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Spotlight on Mexico
Mexico isn’t just part of the electronics manufacturing conversation—it’s leading it. From growing investments to cross-border collaborations, Mexico is fast becoming the center of electronics in North America. This issue includes bilingual content, with all feature articles available in both English and Spanish.
Production Software Integration
EMS companies need advanced software systems to thrive and compete. But these systems require significant effort to integrate and deploy. What is the reality, and how can we make it easier for everyone?
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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
May 26, 2023 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
It’s been a busy week here at I-Connect007, an even busier week for PCB designers and manufacturers. This week, we published a variety of articles and news items. In this week’s wrap-up, we have an interview with Rex Rozario that is basically a historical look at the birth of commercial PCB manufacturing, and his involvement with the Rolling Stones in their early days. Then we bring you a look at trends in freight costs, which are—fortunately—heading southward right now.
Columnist Kelly Dack shares his thoughts on specifying materials, with a warning against over-specifying laminates for boards that will go to volume production in Asia. And we’ve just published a book written by our friends at GEN3 that focuses on process control.
Finally, let’s welcome our newest columnist, SMTA Vice President of Communications Mike Konrad, who discusses manufacturing reliable PCBs that can withstand harsh environments. Mike has been around the world discussing PCBA cleaning, and we’re happy to have him in the I-Connect007 stable of columnists.
I hope you all have a great holiday weekend!
The Birth of the Printed Circuit Board
Published May 23
Rex Rozario has been involved in so many parts of the history of the PCBs—and rock and roll—that it’s hard to keep up with him. In this wide-ranging interview, Rex discusses his involvement in the beginning of the circuit board industry, as well as the earliest days of the Rolling Stones, who used to practice in his night club in the ‘60s. Rex is a real connector, as Malcolm Gladwell would say.
Where Are Freight Costs Going?
Published May 24
Nothing happens in a vacuum, and everything we manufacture has to be shipped somewhere. In this article, IPC Chief Scientist Shawn DuBravac discusses the recent drop in freight costs and trends he’s seeing in global container throughput. If you’re wondering where the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index stands right now, read on.
The Knowledge Base: Building Reliable Electronics for Harsh Environments
Published May 22
Check out our newest column! We’ve known Mike Konrad for years, and we’re glad to have him on board as a columnist. Mike is known throughout the industry for his PCBA cleaning expertise. In his first column, he discusses how to manufacture reliable electronics for harsh environments.
Latest I-007eBook from GEN3 Focuses on Process Control
Published May 25
Our newest book has just dropped, as the kids say. Check out The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to… Process Control, written by GEN3 and published by I-Connect007. If I’m going to keep editing books, I may have to get a meerschaum pipe and a pretentious blazer with elbow patches.
Stop Over-specifying Your Materials
Published May 25, 2023
Designers are only trying to help when they over-specify your materials. But guess what? Many times, they’re actually making things worse if the board goes to volume production overseas, as columnist Kelly Dack explains in this feature interview. Definitely an interesting read.
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Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
TTCI Brings Hands-On Test Engineering and IPC Training Expertise to PCB Carolina 2025
10/31/2025 | The Test Connection Inc.The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI), a trusted provider of electronic test and manufacturing solutions, and The Training Connection LLC (TTC-LLC) will exhibit at PCB Carolina on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the McKimmon Center at NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Attendees can visit Table 4 to say hello to Bert Horner and Bill Graver, and learn more about their test engineering services and technical training programs.
The Training Connection Continues to Grow with Addition of Veteran IPC Trainer Bill Graver
10/30/2025 | The Training Connection LLCThe Training Connection, LLC (TTC-LLC), a premier provider of test engineering and development training, is proud to announce the addition of Bill Graver to its growing team of industry experts. A respected professional with more than 35 years in electronics manufacturing, Bill joins as an IPC Master Trainer, bringing a wealth of hands-on experience in PCB testing, failure analysis, and process improvement.
Electronics Industry Warns Mexico Tariffs Could Undercut U.S. Manufacturing and Supply Chain Resilience
10/24/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationAs negotiations over U.S.–Mexico trade policies near an October 29 deadline, the Global Electronics Association released a new policy brief, From Risk to Resilience: Why Mexico Matters to U.S. Manufacturing.
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Revamp Your Components with BGA Reballing
10/14/2025 | Nash Bell -- Column: Knocking Down the Bone PileBall grid array (BGA) components evolved from pin grid array (PGA) devices, carrying over many of the same electrical benefits while introducing a more compact and efficient interconnect format. Instead of discrete leads, BGAs rely on solder balls on the underside of the package to connect to the PCB. In some advanced designs, solder balls are on both the PCB and the BGA package. In stacked configurations, such as package-on-package (PoP), these solder balls also interconnect multiple packages, enabling higher functionality in a smaller footprint.
New Course Presents a Comprehensive Guide to IPC Standards
10/10/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Francisco Fourcade, electronics technology standards manager for the Global Electronics Association, has spent years helping companies understand and implement the standards that keep the electronics manufacturing industry moving forward. In this interview, he shares updates on ongoing standards development efforts and previews a new course, "IPC Standards: A Guide for the Electronics Industry,” which starts Oct. 14.