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Current IssueThe 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.
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We take the pulse of the PCB industry by sharing insights from leading fabricators and suppliers in this month's issue. We've gathered their thoughts on the new U.S. administration, spending, the war in Ukraine, and their most pressing needs. It’s an eye-opening and enlightening look behind the curtain.
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Help IPC Persuade U.S. Congress to Extend the R&D Tax Credit
December 4, 2015 | John Hasselmann, IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute

IPC has long urged the U.S. Congress to enact a permanent research and development tax credit – or at least a multi-year extension, not just the usual temporary, one-year deal – and to provide that certainty sooner, not at the last minute. Only a permanent credit will spur the kind of long-term R&D that is critical to the competitiveness of the U.S. electronics industry in the global economy. The R&D tax credit was one of the key issues raised last April during IMPACT 2015, our annual event in which IPC member executives meet with top policy makers in Washington, D.C.
Unfortunately, as of this writing, congressional leaders still have not been able to reach agreement on how to extend the R&D tax credit — which expired on December 31, 2014, and more than 50 other tax provisions that have expired or will expire by December 31. The proverbial “last minute” has arrived.
Within the coming days, congressional leaders are slated to discuss the best path forward, whether it be making some of the provisions permanent or simply extending all of them in a one- or two-year package. A one-year retroactive extension, which would include only 2015, simply continues the uncertainty that businesses face.
At this point, Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has stated that a one-year extension is off the table but could resurface if a larger agreement is not reached.
Please take a moment now to contact your elected officials and urge them to extend the R&D tax credit without delay. Please feel free to use our suggested text or to craft your own message.
You can also join the conversation on Twitter; be sure to use the hashtag #JobsandGrowth and your elected representatives’ Twitter handles. Example: “Hey, Congress: Extend the R&D tax credit now! #JobsandGrowth @MEMBEROFCONGRESS HANDLE”
Please contact Ken Schramko, IPC director, government relations, if you need help with contact information for your elected official or if you have any questions.
Suggested Items
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.
The Global Electronics Association Releases IPC-8911: First-Ever Conductive Yarn Standard for E-Textile Application
07/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announces the release of IPC-8911, Requirements for Conductive Yarns for E-Textiles Applications. This first-of-its-kind global standard establishes a clear framework for classifying, designating, and qualifying conductive yarns—helping to address longstanding challenges in supply chain communication, product testing, and material selection within the growing e-textiles industry.
IPC-CFX, 2.0: How to Use the QPL Effectively
07/02/2025 | Chris Jorgensen, Global Electronics AssociationIn part one of this series, we discussed the new features in CFX Version 2.0 and their implications for improved inter-machine communication. But what about bringing this new functionality to the shop floor? The IPC-CFX-2591 QPL is a powerful technical resource for manufacturers seeking CFX-enabled equipment. The Qualified Product List (QPL) helps streamline equipment selection by listing models verified for CFX compliance through a robust third-party virtual qualification process.
The Knowledge Base: A Conference for Cleaning and Coating of Mission-critical Electronics
07/08/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseIn electronics manufacturing, there’s a dangerous misconception that cleaning and coating are standalone options, that they operate in different lanes, and that one can compensate for the other. Let’s clear that up now. Cleaning and conformal coating are not separate decisions. They are two chapters in the same story—the story of reliability.
Advancing Aerospace Excellence: Emerald’s Medford Team Earns Space Addendum Certification
06/30/2025 | Emerald TechnologiesWe’re thrilled to announce a major achievement from our Medford, Oregon facility. Andy Abrigo has officially earned her credentials as a Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) under the IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum, the leading industry standard for space and military-grade electronics manufacturing.