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In this issue, our expert contributors discuss the many opportunities and challenges in the PCB design community, and what can be done to grow the numbers of PCB designers—and design instructors.
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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.
Suggested Items
The New Chapter: Attracting ‘Generation Green’
03/28/2024 | Hannah Grace & Paige Fiet -- Column: The New ChapterIn the electronics industry, we talk a lot about sustainability in terms of recruitment and retention of the next generation of engineers. But what if the key to sustaining the industry long into the future is through the more common definition of the word? What if, for just a moment, we think about sustainability in terms of the environment and what we as an industry are doing to care for it? Because, if you weren’t aware, Gen Z cares tremendously about the environment and the actions companies are taking to preserve it. Without Gen Z joining the electronics industry’s workforce, we won’t be able to sustain the industry for much longer.
Accenture Invests in Sanctuary AI to Bring AI-Powered, Humanoid Robotics to Work Alongside Humans
03/27/2024 | BUSINESS WIREAccenture has made a strategic investment, through Accenture Ventures, in Sanctuary AI, a developer of humanoid general-purpose robots that are powered by AI and can perform a wide variety of work tasks quickly, safely and effectively.
Don Dennison Appointed to Roll Out KIC’s Latest Thermal Analysis System Software in the Northeast
03/26/2024 | KICKIC, a renowned pioneer in thermal process and temperature measurement solutions for electronics manufacturing, is pleased to announce the appointment of PIT Equipment Services, LLC, led by Don Dennison, as its representative for New York, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania.
iNEMI/IPC White Paper on Complex Integrated Systems Highlights Future Technology and Manufacturing Ecosystem Needs
03/25/2024 | IPCToday’s system solutions combine more varied functionality, such as digital, analog, optical, micro-mechanical, etc., packed into smaller form factors. As a result, electronics manufacturing has to deliver increasingly complex integration of diverse technologies with system designs that blur the distinction between chip, package, board, and assembly.
Seeking Employment: Meet Gary Turner
03/25/2024 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Meet Gary Turner, a recent graduate from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in material science and engineering. He is currently seeking employment in the industry. The following interview will allow you to learn about Gary and see if he might be a good candidate for a position you are looking to fill.