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

It’s been a busy week in our industry. Never a dull moment! If you’ve been paying attention to our tariff tumult with China and its effect on the stock market, especially if your company does a lot of business with China, you might be tempted to call in a Xanax refill about now. But hang tight. This is still early in the first quarter. This brouhaha serves to underscore our need to manufacture critical laminates and components in the U.S. In this week’s must-reads, we have a potpourri of articles covering tariffs, the next generation of HDI, the three-year anniversary of IPC Mexico, a novel green technology, and emerging design trends.

IPC President's Award: Barry Matties

The IPC President’s Award is given to IPC members who have exhibited ongoing leadership in IPC and have made significant contributions of their time and talent to the association and the electronic interconnect industry. Individuals can receive this award only once. Barry Matties has been a leading global force in publishing content about the electronics industry for nearly 40 years. He began his publishing career as a co-founder of CircuiTree Magazine in 1987, which became the leading printed trade journal serving the PCB industry.

University of Arizona Pioneering Technical Education Beyond Semiconductors

While many universities struggle to keep their curriculum up to date with the evolving needs of the electronics industry, the University of Arizona stands head and shoulders above the others. Its Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing incorporates five of the colleges at UA and emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for diverse careers in technology and manufacturing.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: IPC Mexico Building Community and Partnerships

Lorena Villanueva highlights IPC Mexico's three-year journey focused on community building and partnerships with governments and educational institutions. Key milestones include collaboration agreements with state governments and universities to enhance the electronics industry. IPC Days promotes networking and education, while a partnership with UNAM aims to integrate IPC training into engineering programs. The discussion wraps up with congratulations on IPC Mexico's achievements and the launch of the Mexico pavilion at this year's show.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: EPOCH Expands With Automation

With a 35-year history, EPOCH is expanding its operations in Bangalore, India, focusing on automation and customer collaboration. Phil Marcoux leads a task force for AI in PCB design, working with various companies to enhance collaboration, and cites that, historically, data sharing has provided the greatest challenge for AI development. Luckily, he says, that is changing. EPOCH combines AI and traditional methods in manufacturing, especially in product design.

Elephantech: For a Greener Tomorrow

Nobuhiko Okamoto is the global sales and marketing manager for Elephantech Inc., a Japanese startup with a vision to make electronics more sustainable. The company is developing a metal inkjet technology that can print directly on the substrate and then give it a copper thickness by plating. In this interview, he discusses this novel technology's environmental advantages, as well as its potential benefits for the PCB manufacturing and semiconductor packaging segments.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Revolutionizing PCB Manufacturing with Laser Technology from MKS' ESI

In this interview, Barry Matties speaks with Casey Krueger from MKS' ESI.  MKS' ESI focuses on laser-based micro machining for PCBs, especially in HDI and IC substrates. The Geode CO2 drilling system, launched in 2019, uses AOD technology to transform the market. Trends show a shift toward smaller vias for advanced packaging, with laser drilling concentrated in Asia. North America sees rising investments in laser tech, prioritizing quality, productivity, and energy efficiency, while AI integration boosts ESI's operations.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Technological Advancements – IPC's Vision for 2025

Nolan Johnson introduces Matt Kelly, the CTO and VP Standards & Technology at IPC, who shares insights on recent organizational changes. He highlights the importance of proactive standards development to match the rapid pace of technology, predicting a tenfold acceleration in advancements over the next five years. IPC's core initiatives for 2025 focus on design, advanced electronics packaging, and digital manufacturing, aiming to create new guidelines and standards that meet industry demands.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: GreenSource's Growth and Future Developments

Things are looking bright for GreenSource. Michael Gleason shares an update on GreenSource's recent growth and upcoming changes. A recipient of a Defense Production Act Investment Program award, GreenSource is planning for new substrate capabilities. Current investments continue to enhance equipment and sustainability initiatives such as water quality. And their unique collaboration with the University of New Hampshire continues to aid their workforce development, despite recruitment challenges.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Exploring LCP Materials with Matrix Electronics

Nolan Johnson introduces Robert Berg from Matrix Electronics, highlighting the company's focus on high-speed, low-loss flexible materials, especially LCP materials. LCP (liquid crystal polymer) is a thermal plastic with unique properties that make it ideal for advanced PCB applications. Despite processing challenges, its stability and FDA approval for medical use drive interest in aerospace and medical markets.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Advancements in Inkjet Technology With Electra Polymers

Don Monn from Electra Polymers discusses the evolution of inkjet technology since 2016, focusing on market changes and the reliability of inkjet products. He explains the additive inkjet process, which reduces waste and boosts efficiency. The conversation highlights Electra Polymers' strong market presence in North America and the importance of customer trust.

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

The word for this week (again) is tariffs. Another week has gone by, and the tariff mandates continue with neither the U.S. or China backing down on a course that could be disastrous for businesses and the economy in the short term. As we all wait and watch the geopolitical volley, our businesses forge ahead. As one industry leader recently said, “We’ve been through this before.” Well, maybe not exactly this, but the resilience of our industry and business leaders has been proven over and over, decade upon decade. Check out our coverage of the latest IPC tariff webinar, which includes a snapshot of the tariff situation as it stands now.​​​​​​ But it's not over, not by a long shot.

IPC Webinar Review: Tariff Tensions Influence Electronics Supply Chain

IPC continued its important discussion of the operational impact of new tariff policies on the electronics manufacturing supply chain by addressing a primarily European audience in a webinar on Thursday, April 10. This webinar focused on critical developments in global trade policy affecting Europe, and how trade tensions are influencing strategic decisions across the electronics supply chain.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Benmayor Group—Resistance is Futile: Automation Is the Future

Jeff Brandman, president of Aismalibar North America, and Eduardo Benmayor, CEO of Benmayor Group, discuss Benmayor Group's role in electronics and automation, focusing on how automation addresses labor shortages. Jeff, notes that many businesses struggle to find workers for manual tasks, emphasizing the need for various automation solutions to boost productivity. North America lags in automation compared to other regions, which impacts efficiency. Jeff recommends a step-by-step approach to scaling automation, and there's growing acceptance of robots in the workforce, leading to a positive outlook for the future.

Real Time With... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Best Student Technical Paper Winner—Attila Rektor

Attila Rektor, a Ph.D student from Boise State, won the best technical paper award at IPC APEX EXPO 2025. His paper explores enhancing the conductivity of laser-induced graphene for flexible circuits. The research, funded by SAIC, involved modulating surface energy to enable effective copper plating. This breakthrough has potential applications in flexible printed circuit boards, sensing, and biomedical devices.

IPC Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Walt Custer

This Hall of Fame spotlight features a long-time associate of mine, Walt Custer. Now retired, Walt is well known in the industry for his decades of work as part of Custer Consulting Group, presenting his market research and business analyses at trade shows and conferences around the globe. As I mentioned in my spotlight on Gene Weiner, Walt and I were in that group that reported to Gene back in the old Dynachem days. Under Gene’s tutelage, we became deeply involved in IPC and were eventually honored with the Hall of Fame award.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Advancements for Flexible Circuit Technologies

Mark Finstad and Chris Clark from Flexible Circuit Technologies discuss their new marketing campaign for catheter circuits, featuring larger formats and advanced specifications. They explain the development of in-house materials for high-density circuits, enhancing cost competitiveness. They highlight the opening of a new facility in China for advanced assembly services, along with focused training sessions to fill industry education gaps and promote early customer engagement for better project outcomes.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Exploring Ventec's Innovations

Mark Goodwin highlights Ventec's global distribution network and recent expansions in service and equipment offerings. He emphasizes the company's expertise in coating technology for thermal management, specialized materials, and its agility in creating customized solutions for customers.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Pluritec's Expansion and Innovations in North America

Maurizio Bonati from Pluritec discusses the company's growth in North America. He highlights investments in infrastructure and customer support, along with product advancements like X-ray drilling machines and increased automation to boost production efficiency.

Pioneering the Future of Substrate Manufacturing for North America

In a rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, the shift toward substrate technology has become a focal point for some companies in the PCB industry. Ralph Jacobo, technical sales and application engineer at all4-PCB, says all4-PCB has its roots in via-filling technology, has successfully navigated various market changes, and is now keenly focused on the demands of substrate manufacturing in North America. Ralph shares insights into the company's historical journey, current initiatives, and the innovative steps being taken to address the complexities of modern substrate processes.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: IEC Competes Effectively Gaining Market Share

Kelly Dack speaks with Chris Hrusovsky of IEC at IPC APEX EXPO. IEC, a 60-year-old distribution company, operates in the U.S. and Canada, sourcing U.S.-made products like chemicals for printed circuit boards. Despite previous pandemic-related sourcing challenges, IEC has ensured a steady supply, while addressing customer concerns about tariffs and pricing.

A Look Into the Future With Futurist Kevin Surace

In this interview after his keynote address at IPC APEX EXPO 2025, futurist Kevin Surace reflects on important lessons learned and how they shaped his own future. He also makes some bold predictions for the use of AI in PCB board design, fabrication, and assembly—and what the common household will look like in 10 years. It’s an exciting and adventurous step into a future where humans work alongside robots, all for the betterment of everyone.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: CEE PCB's Expansion Plans—New Factory in Southeast Asia

Tom Yang, CEO of CEE PCB Technology, employs about 4000 people at their facilities inside and outside of China. He outlines the company's operations and plans for a new factory in Thailand, set to open in Q1 2026, and explains his plan to address workforce challenges in that area. Tom discusses the impact of recent tariff changes and emphasizes the importance of cultural integration in cross-border manufacturing.

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

There was big news throughout the week on a global economic scale. Everything is moving so fast it’s hard to follow. I sat in on a webinar about the U.S. tariff changes announced on April 2, and even the policy wonks, whose life’s purpose is to be expert in these things, couldn’t keep up. One speaker was checking government information websites, and listening to the news on the television even as she gave her update.

Observations on Palladium as a Final Finish

Not much has been published about palladium as a final finish, but it’s experiencing a renaissance as a liquid metal for metallization of copper in ultra HDI and as a final finish. It was very popular in the 1970s because of its corrosion resistance, as the only other final finishes were tin-lead reflow, Ni/Au, OSP, or immersion tin. Palladium was very popular with the automotive industry then and Photocircuits of Glen Cove, New York, was a major supplier of boards.
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