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Career Opportunities Are Knocking

Are workforce topics on your mind? In this market, of course they are! Finding and keeping qualified employees is continually cited as one of today’s greatest business challenges. That's why I-Connect007 features Career Opportunities in every magazine issue. Whether you’re looking to hire or be hired, check out the Career Opportunities section in every issue of our magazines.

Beyond Prepreg: The Glassless ‘Revolution’

As our industry rallies around the call to action for HDI and UHDI, we find unparalleled and myriad laminate options. This abundance is rivaled only by the question surrounding them: Can they measure up to the high technology packaging demands required in our near future? Unsurprisingly, recent developments in FR-4-esque materials for high-speed and high-density designs, as well as newer, glassless technology for replacing traditional glass-impregnated laminates and prepreg, are garnering much interest. I caught up with Alun Morgan, technology ambassador for Ventec International Group, to ask about the impending “glassless revolution” and how it’s poised to solve some of our manufacturing challenges.

USPAE’s Jim Will on PCBMC, Defense Needs, and Onshoring

Jim Will has assumed the role of executive director of the U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics (USPAE). In his first interview with I-Connect007, Jim discusses his background in the commercial and defense industries, emphasizing U.S. defense assured electronics needs. His passion shows through as he discusses USPAE initiatives and looks forward to finding ways for partner organizations to work more closely together.

Mustaches and Automation in Flexible PCB Fabrication

In any manufactured product, whether a house or a flexible circuit, there is always a raw material component in the overall cost. In the flexible circuit, flexible heater, and rigid-flex industry, sheet materials can account for 20–60% of the overall price. Admittedly, this is a very broad range, but factors, such as how common the materials are in the region where they are made, can cause this to swing one way or the other. Your actions as an engineer or sourcing agent have an impact on overall cost, which I’ll illustrate through the example of building a house.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week 

He’s back, and in splendid form. Pete’s Starkey’s coverage of the EIPC Summer Conference, which took place June 4-5 at the European Space Centre, The Netherlands, is top notch. Joan Tourné from NextGIn Technologies emphasized that our attention must be focused on the interconnection ability of our PCBs and highlights VeCS as an alternative to the traditional plated-through-hole approach. Finally, Martyn Cauwe of IMEC discusses environmental impact and specifically, the need for a better, parametric approach to quantifying it, something European businesses are being required to do on the regular.

Day 2: A Full Day at the EIPC Summer Conference

Editor's note: This is the third and final report from the EIPC Summer Conference. It was a bright and early start to the second day of the 2024 EIPC Summer Conference at the European Space Centre, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, June 4-5. A short journey by bus from the hotel in Leiden and our security passes from the day before got us through the gate and to our seats in the Newton Room for Session 4, “Material Studies,” moderated by Martyn Gaudion. 

The Critical Role of Materials

Materials and substrates are an ongoing discussion for PCB fabricators today, offering PCB designers and fabricators much more choice than was available two decades ago. When it comes to running a printed circuit board company, material management is a critical piece for operations.

Traditional Materials, High-Frequency Boards?

Not long ago, high-frequency and RF boards required specialized laminates, which tend to be costly and difficult to manufacture. But now, high-frequency designers use traditional PCB laminates for certain high-frequency boards. How is this possible? For some insight, we asked Ed Kelley, founder of Four Peaks Innovation and former CTO of Isola, to discuss how traditional materials have improved and what this means to PCB designers and design engineers today.

IPC Impact Day Recap With Rich Cappetto

IPC has hosted its annual IPC Impact Day in Washington, D.C., for at least the past decade, with the first event taking place in the 1990s. This popular and important advocacy tool allows an industry segment to meet their local congresspeople, educate them on important issues, and influence new or existing legislation to support their interests. We spoke with Rich Cappetto, senior director of North American government relations at IPC, about the importance of the event and what it means for the greater PCB industry. He also highlighted an important change: There will be several IPC Impact Days throughout the year to allow smaller groups of industry professionals to visit Washington more often with a more targeted message.

Looking Into Space: EIPC Summer Conference, Part 2

“Innovative Development of PCB Technology and Design” was the theme of the second session of the 2024 EIPC Summer Conference, June 4-5, at the European Space Centre, Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

Off Like a Rocket: A Review of the EIPC Summer Conference, Part 1

Motorway traffic jams, airport car parking, walking for miles, queuing for security, delayed flights—oh, the joys of travelling. I was quickly reminded of my status as a foreigner while waiting patiently in line for a half-hour at passport control to enter the European Union at Amsterdam Schiphol, having flown all the way from London Luton in the United Kingdom, that great distance of 200 miles. 

Revolutionizing PCB Prototyping With ML and AM

Historically, PCB prototyping has been a meticulous and time-consuming process, often laden with complexities and high costs. Traditional methods have typically involved intricate design iterations, extensive manual labor, and significant material waste. However, the advent of AM has revolutionized this landscape, offering a rapid, cost-effective alternative that significantly accelerates the development cycle.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

This week’s must-reads are comprised of news which moves the industry forward. We’ve had quite a lot of news on a global scale, and they’re all good reads. To winnow down to just five, I chose either new information or interesting takes on ongoing industry stories. To that end, we have news about new capital equipment for advanced packaging, discussions of material selection and the imaging process during PCB fabrication, a columnist's ode to the best engineer she knows, and some optimistic news from the semiconductor industry.

Catching Up With Bob Duke of ASC’s Global Sourcing Division

Since we last talked to Bob Duke, president of American Standard Circuits’ Global Sourcing Division, I wanted to see how things are going and what a difference a year makes. Not surprising, and knowing how Bob operates, things are (spoiler alert) going great. Check it out for yourself.

Manufacturing Differently With Digital Technology

As circuit board manufacturing companies and their equipment suppliers go, you don’t see too many new ones, but groundbreaking technology is a different story. Founded in 2012 and based in Schwetzingen, Germany, Notion Systems is an industry leader in additive manufacturing technology of functional materials and inkjet printing equipment. Their tagline, “The future of additive manufacturing,” was demonstrated when I spoke with Antonio Schmidt, senior vice president of sales and marketing, and David Hahn, vice president of process R&D.

SAT Moving Additive Technology Forward

Hans Fritz started his career as an engineer with Gerber Scientific Instruments in Hartford, Connecticut, later working for Orbotech on its first LDI systems at EIE in Switzerland making photo plotters, and then at Hakuto Europe, a subsidiary of Hakuto Co. in Japan. He has spent the past three decades as general manager at Sense Advanced Technology (SAT), now working with his daughter Milena and business partner Alexander Weigl. “I have moved to the fun part of the business,” Hans says, where he gets to work in new field technologies, including additive and product industrialization processes. “I’m trying to use modern digital additive technologies to make PCBs, fuel cells, metal etching and milling, and PCMI applications.”

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

It’s been a great week. I spent part of the week at PCB East, which was held at the Boxboro Regency in Boxboro, Massachusetts. I haven’t been to Boxboro in about 20 years. The last time I was at PCB East in Boxboro, design instructor Mary Sugden had a hot plate and a supply of bologna in her room, because she preferred fried bologna to anything she could get in a restaurant. Never a dull moment with PCB designers! 

Advancing PCB Technology: A Conversation With John Johnson

John Johnson, an industry veteran with 45 years of experience, shares insights on the adoption of the Averatek process at American Standard Circuits, highlights the shift toward finer lines and spaces in PCB manufacturing, and emphasizes the importance of technology, cleanliness, and material adhesion in achieving ultra-fine lines. He addresses the challenges in advancements of the additive process, emphasizing the need for a mindset shift and employee training.

Will Modern Additive Manufacturing Revolutionize PCB Manufacturing?

In this interview, Alex Stepinski delves into the evolving landscape of additive manufacturing technology in PCB fabrication. He highlights the historical shifts in additive and subtractive processes and emphasizes the recent focus on fine patterning and 3D printing. He discusses the challenges faced in achieving fully additive processes, citing past experiences and the need for extensive process control. The conversation also explores the drivers and barriers to adoption, with Alex underscoring the importance of OEM involvement and targeted marketing efforts.

Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Progress and Opportunities in Industrial Workforce Development

IPC's Cory Blaylock and Victoria Hawkins discuss the exciting progress in workforce issues, with IPC celebrating the approval of their national program standards. The Department of Labor has broadened its list of occupations, notably approving the PCB design engineer role. There are funding opportunities for apprenticeship programs, particularly for underrepresented populations. IPC also offers supportive services for employer companies and workforce development initiatives.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week 

This week, our columnists enjoy particular attention with Barry Olney, Mehul Dave, and Happy Holden all providing valuable insight on materials, the critical importance of the front-end engineering process once a PCB design is received, and an overview and observations around IPC APEX EXPO technical sessions.

EOS Brings IPC Standards to South Korea

We are well aware of the saying, “There are no borders in the world economy.” To grow, a company must think about establishing a global customer base, no matter how small the product. So, the product must be manufactured according to a common global standard. In electronics manufacturing, one South Korean company learned that IPC standards should be applied immediately.

Show Review: ​​​​​​​IPC APEX EXPO Was ‘Just Right’

This year's IPC APEX EXPO was like the story of “Goldilocks” for me: not too crowded and not too slow. If it's too crowded, no one has the time to talk because they're too busy with the customers. If it's too slow, all the owners and others interested in M&A go home early. If it’s not so busy, there are more places to sit and the lines are shorter, which can feel just right.

IPC APEX EXPO Retrospective: The Founders Look Back

IPC APEX EXPO 2024 will soon feel like a distant memory, and by all accounts, it was a good show with an impressive display of technical knowledge. During the show, I visited with industry icons and IPC Hall of Fame recipients Dan Feinberg and Gene Weiner, who were among the original visionaries and founders of what became APEX EXPO. These individuals took me on a funny and engaging historic journey and a glimpse into how we arrived today.

Catching Up With Tom Yang of CEE PCB

I was in the Bay Area recently and met with my new friend Tom Yang, CEO of CEE PCB, a $450 million Chinese PCB fabricator. For too long, we have enjoyed the luxury of complaining about Chinese companies without even knowing who they are and what they do. That’s just too easy. My mission was to talk to a real live shop owner in China. With this interview, you will have a better and more personal understanding of CEE and the rest of the Chinese PCB industry.
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