections: Let the Spec Fit the Board, Not Just the Brand
07/17/2025 | Jerome Larez -- Column: Global PCB ConnectionsIf you’ve ever seen an excellent PCB quote delayed, or worse, go cold because of a single line on the fab print, you’re not alone. Often, that line reads something like, “Use 370HR only,” or “IT-180A required.” These and other brand-name materials are proven performers, but unless your design needs that specific resin system (say, for RF performance, thermal reliability, or stringent CAF resistance), you may inadvertently be holding your job hostage.
IPC Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Lionel Fullwood
07/15/2025 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007Many IPC members who have contributed significantly to IPC and our industry have been awarded the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame (HOF) Award. Though many early HOF members have passed away and are unknown to today’s IPC membership, their contributions still resonate. This special series on IPC Hall of Fame members provides a reminder of who was honored and why. As a bonus, for those who are still around, we get to find out what these talented individuals are up to today.
TRI Unveils New Platform for Diverse Board Sizes
07/14/2025 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading test and inspection systems provider for the electronics manufacturing industry, proudly introduces a new size configuration for SPI and AOI Models.
Seeing a Future in Mexico
07/09/2025 | Michelle Te, I-Connect007The Global Electronics Association (formerly known as IPC) has been instrumental in fostering a partnership with Guanajuato, a state north of Mexico City with 12 industrial clusters and close to 150 companies involved in electronics. This past spring, Alejandro Hernández, the undersecretary for investment promotion in Guanajuato, attended IPC APEX EXPO 2025 at the invitation of IPC Mexico Director Lorena Villanueva, where he met with several companies to discuss the opportunities available in Mexico. He is inviting electronics-related companies seeking long-term investment in a centrally located area with access to highways, railways, and ports.