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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
January 29, 2021 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
We’re a month into the new year, and so far, so good. I’m just glad to be out of 2020. As Chris Farley said in “Tommy Boy” after his character fell off of a mountain, “What in the hell was that all about?”
This week, we have a variety of news and articles to share, and it’s all positive. We have a new president, and he’s pledging to help American businesses. December PCB sales were up 4.5% over the same period a year ago. Atotech is just about ready to launch an IPO. Sunstone has tweaked its free CAD tool, PCB123, to make it even easier for designers to receive their Gerber files. And columnist John Watson breaks down what we all learned during the chaos that was 2020.
IPC Welcomes President Biden’s 'Buy American' Executive Order
Published January 25
Newly sworn-in President Joe Biden has signed dozens of executive orders in his first week at the White House. There are ongoing arguments, pro and con, about the merits of many of these EOs, but here’s one that we can all get behind. The “Buy American” Executive Order states that it will “close current loopholes” that can hamstring American companies, while helping smaller companies get access to federal contracts, among other things. IPC agrees with this EO, and the organization is asking Biden to continue to support U.S. manufacturers.
Atotech Commences Initial Public Offering
Published January 25
Time to go public! German specialty chemicals company Atotech is moving forward with an IPO designed to raise about $700 million. The 34 million common shares are expected to bring between $19 and $22 per share. Atotech’s customers include manufacturers of consumer electronics, automotive electronics, and smartphones, as well as communication and cloud computing companies.
Gerber File Option Added to Sunstone's PCB123 Order Process
Published January 26
There are several free PCB design tools available today, and one of the better ones comes courtesy of Sunstone Circuits—PCB 123. Now, PCB123 users no longer have to call or email Sunstone for a copy of their Gerber files. All they have to do is check a box during the ordering process to receive their Gerbers. By giving customers their Gerbers, Sunstone is signaling it’s confident that you’re going to come back again.
Elementary, Mr. Watson: 2020—The Year that Taught Us Resilience
Published January 23
Altium’s John Watson penned a great column about what we all learned in 2020. And let’s face it—as crazy as it was, the trials and tribulations of 2020 made many of our companies stronger and smarter than they’ve ever been. John discusses some of the main takeaways from last year, including the need to be proactive, and that it’s okay to fail.
North American PCB Industry Sales up 4.5 Percent in December
Published January 27
In more IPC news, December’s PCB industry sales were up 4.5% over the same month last year. And PCB bookings shot up 9.2% YOY, and 9.1% over the previous month. In a sign of the resiliency of this industry, the PCB community closed out 2020 on a positive note. Let’s hope we can carry this into 2021.
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SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.
Elevating PCB Design Engineering With IPC Programs
04/24/2024 | Cory Blaylock, IPCIn a monumental stride for the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC has successfully championed the recognition of the PCB Design Engineer as an official occupation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This pivotal achievement not only underscores the critical role of PCB design engineers within the technology landscape, but also marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward nurturing a robust, skilled workforce ready to propel our industry into the future.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Going Vertical: SCHMID's Advanced Solutions for Printed Circuit Boards
04/24/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOEditor Marcy LaRont chats with Bob Ferguson, the president of SCHMID, about advanced solutions for PCBs and the equipment they are highlighting at this year's show. He delves into vertical no-touch handling systems and the prospect of achieving sub-10-micron lines. Inspired by SCHMID's technology, Bob expresses excitement about where the industry is today.
Big Win for Defense Production Act Budget Allocation in FY24 Budget
04/23/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamOne year ago, President Biden issued a determination that chips and packaging are critical for national security. Since that time, much work has been done to continue the conversation in Washington, elevating the importance of the entire chips value chain, and including printed circuit boards and substrates, without which chips cannot operate.
Zentech’s Board of Directors Announces the Return of Matt Turpin as President and CEO
04/22/2024 | Zentech ManufacturingTurpin draws upon over 35 years of experience in the electronics industry and has an 18-year history with Zentech. He previously served as President and CEO from 2006 to 2019 after which time he has remained active in the EMS industry as an advisor to Zentech and other industry organizations.