-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
Getting to Know Your Designer
In this issue, we examine how fabs work with their design customers, educating them on the critical elements of fabrication needed to be successful, as well as the many tradeoffs involved. How well do you really know your customer? What makes for a closer, more synchronized working relationship?
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Remembering Dr. Ed Reardon: From Lab Rat to VP and Beyond
January 7, 2019 | Dan Feinberg, FeinLine Associates, Inc.Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Ed Reardon recently and unexpectedly passed away, but this is not about his passing; it is about how he contributed so much to this industry, his friends and loved ones, and the various volunteer organizations that became such a large part of his life.
Anyone involved with the fabrication of PCBs and using aqueous processed dry film resist is probably taking advantage of research and development led by Dr. Ed Reardon, a research scientist, lab manager, and then vice president of R&D for Morton Electronic Materials (Dynachem) in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Dynachem’s R&D team developed the world’s first totally aqueous dry film photoresists and many subsequent improved formulations leading to the resists being widely used by today’s PCB industry. Many of the major technical advances in aqueous dry film photoresist happened under Ed’s management as did the excellent efficiency and effectiveness of the company’s R&D facility.
Ed was a key member of what had become a close-knit and highly effective team. I recall discussing the need to reduce costs with him, and he told me that he could not manage all the various research projects with a reduced budget. I asked him to choose the most valuable projects and drop the others, and he did just that—developed the products we needed and still beat the required cost-reduction goals. Ed retired from Morton shortly after it was acquired near the turn of the century almost 20 years ago.
Ed and I worked together and were good friends for over 35 years. We started as colleagues and associates working together at Dynachem in the late ‘70s and then as executives. When I became president, Ed as the VP of R&D became a key member of the executive team. After Ed retired, he and I became associates doing consulting for the industry and sometimes worked together on projects for our individual clients. But Ed’s real later-in-life career came from his successful extensive volunteer efforts. Ed joined SCORE [1] and eventually took over as head of the Orange County chapter in California. While leading OC-SCORE, I recall the chapter was honored as one of the leading chapters—the number one chapter nationally one year—setting a great example for others around the country by developing their award-winning workshop program.
Ed and I used to have lunch together every few months. One day, he said he wanted to show me something. He had just purchased a new Corvette—something he always dreamed about—and had joined the local Corvette club. As a member over the years, he took on projects such as the Vettes for Veterans, a nonprofit group that honors military veterans through dedicated support and contributions. Ed and his life partner, Ruth, raised a great deal of money for paralyzed veterans of America by organizing and putting on the annual veterans car show and much more.
Ed loved wine, and one of his favorite things to do was relax with friends and loved ones by enjoying good food and a glass (or three) of wine. If Ed could say something to us today, he would say to live life to the fullest, do the things you always wanted to do, and enjoy every single day.
At the memorial gathering, person after person had so many positive things to say about Ed. We all found ourselves saying, “I didn’t know he did that too.” He is missed and will be remembered by all of us who knew him and benefited by our relationship with him.
References
Suggested Items
Arlon EMC Receives IPC-4101 QPL Recertification
03/20/2024 | Arlon Electronic MaterialsArlon Electronic Materials has successfully completed an intensive two-day recertification audit by IPC Validation Services that examined Arlon’s manufacturing processes and testing procedures to assure that they are in conformance to the requirements of IPC-4101E-WAM1, the Specification for Base Materials for Rigid and Multilayer Printed Boards.
Orbit International Electronics Group Reports Bookings for February 2024 in Excess of $2,000,000
03/14/2024 | Globe NewswireOrbit International Corp., an electronics manufacturer and software solution provider, announced that its Electronics Group (OEG) reported bookings for the month of February 2024 in excess of $2,000,000.
U.S. Space Force Awards Boeing WGS-12 Communications Satellite Production Contract
03/07/2024 | BoeingBoeing received a $439.6 million contract to build the 12th Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) communications satellite for U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command.
IPC Releases Newest List of Standards Updates, Revisions
02/20/2024 | IPCEach quarter, IPC releases a list of standards that are new or have been updated. To view a complete list of newly published standards and standards revisions, translations, proposed standards for ballot, final drafts for industry review, working drafts, and project approvals, visit ipc.org/status.
Triumph Wins Contract To Upgrade U.S. Army Chinook Helicopters
02/07/2024 | PRNewswireTriumph Group, Inc. announced that its Systems, Electronics and Controls business in West Hartford, Connecticut has been awarded a five-year contract with the United States Army to provide an upgrade of the EMC32T Hydraulic Metering Assembly (HMA) fuel control on the T55 engines, supporting the CH-47 Chinook helicopter fleet.