Zentech’s Matt Turpin on IMPACT Washington, D.C.’s Benefits
June 30, 2016 | Patty Goldman, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
I made contact with Matt Turpin, CEO of Zentech, before the first evening’s dinner. We sat down to discuss what he hoped to gain by attending the event.
Patty Goldman: Matt, I’d like to know what your expectations are of this meeting.
Matt Turpin: The IPC does this every year, and I’ve been here the last five years for IPC. It’s a great opportunity for the IPC and members of the IPC to meet with their local officials on Capitol Hill as well as other people on Capitol Hill and kind of deliver the message of what’s important to IPC and the IPC vendor, whether it’s in terms of RoHS compliance or conflict minerals, etc. This year it’s Defense Department labor regulations and things like that. It’s a good way for IPC to get its point across and to influence what happens on Capitol Hill.
Goldman: How has that worked in the past?
Turpin: It’s worked out well. Some of the issues in the past have been the R&D tax credit and it looks like that is permanent at this point. I think some of the things relative to changing the narrative with conflict minerals is going slow, but it keeps the issue alive and shows that it’s not the slam dunk that Dodd-Frank thought it was going to be. There are other issues where they have had some success, like the NNMI (National Network for Manufacturing Innovation) that the White House was big on, getting that properly funded and through Congress. That was a big push and it’s been a big success.
Goldman: Do you think this is directly attributed to IPC and its members being here in Washington?
Turpin: Absolutely, yes. The IPC are tying up and spending member dollars doing this and they’ve got a local lobbying group that helps them with setting up. As part of that, they’re making sure that they’re getting back their bucks. Every year we talk about what are we going for, and what progress to aim for. The Government Affairs Committee orders routine board calls and committee calls to find out what we’re working on, what outcomes to expect and what kind of progress.
Goldman: You’ve seen real progress?
Turpin: There has been real progress. Absolutely. There’s always something new.
Goldman: I assume there is always something you have to worry about and work on.
Turpin: Congress is always trying to come up with new ways…
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2016 issue of SMT Magazine.
Suggested Items
PCBflow Helps Designers Choose Best Manufacturer for the Job
03/28/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineI recently spoke with a few technologists who have first-hand experience with PCBflow: Susan Kayesar, technical product manager with Siemens; Evgeny Makhline, CTO of Nistec, a CEM based in Israel; and Peter Tranitz, senior director of technology solutions and leader of the IPC Design Initiative. They explain how PCBflow functions, from the designer’s and manufacturer’s viewpoint, and how this database helps break down the wall between these stakeholders.
ASMPT to Exhibit Smart Manufacturing at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
03/27/2024 | ASMPTWith its innovative, data-driven Intelligent Factory concept and a comprehensive hardware and software portfolio around SMT production, market and innovation leader ASMPT will be a major presence at the IPC APEX EXPO 2024, the industry’s main event in California.
Mycronic to Showcase More Versatile, High-productivity Assembly Solutions at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
03/27/2024 | MycronicMycronic, the leading Sweden-based electronics assembly solutions provider, will continue to respond to growing customer demand for high-flexibility, high-productivity solutions for zero-defect PCB assembly at IPC APEX EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, CA on April 9 - 11.
TRI Launches New Advanced Packaging 3D CT AXI Solution
03/26/2024 | TRITest Research, Inc. (TRI) proudly announces the launch of the SEMI 3D CT AXI solution, TR7600F3D SII Plus, marking a paradigm shift in precision and reliability for high-reliability electronics manufacturing, such as the Advanced Packaging Industry.
Blackfox Ready for IPC APEX EXPO 2024
03/26/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007Blackfox Training Institute offers IPC-certified training for a myriad of PCB assembly techniques and standard certifications. With many technologists beginning to eye retirement, this training is at a premium. I recently spoke with Jamie Noland, director of training and education for Blackfox, about the company’s latest educational efforts, and his plans for the upcoming IPC APEX EXPO, where Blackfox will be exhibiting.