Latest Articles

Direct Metallization: A Strategic Enabler for Advanced PCB Manufacturing

The increasing power and complexity of electronics systems are intensifying the demands on printed circuit boards and IC substrates. Applications that include AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, electric vehicles, and next-generation consumer electronics require higher interconnect density and uncompromising reliability. At the same time, PCB fabricators are navigating a manufacturing environment shaped by supply chain volatility, sustainability mandates, and ongoing cost constraints.

Don't Buy AI, Learn It: A Fabricator's Guide to Getting Started, Part 1

The first hard truth about AI in PCB fabrication is that you can buy software, but you cannot buy capability. You can sign a contract, schedule demos, put a few logos on a slide, and tell your team you now have an AI strategy. Plenty of companies are doing some version of that right now. But if the people in your plant do not know how to use AI in real work, then your purchase was more akin to buying a gym membership and never going. (Don’t take that as criticism; it’s just how it works.)

Memorial Day Office Closure

Memorial Day is, in my opinion, one of the most meaningful holidays observed in the United States. The holiday began as “Decoration Day,” when communities gathered to place flowers on the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers. Over time, the observance evolved into a national day of remembrance honoring all U.S. military personnel who gave their lives in service to the country. Today, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May and is recognized as a federal holiday nationwide.

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

It’s been a busy week in the news. I could legitimately have published another five items because there were so many meaningful topics. So, I start with attorney James Kim, who returns to update us on metals tariffs. Brian Chislea and Cody Schoener from Dow recently published a book on UV curable conformal coatings. The Taiwan Printed Circuit Association has launched a PCB-specific AI knowledge base. SEMI FlexTech is seeking proposals for advancing flexible hybrid technologies, and the Global Electronics Association has launched the Global Electronics Policy Council, unifying its advocacy voices.

An Active, Growing PCB Industry Tilts Toward High-Complexity Leaders

Recent PCB market conditions point to an industry that is active and still expanding in important segments. Demand tied to AI infrastructure, servers, high-layer-count multilayer boards, HDI, ADAS, and defense-related programs remains an important driver of the market. These segments are helping sustain momentum even as conditions in other areas remain more mixed. The result is not a uniformly rising market, but one in which enough high-value activity is flowing through to keep much of the industry on a solid footing.

Innovative Flash Copper Plating Technology

The continuous push toward higher functionality, miniaturization, and performance in modern electronic devices—such as smartphones, wearables, and advanced computing platforms—has intensified the demand for high-density interconnect (HDI) printed circuit boards. Central to HDI performance is the reliable formation of blind microvias (BMVs), which serve as critical interlayer connections in modified semi-additive processes (mSAP).

Webinar Review: Europe Moving to Strengthen Defence Industrial Base

Europe is seeking to establish a more sovereign, coordinated, and resilient defense industrial base in response to mounting political pressure, especially following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, through the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). Renauld Hock of DG DEFIS outlined the efforts in a webinar last week hosted by the Global Electronics Association. Electronics manufacturers and PCB-related companies will have an opportunity to apply for funding through the program to support specific defense systems by supplying critical enabling components.

PCB East 2026: AI Infrastructure, Advanced PCB Technologies, and the Future of Electronics Manufacturing

After attending PCB East 2026, it became clear to me that the electronics industry is entering a major transition driven by AI infrastructure, increasing power density, and growing system complexity, extending far beyond semiconductors alone. What stood out was how critical PCB technology, materials science, thermal management, and advanced manufacturing have become to the future of electronics. The industry is now facing many challenges, including tighter manufacturing tolerances, material shortages, rising costs, and growing pressure to digitally transform engineering and manufacturing operations.

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

When you work in the news business, even in trade media, you can never really get that far away from it. We never want to miss something important. Chances are, even the books we take on our “vacations” end up having to do with the business. For example, my colleague Michelle Te recommended “Creativity, Inc., by Ed Catmull, a business skills study wrapped up in stories about Pixar, which I brought with me on a trip through the stunning U.S. Mountain West. Now, I’m back, and here are my recommendations for the week.

New Book Explores How UV Technology Is Transforming Electronics Protection, Efficiency, and Sustainability

I-Connect007 proudly announces the recent release of The Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to…™ UV Curable Conformal Coatings. Authored by respected industry technologists Brian Chislea and Cody Schoener, PhD, of Dow, Inc., this new volume offers a comprehensive exploration of UV-curable conformal coatings and their expanding role in improving the protection, performance, and sustainability of electronic assemblies.

Separating Fact from Fear on the FCC ‘China Lab Ban’

Recent news headlines have suggested that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has “banned all testing laboratories in China and Hong Kong.” Understandably, this has created concerns around PCB testing, material approvals, UL listings, and the continued use of established test laboratories in Asia. The good news is that for most PCB, PCB material, and PCBA testing, nothing has changed. Let’s separate fact from fear.

New Courses: Advance Your Electronics Expertise in June and July

Stay current with design, manufacturing, and quality standards by enrolling in one of these online instructor-led courses starting in June and July from ElectronicsU at the Global Electronics Association, designed to help professionals at every level sharpen their skills and advance their careers. These live, expert-led sessions combine flexibility with real-time interaction, allowing participants to learn directly from seasoned industry professionals while collaborating with peers worldwide. Access to all applicable IPC standards is included in the courses.

I-Connect007 Announces Upcoming Issue of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest

The next issue of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest examines the materials, architectures, and integration strategies shaping the next phase of electronics innovation, from reinforcement materials under thermal and frequency pressure to heterogeneous integration and advanced packaging as a system-level scaling factor.

The Journey from Dilution to Zero Liquid Discharge

If you’re familiar with the PCB industry, and a little long in the tooth like me, you may remember the cry, “The water board is here!” (or an equivalent authority). This was the signal for a frantic but regularly rehearsed exercise to turn on all the rinses. This anecdote demonstrates that in the early days of PCB production, prevailing practices revolved around a “dilution is the solution” mentality, in which manufacturers used copious amounts of water to dilute contaminants before discharging them into regulated municipal wastewater systems or natural water bodies.

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

This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.

Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell

In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.

Meet Emerging Engineers: Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker, Summit Interconnect

Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker both work for Summit Interconnect, and are in their second year of the Global Electronics Association’s Emerging Engineer Program with mentor Brian Chislea. They stopped by the I-Connect007 booth at APEX EXPO and shared a bit of their story with me. Patrick has worked at the Hollister, California, plant since 2018, while Eric has been at the Chicago site since 2023. Like many of their peers, they came to the electronics industry from different paths, but are both excited about making an impact.

PCBAA, AAM Take on the Fight to Rebuild U.S. Manufacturing in New Documentary

Throughout most of the 20th century, manufacturing was central to the American Dream of providing stable jobs and pathways to upward mobility. Today, more than 80% of global electronics manufacturing capacity resides in China and greater Asia, raising serious concerns about supply chain resilience and national security.

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

If it feels like the PCB industry is accelerating faster than ever, you’re not imagining it. From advanced materials driven by AI applications to renewed investment in domestic manufacturing—and the next generation stepping into critical roles—there’s a lot shifting at once. My selections for this week highlight where the pressure points are forming, and where the opportunities are emerging.

Jiva Soluboard Getting the Attention It Deserves

Jiva is a newer company that bridges the divide between PCB fabrication and product circularity or sustainability. Jiva Soluboard is the first fully recyclable laminate material ever created for PCB fabrication, and it's not going unnoticed. Stephen Driver, CEO of Jiva, gave us an update at APEX EXPO, including an exciting certification achievement in February.

ASC’s John Johnson Bullish on the U.S. and High-tech PCBs

It was a good couple of days at the SMTA UHDI Symposium in Avondale, Arizona, in early April, where John Johnson, head of technology at American Standard Circuits (ASC) and resident PCB expert on UHDI in the real-world of manufacturing, was a presenter. As the symposium ended, I visited with John, who reflected on what he considered most important and what had made the greatest impression on him.

How Are You Vetting Your Supply Chain?

For many years, supplier management was largely focused on standard commercial priorities: cost, quality, lead time, and delivery performance. If a supplier met specifications, shipped on time, and remained price competitive, the relationship was often considered healthy. However, the world has changed.

Is China Plus One Still Happening in the PCB Industry?

For much of the past five years, China Plus One has been shorthand for supply-chain diversification: reducing dependency on mainland China by adding manufacturing capacity elsewhere in Asia. In the PCB industry, however, in early 2026, it is more nuanced. It looks less like a clean geographic shift and more like a layered, capital-intensive rebalancing of global capacity, one that still leaves China deeply embedded at the center.

Meet Emerging Engineer Dennis Donovan, Kratos Space Commercial

Like many of today’s engineers, Dennis Donovan grew up interested in how things worked. He wanted to see what was inside and how to make it better. Now, he has three bachelor’s degrees, is earning his master’s, and works as an electrical engineering technologist. He aspires to work in PCB assembly with a particular focus on aerospace electronics. He’s a sharp, well-spoken young man with an eye on his future.

Roundtable: Advanced Materials

Driven largely by the need for advanced chip technology for super compute ability and AI applications, low Dk, low-loss resin systems, and heavy copper laminate are attracting significant attention and global resources. There are numerous unavoidable challenges in this market that will impact manufacturers and the supply chain, and they may be hitting critical mass sooner than OEMs and fabricators think. In this roundtable discussion, moderator Marcy LaRont speaks with topic experts: Mark Goodwin, John Fix, and Ed Kelley.
Subscribe | Magazines | RealTime with | JobConnect007 | Education | Webinars
Copyright © I-Connect007 | IPC Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. Log in