Latest Articles

HDPUG: 30 Years of Collaboration

The High Density Packaging User Group International Inc. (HDP) and IPC have partnered successfully for many years. The groups signed an MOU in 2020 to strengthen this relationship, increase technical collaboration between the groups, and provide a mutual path toward emerging and disruptive high-density interconnect (HDI) technologies. IPC became a member of HDP at that point.

Happy New Year 2024 From I-Connect007

As we bid farewell to a remarkable 2023, let's welcome the New Year with renewed hope and endless possibilities. Though we are taking the day off to spend the holiday with our family and friends, the entire staff at I-Connect007 wishes you a happy and prosperous new year.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Most-returned Holiday Gifts

It’s the last Friday of 2023, and a relatively quiet news week here for the industry. Most of our staff has been spending time with family and friends. Still, the news never sleeps, and I encourage you to revisit our websites and see what’s been happening. Now, we all appreciate great gifts, but sometimes they just aren’t what we need—or want. So, in keeping with the holiday spirit, here are the top five most returned gifts.

IPC Asia Connects With Local Companies Like TTM to Improve Workforce Development

Top Chinese students interning with the most influential electronics manufacturers in China through the IPC Asia Talent Development Program are producing stellar results. Tom Edman, president and CEO of TTM Technologies—and an IPC Board member—has provided strong support for the IPC Asia Scholars Program, in particular, during its initial stages.

Laurent Nicolet Has an Eye for Photography

Our industry is filled with those whose intelligence and contributions forward technology and manufacturing processes across the supply chain. Laurent Nicolet has particular expertise in PCB etching, materials, and machinery. He focuses on new technologies and recently introduced the new embedded traces process developed per SCHMID. He is also a skilled photographer with a unique eye for beauty. Laurent has agreed to share his story and photos with our readers.

Pete Starkey’s Five Must-Reads of 2023

I must say, this has been a good year. We were free at last from COVID travel restrictions and obligatory face masks. This means I have been able to get out and about, network with colleagues in the industry, and report on some notable presentations from distinguished technical specialists in Europe. It has been a difficult job choosing a “top five” from such a multiplicity and diversity of high-quality papers, but here’s my selection.

DOD Awards $46.2 Million to Revitalize the U.S. Defense Industrial Base On-Shoring of Advanced Packaging and Assembly

The Department of Defense announced an award of $46.2 million to GreenSource Fabrication LLC (GreenSource) via the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) Program.

Economic Outlook: Joe O’Neil Has More Optimism than Concerns

Joe O’Neil’s background includes operating both printed circuit fabrication and printed circuit assembly companies. In this Q&A with Joe, he explains how, in his current role, he contributes to the strategic initiatives at IPC, including his involvement in developing advanced fabrication technologies demonstration facilities in the U.S.

Holiday Greetings From the Staff at I-Connect007

The staff at I-Connect007 wishes you and your loved ones a happy holiday season. Today is Christmas Day, and we wish all those celebrating this holiday a merry and carefree time.

IPC Chief Economist’s Industry Forecast for 2024

To better understand the current economic situation for electronics manufacturing, we brought in Shawn DuBravac, IPC chief economist, to provide an update with a high level global economic outlook. As you might expect, the seas have been a bit turbulent in the aftermath of the pandemic. Shawn breaks down the headwinds and the tailwinds of an economy in flux, and what it means for you.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week—Holiday Movie Edition

Every year, my friends on social media have a discussion about Christmas movies. It starts with someone asking whether “Die Hard” qualifies as a Christmas movie. Then everyone speculates about which Christmas movies are the best or worst of all time. Here are the top five highest-grossing Christmas movies of all time.

I-Connect007 Columnist George Milad Passes Away

I-Connect007 columnist George Milad passed away on Dec. 7, 2023, at the age of 81. George was well-known in the PCB industry for his technical expertise in physical organic chemistry. He was employed as a national accounts manager at Uyemura International Corporation, was the author of the chapters on plating and surface finishing in Printed Circuit Handbook: Seventh Edition, and had a series of publications on electrolytic plating and metallic surface finishes.

Review: The Institute of Circuit Technology Christmas Seminar 2023

A multitude of delegates from the UK printed circuit industry made the journey to the Institute of Circuit Technology Christmas Seminar on December 5 at the grandiose Majestic Hotel in the picturesque spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire. They were welcomed by ICT Chair Emma Hudson, who introduced a program of three presentations encompassing the diverse topics of satellites, electroless metallisation and electronics manufacturing initiatives.

Fond Memories of Lino Sousa

Many of us have been in the PCB industry for a long time. With that, we have made great friends and met some of the most amazing and lovely people one can ever meet, especially professionally. From time to time, we must also say goodbye. Lino Sousa certainly falls into the category of amazing and special people in our industry. We learned of his passing last weekend —he will be sorely missed. In this compilation, friends and colleagues have shared their thoughts and made tribute to our friend, Lino.

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

Ever notice how the end of the calendar year creates a “tennis spectator” effect in our thinking? Let me explain. We’ve all seen the video of people watching a tennis match, with their gazes moving back and forth, left to right, as the ball moves between the contestants; that lazy head-shake led by the gaze of the eyes, right? Well, as we reach the end of a year, we seem to take stock in what’s happened behind us (reflectively gaze to the left), and what is coming in the future (expectantly gaze to the right.) Our thoughts bounce back and forth as if time were the tennis ball. In this week’s must-reads, however, we keep our gaze firmly affixed to the right, as it were, considering the future. If you only read five pieces of industry news this week, here are my suggestions.

Real Time with... productronica 2023: MKS' Atotech Brings New Features to Horizontal Plating

Roger Massey gives an update on Atotech's newest generation of their Uniplate® line. If you were unable to attend productronica 2023, don't worry. We're bringing you coverage of many of the week's events in Munich.

Recent Practices in PCB Fab Registration System Architecture

The registration of copper features, both to interconnects and to each other, is a topic about which documented cases in the public space are less than abundant, other than individual supplier marketing with minimal back-up data. Traditionally, this area is known to individual fabs as it involves multiple processes with a lot of variation in equipment makes/models, and even base materials between different shops. This article endeavors to document the current Pareto frontier of registration system design architecture for use by PCB fab engineers.

A Conversation With Industry Icon Pete Starkey

After spending a week at productronica 2023 with Pete Starkey, it became quite clear that Pete is something of an icon in the printed circuit board industry. I knew I had to spend some time talking to him specifically about the history, progress, and future of the bare printed circuit board. It was fascinating, humbling, and very educational. I think you’ll agree.

ASC and Sunstone: The Art of the Zipper Merge

We’ve all been there when two traffic lanes need to merge into one: Chaos ensues. It’s most often because some folks simply choose not to cooperate with fellow drivers. But when the so-called zipper merge works correctly, traffic flows smoothly. The same can happen when bringing two separate companies together; for some pairings, it’s a battle, while for others, the merging is as smooth as a zipper. American Standard Circuits and Sunstone Circuits have been integrating their business merger for about six months, and we checked in with Anaya Vardya and Matt Stevenson to see how the integration is proceeding. There are simple lessons to be learned from hearing their stories and applying them to your own situation.

Amitron's Leap Into the AI Frontier

In a conversation with Aidan Salvi, Amitron’s chief transformation officer, he spoke of the interaction of machine learning on registration. Amitron has been modernizing much of its manufacturing equipment, and Aidan points out that improving registration is a key objective. He sees registration as a holistic system. To make smart improvements, you need data. To get data, you need equipment and sensors which capture the data. To make sense of the data, you need analysis and, eventually, predictive tools.

Real Time with... productronica 2023: Schmoll Maschinen Brings Precision and Adaptability to Laser Drilling

Schmoll's Dr. Stefan Rung shares features of the Pico laser drill, designed to meet the growing requirements of IC substrates. Kurt Palmer discusses Burkle North America's team of specialists committed to supporting this technology.

Meet the IPS Workforce: Inoa Wahinehookae

As the workforce continues shifting to the next generation and the lack of appeal for manufacturing careers persists, we feel it’s important to share the voices of those who have chosen manufacturing as their career. We believe this will raise awareness and inspire others to consider manufacturing as a strong and viable career path.

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

Every year, companies in the consumer electronics segment look forward to the Christmas season. Some of these companies make almost half of their revenue in November and December. What are the hottest electronics gadgets this year? According to the Consumer Reviews Guide, these are the top sellers in the electronic gadget market this holiday season. Do any of these gadgets strike your fancy, as my grandmother used to say? Check them out.

Real Time with... productronica 2023: MivaTek Global Advances Technology With High-res Imaging System

MivaTek's Brendan Hogan talks about how the company employs Digitally Adaptive Rasterization Technology (DART) in their high-res imaging equipment. He also shares how the blurred line between semiconductors and microelectronics is driving broader application of the imaging process.

Real Time with... productronica 2023: Electra Polymers Celebrates 40 Years With Ambitious Growth Plan

Ashley Steers, Electra Polymers, updates Pete Starkey on the company's future, including a new manufacturing facility dedicated to producing inkjet solder mask.
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