I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
March 24, 2023 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

It’s almost as if upheaval is the new normal. We often describe slow-moving but unstoppable change as moving in “geologic time.” But occasionally–like an earthquake–geology shifts suddenly. Here in my office, tracking the news of the industry, things are moving faster than geologic time, but more slowly than the jolt of an earthquake. The wave seems almost surfable, where before it seemed overwhelming. In this week’s list, we bring news from five different, high-vibration areas in our industry. If you read nothing else this week, these five items will keep you informed.
The Big Picture: A New Globalization
Published March 20, 2023
I-Connect007 columnist, Mehul Davé takes a step back to consider nationalism, globalism and their teeter-totter relationship, the “paradox mindset” as a unifying worldview, the advent of AI, and the implications all these dynamics bring to the world in which we do business. No wonder this column got so much attention.
Darwin AI Evolving the Islands of Automation
Published March 20, 2023
Speaking of the effect of artificial intelligence applications on our industry, we recently had the opportunity to interview Darwin AI’s CEO and founder, Sheldon Fernandez. Darwin AI is focused on bringing AI to electronics assembly. Learn what he has to say here.
Foxconn Announces FY2022, 4Q22 Financial Results
Published March 20, 2023
As one of the largest electronics assembly companies on the planet, Foxconn’s 2022 revenues equal nearly $218 billion. How did the rest of the financial numbers turn out? Seems plenty of readers wanted to know.
NextFlex Launches $4.4M Funding Opportunity to Strengthen U.S. Electronics Manufacturing, Advance Adoption of Hybrid Electronics
Published March 22, 2023
From the press release, “NextFlex, America’s Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) Manufacturing Institute, released Project Call 8.0 (PC 8.0), the latest call for proposals that seek to fund projects that further the development and adoption of FHE while addressing key challenges in advanced manufacturing that support Department of Defense priorities. The total PC 8.0 project value is expected to exceed $9.4M (project value/investment figures include cost-sharing), bringing the total anticipated investment in advancing FHE since NextFlex’s formation to $134M.” If this is a program you can take advantage of, read on here.
The Summit View of the Marketplace
Published March 21, 2023
Investments, staffing, cybersecurity, and a peek into his crystal ball—John Vaughan, vice president of strategic markets at Summit Interconnect, sits down with Nolan Johnson to talk about it all. Business is good, by the way, thanks to Summit’s portfolio of military contracts, and he has sound advice to offer for smaller shops in the United States, and their real ability to make a difference in PCB fabrication.
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Electrodeposited Copper Foils Market to Grow by $11.7 Billion Over 2025-2032
09/18/2025 | Globe NewswireThe global electrodeposited copper foils market is poised for dynamic growth, driven by the rising adoption in advanced electronics and renewable energy storage solutions.
Breakthrough in Non-Contact Solder Removal Earns Kurtz Ersa 2025 Mexico Technology Award at SMTA Guadalajara
09/18/2025 | Kurtz Ersa Inc.Kurtz Ersa Inc., a leading supplier of electronics production equipment, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a 2025 Mexico Technology Award in the category of Rework & Repair for its HR 600P Automatic Rework System.
A.R.T. Invests in Latest Equipment to Further Enhance Electronics Training Facilities
09/17/2025 | A.R.T. Ltd.Advanced Rework Technology Ltd. (A.R.T.), a leading independent IPC-accredited training provider, has announced a series of new equipment investments at its state-of-the-art training centre.
Richardson Electronics Appoints Daniel Albers to Drive Made-in-USA Contract Manufacturing Expansion
09/17/2025 | Globe NewswireRichardson Electronics, Ltd., a global provider of engineered solutions for the green energy, power management, and custom display markets, announced the appointment of Daniel Albers to spearhead business development for its expanded, Made-in-USA contract manufacturing efforts.
STMicroelectronics to Advance Next-generation Chip Manufacturing Technology with New PLP Pilot Line in Tours, France
09/17/2025 | STMicroelectronicsSTMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, today announced new details regarding the development of the next generations of Panel-Level Packaging (PLP) technology through a pilot line in its Tours site, France, which is expected to be operational in Q3 2026.