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.
Suggested Items
NEPCON ASIA 2025: Innovating Smart Manufacturing Ecosystems and Bridging Global Opportunities
07/11/2025 | PRNewswireTaking place from October 28 to 30, 2025 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (Bao'an), NEPCON ASIA is the premier platform to discover the latest technologies and market trends, connect with new suppliers and products, and explore potential partnerships and distribution opportunities.
Mycronic Delivers Strong Q2 Performance and Raises 2025 Outlook to SEK 7.5 Billion
07/11/2025 | MycronicMycronic reported a 35% increase in Q2 net sales and a 27% EBIT margin, prompting an upward revision of its full-year 2025 revenue forecast to SEK 7.5 billion.
Kitron Reports Strengthening Momentum in Q2 2025
07/10/2025 | KitronKitron reported solid quarterly sales and profits, particularly driven by the Defence & Aerospace market sector.
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.
Webinar Review: A Global Trade and Economy in Flux
07/09/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn a July 8 webinar, Global Electronics Association Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac provided a comprehensive analysis of the evolving international trade environment, its implications for inflation, monetary policy, and labor dynamics, and a sober assessment of market valuations. In “Navigating a Shifting Landscape” DuBravac painted a picture of a global economy in flux, where shifting trade alliances and tariff structures are redrawing the supply chain map and influencing the broader economic landscape, while also conveying an overall bullish market outlook.