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Raymond E. Pritchard IPC Hall of Fame Award: Peter Bigelow

IPC’s most prestigious award honors an individual’s long-term distinguished service and contributions to IPC and the electronics manufacturing industry. Peter Bigelow is president of FTG Circuits in Haverhill, Mass., focusing on the military, RF/microwave, and aerospace markets. He also has extensive experience in general management, marketing, operations, and sales with large publicly traded and privately held manufacturing companies in the printed circuit, electronics, and instrumentation industries.

Bridging the Gap Between PCB Designers and Fabricators

With today’s advanced EDA tools, designing complex PCBs in the virtual world does not necessarily mean they can be built in the real world. This makes the relationship between a PCB designer and a fabricator pivotal to the success of a project. In keeping with solid design for manufacturing (DFM) practices, clear and frequent communication is needed to dial and lock in design constraints that meet expectations while addressing manufacturing concerns.

IPC APEX EXPO Newcomer: Faith DeSaulnier of TTM Technologies

During the Newcomer’s Welcome Reception at IPC APEX EXPO, the I-Connect Editorial Team spoke with several first-time attendees. The following is our interview with Faith DeSaulnier, a process engineer based at TTM Technologies’ facility in Forest Grove, Oregon. 

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Uyemura—Inside the Specialty Chemicals Market

Rich Depoto discusses Uyemura's focus on specialty chemicals and market trends, particularly the shift towards HDI and UHDI products. Rich highlights innovations in surface adhesion and micro etches for copper, essential for high-speed transmission.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Maximizing Cost Savings in PCB Design With NCAB

Kelly Dack and Lonnie Port discuss NCAB's role in the printed circuit board industry. With 30 years of experience, NCAB emphasizes the importance of customer involvement during the design process to achieve significant cost reductions.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: MivaTek is Revolutionizing Circuit Board Manufacturing with DART Technology

Brendan Hogan from MivaTek Global discusses the company's focus on direct imaging for circuit boards and semiconductors. MivaTek is introducing DART technology for dynamic feature size adjustments. This technology enhances precision, improving registration and throughput.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Tariffs and Supply Chains in U.S. Electronics Manufacturing

Chris Mitchell, VP of Global Government Relations for IPC, discusses IPC's concerns about tariffs on copper and their impact on U.S. electronics manufacturing. He emphasizes the complexity of supply chains and the need for policymakers to understand their effects.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Revitalizing the U.S. Microelectronics Industry with PCBAA

PCBAA president David Schild discusses his experience in the PCB and aerospace sectors, focusing on the mission of the PCBAA and its collaboration with IPC. He highlights the decline in PCB manufacturing in the U.S. and the importance of public policy in restoring capacity.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Highlighting Global PCB Trends and Technologies with all4-PCB

Andy Shaughnessy and all4-PCB's Ralph Jacobo discuss global distribution trends in the PCB industry, focusing on new technologies in plasma etching and final inspection. Ralph highlights the importance of IC substrate buildup technology and partnerships in the market.

IPC APEX EXPO 2025: We’ve Got It Covered

IPC APEX EXPO is the largest electronics manufacturing trade show in North America, bringing together professionals from all sectors of the supply chain to educate, network, and share their products and services. We’ve put all our coverage of the show in one easy-to-find location. Just click on “Videos,” “Show Coverage” and “Photos” to find what you’re looking for. Check back regularly as more content is added. You won’t want to miss any of our unique coverage. 

IPC APEX EXPO 2025 Review: Expecting the Unexpected

One of the best things about trade shows is not the scheduled meetings but the chance meetings that come up unexpectedly. Just because you happened to go down one aisle instead of the next, you bump into an old acquaintance that you have not seen for years, or you happen to talk to the guy in line next to you to get a $5 Pepsi, and it turns into a great, new connection.   

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Schmoll America—Committed to Supporting Customers

Kurt Palmer of Schmoll America and Stephan Kunz of Schmoll Maschinen GmbH had a great show, reporting solid attendance and good opportunities, as Schmoll America celebrates its first anniversary. With a booth full of equipment for attendees to see and touch, they showcased unique products like the Pico laser and X-ray machine, and discussed plans for a new facility.

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

I’ve spent my week recovering from a busy and interesting week in Anaheim for the 25th IPC APEX EXPO. I think back to my first APEX EXPO, and the changes since then are too numerous to count. I first attended in 2004, also in Anaheim, back when there was almost no design content in the conference or expo portions of the show. It was just a few years after the downturn, and attendees and exhibitors alike were skittish, almost afraid to show confidence in our industry. A few unemployed design friends handed out copies of their resumes. Travel budgets were still down, and the aisles weren’t exactly packed with traffic.

Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: MKS' Atotech—Leading Innovations in Semiconductor Solutions

In this interview, Marcy LaRont speaks with Kuldip Johal, CTO, MKS’ Atotech. Based in Boston, MKS operates in vacuum solutions, photonics, and specifically for the Atotech division, material solutions.  MKS significantly impacts the semiconductor industry, supplying components for up to 85% of global semiconductor tools and covers processes and materials for 70% of PCB manufacturing steps.

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

Burkle North America's Andy Turner shares insights from the show, highlighting the excitement surrounding the event and Burkle North America's growth potential. He invited attendees to their booth to interact with the InfoCube, a cutting-edge touchscreen showcasing Burkle's diverse product offerings.

25 Years of IPC APEX EXPO: Organizer Alicia Balonek Reflects on a Milestone

As I celebrate my 25th work anniversary with IPC, I can’t help but reflect on my incredible journey. From its inception in 2000, IPC APEX EXPO has evolved into one of the most anticipated and dynamic events in the electronics industry, and I’m proud to have been a part of its growth every step of the way.

The Rising Term Premium: A Closer Look at the Implications of a Decade-high Surge

In recent months, financial markets have grappled with various conflicting signals, trying to reconcile strong economic performance with persistent uncertainties. While the U.S. economy appears robust and recession risks over the next 12 months have diminished significantly, several factors continue to drive an uncertain outlook.

Electroninks' MOD and iSAP Game Changers

Electroninks, a prominent player in particle-free conductive inks, recently announced an exciting new range of metal-complex inks for ultra high density interconnect (UHDI) technology. At the SMTA UHDI Symposium in January, Mike Vinson, COO of Electroninks, gave a presentation on this line of MOD inks, which are versatile and suitable for a range of applications that require ultra-dense, miniaturized, and high-frequency technology. Mike says his technology is a game changer and will revolutionize UHDI circuit fabrication. 

Breaking Down Barriers: Key Insights from John Mitchell’s Keynote

At the core of IPC President and CEO John Mitchell’s keynote at IPC APEX EXPO on March 19, 2025, was a compelling message: electronics drive innovation, but true progress is powered by collaboration. In delivering his keynote, Mitchell challenged industry leaders in attendance with a crucial question, “How can we strike a balance between the growing push for protectionism and the undeniable need for global cooperation?”

IPC Community Unveils Spring 2025 Issue: A Celebration of Innovation and Excellence

Spring is in the air, and so is the latest issue of IPC Community. From roadsters in southern California to automotive standards in China, a focus on Germany’s largest electronics manufacturer, and interviews with some of today’s industry influencers, this issue rounds the bend into a world of innovation, leadership, and community.

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

IPC APEX EXPO has wrapped up another successful year, and the 25th anniversary proved to be another great event with record attendance, a robust technical conference, and interesting professional development tracks. In addition, dozens of standards development committees were in session, and we look forward to what comes of those. Can we get some virtual applause for our 100% volunteer standards committee members?

Gold as a Key Component in PCBs and IC Substrates

Gold has long been a cornerstone in the electronics industry, particularly in the surface finishing of PCBs and IC substrates. It provides essential surface protection while enabling various assembling techniques, such as soldering connections and wire bonding, using aluminum, gold, or copper wires.

Paige Fiet: From Emerging Engineer to Quality at TTM

Paige Fiet is a graduate of the IPC Emerging Engineer program and now works at TTM Technologies in Logan, Utah. She was an IPC Student Board Member and has been a columnist for I-Connect007. She is a stellar example and an encouragement to other young engineers about how to be successful in your early career.

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

Inside the industry, it feels like we’re getting ready for a big party holiday, and I’m feeling the whole Mardi Gras vibe. This weekend, IPC APEX EXPO kicks off with standards development committees and the Technical Conference before the Expo starts on March 18. We’ll be sneaking out of our network of evil lairs scattered around North America and convening at the I-Connect007 booth in the middle of the Anaheim Convention Center. Be sure to stop by and say hello.

IPC Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Denny Fritz

This month, the Hall of Fame spotlight features Denny Fritz, a long-time friend and associate of mine. Denny first got involved with IPC in 1978 while working with MacDermid. His first efforts were with the various board fabrication committees, something he believes helped lead to his eventual Hall of Fame award.
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