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

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The big news in the industry this week was the new bill introduced to the U.S. Congress in support of the PCB manufacturing industry.  The Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act of 2022, which was introduced by Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Blake Moore (R-UT), incentivizes “purchases of domestically produced PCBs as well as industry investments in factories, equipment, workforce training, and research and development.” The bill is a PCB-oriented complement to the semiconductor-oriented CHIPS Act of 2021.

The ongoing educational outreaches by organizations such as IPC and PCBAA are successfully raising awareness of the role PCBs play in the electronics ecosystem. That impact is evidenced in two key press releases on the bill by quotes from both Dr. John Mitchell of IPC, and Travis Kelly of PCBAA. I-Connect007 published both press releases (below) and will continue to cover this story.

Electronics Industry Welcomes Bipartisan Congressional Proposal to Boost U.S. PCB Sector
Published May 9

IPC President and CEO John Mitchell said: “This bipartisan bill addresses vulnerabilities in a key segment of the electronics manufacturing value chain, taking a ‘silicon-to-systems’ approach that prioritizes innovation, resiliency, and innovation across the electronics industry. We thank Reps. Eshoo and Moore for their leadership in helping to rebuild U.S. electronics manufacturing, and we call on all Members of Congress to support this bill.” 

Eshoo & Moore Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bring Electronics Manufacturing to America, Strengthen Supply Chains 
Published May 9 

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) said, "Printed circuit boards are the high-tech foundation that makes modern life possible, but over the last two decades, PCB production has moved away from the United States at an alarming rate, as overseas costs were driven down by foreign investments. Without robust and secure domestic supply chains, U.S. production of critical microelectronics is not sustainable.”

“This bill from Representatives Eshoo and Moore is a win-win for American workers and consumers, and our national and economic security. The Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act of 2022 is a critical step toward rebuilding our nation's PCB manufacturing capacity,” said Travis Kelly, chairman of PCBAA & CEO of Isola Group. 

DuPont Opens New Kapton, Pyralux Production Line in Circleville, Ohio 
Published May 9

DuPont Interconnect Solutions held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally mark the completion of its $250 million production expansion at the Circleville site for Kapton and Pyralux flexible circuit materials. Readers were diving into this news article for the details.

Atotech Reports Results for the First Quarter of 2022 
Published May 11

With Atotech in negotiations with MKS to change ownership, Atotech’s financials certainly drew a lot of reader interest. Read the details here.

FIRST: Endorsed by Teachers and Students Alike 
Published May 11 

Curious where the next generation of engineers are spending their after-school hours? Want to connect with those students early? Look at FIRST. For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) is a robotics program at Oregon’s West Linn High School led by computer science and engineering teacher Tim Manes. The student team, “2BDetermined” has excelled at the local and regional levels and was invited to participate in the world competition in April, held in Houston, Texas. Barry Matties talks with Manes at district level event in Salem, Oregon. 

 

05/17/2023 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 Magazine

At the SMTA Atlanta Expo and Tech Forum, I spoke with NCAB Group Field Application Engineer Ramon Roche, who gave a presentation at the show titled, “Technical Trends in the Global PCB Industry.” Ramon and I discussed his presentation, the emerging technologies that have NCAB’s focus over the next few years, and why semi-additive processes may be the key to succeeding with ultra HDI technology.

04/17/2023 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007

We want your input! PCB fabricators have been utilizing benchmarks for decades, comparing metrics for everything from manufacturing best practices to competitors’ products and services. Now, we have access to more manufacturing data than ever before, and companies can conduct benchmarking at a granular level.

04/07/2023 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007

The adage about spring weather in Northern temperate climates is, “April showers bring May flowers.” This is, of course, on the heels of March, when the weather comes “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” The suggestion for March is that whatever way the month starts, it will end just the opposite. But we’re in the first week of April, where things are expected to settle into a steady state of preparation for an abundance just over the horizon. Sound a bit like our business climate right now, doesn’t it?