PCB Technology Trends 2011, a new study published this week by IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries, shows how the demands of miniaturization and high-speed technology are driving changes in printed circuit board (PCB) processes and materials. The 53-page report presents the technology demands of today and foretells the changes expected by 2014 that will affect PCB fabricators as well as materials and equipment suppliers.

Providing convenient and cost-effective staff development, IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announces its 2012 spring webinars for April, May and June. Each one-hour webinar is focused on technical challenges facing the electronics manufacturing industry, offering companies a great opportunity to bring IPC technical information to a large number of employees at one time.

The long-awaited 2011 IPC International Technology Roadmap for Electronic Interconnections was released last month at IPC APEX EXPO 2012. Published biennially, the IPC Roadmap serves as an authoritative guide to interconnect technological trends, providing a vision of imminent, innovative technology.

The electronic interconnect industry came together at IPC APEX EXPO last week in San Diego, with the show reporting a 26 percent increase in attendance over 2011 with 4,915 conference and exhibit hall attendees. IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries reported that 407 exhibitors participated in the event, resulting in 8,963 total visitors. The show was the best attended IPC APEX EXPO in more than four years.

The Nominating and Governance Committee of the IPC Board of Directors presented nine candidates for election at the IPC Annual Meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, in conjunction with IPC APEX EXPO at the San Diego Convention Center. Three candidates were elected as board officers and will serve two-year terms beginning February 2012. Six candidates were elected as board directors and will serve four-year terms beginning February 2012.

What will have the greatest impact on the electronics industry in five years? Will it be technology, manufacturing, government regulations or global competition? The Wednesday Keynote at IPC APEX EXPO 2012, February 28–March 1 at the San Diego Convention Center, will feature five panelists who will provide their unique perspectives on what the game changers will be for the industry.

Rigid PCB shipments were down 3.6 percent and bookings were up 0.1 percent in December 2011 from December 2010. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments decreased 1.9 percent and bookings declined 8.8 percent. Compared to the previous month, rigid PCB shipments increased 7.2 percent and rigid bookings increased 10.7 percent. The book-to-bill ratio for the North American rigid PCB industry in December 2011 reached parity at 1.00.

IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries ended the year 2011 with 3,215 members, the greatest number of members ever achieved in the organization’s history. Members are companies from every level of the electronics supply chain: printed board manufacturers, electronics manufacturing services companies, original equipment manufacturers and industry suppliers. Geographically, two-thirds of members are located in North America, while ...

To support the consistent and rapid growth in Eastern Europe’s electronics assembly industry, IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries will hold its second annual IPC Conference on Electronics Assembly: Soldering, Assembly & Inspection in Budapest, Hungary, on 20–22 March 2012. This three-day event includes workshops, a two-day technical conference and a tabletop exhibition, providing myriad opportunities for participants to netw...

IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced today the November findings from its monthly North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program.

Innovations and best practices will be featured in the IPC Designers Forum and design-focused courses at IPC APEX EXPO 2012, February 26–March 1, at the San Diego Convention Center. Experts from Northrop Grumman, Honeywell International, L-3 Avionics Systems, Plexus Corp. and other industry leaders will share insights into taking command of technologies and processes for the next generation of electronics.

IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced the October findings from its monthly North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. PCB Industry Growth Rates and Book-to-Bill Ratios Announced Rigid PCB shipments were down 9.4 percent and bookings were up 1.0 percent in October 2011 from October 2010. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments decreased 1.3 percent and bookings declined 9.8 percent. Compared to the previou...

Genuine electronics manufacturing industry concerns, challenges and problems will be addressed in 50 IPC APEX EXPO professional development courses, February 26–27 and March 1, 2012, at the San Diego Convention Center. Covering critical issues in design, manufacturing, assembly and test, the courses go beyond theory to provide practical solutions to industry challenges. This year, with a little help from social media outlets, instructors are ga...

Want to get a handle on commonly used electronics industry acronyms and terminology? Look no further than the definitive resource, IPC-T-50J, Terms and Definitions for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits. Recently released by IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries, the J revision of IPC-T-50 contains nearly 400 new or revised terms, including terminology for chip scale and area array packaging, cable and wire harness ...

After economic setbacks in 2009, the world market for electronics manufacturing services (EMS) returned to growth in 2010, according to a study released by IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries. The global EMS study, 2010–2011 Analysis and Forecast for the EMS Industry, presents data and analysis on the EMS industry, examining critical trends and providing forecasts and potential for market expansion.

Move over Top Chef and Project Runway, IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announces the first annual IPC APEX EXPO® Hand Soldering Competition, February 28–29, 2012, at the San Diego Convention Center. This skills competition will pit competitors against each other to build a functional electronics assembly within a 30-minute time limit. The winner of the two-day competition will go on to compete against the winner of the I...

IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced the September findings from its monthly North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. Rigid PCB shipments were down 13.1 percent and bookings were down 19.9 percent in September 2011 from September 2010. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments decreased 0.4 percent and bookings declined 10.8 percent. Compared to the previous month, rigid PCB shipments increased 3.5 percen...

The Board of Directors for IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries endorsed the association’s long-term strategy at its final meeting in 2011. IPC Board Vice Chairman Steve Pudles, CEO of Spectral Response LLC., said, “The association is healthy and headed in the right direction. The Board has very high expectations of IPC as a global organization and we continue to set challenging goals.” The IPC Board of Directors sets key p...

With all votes tallied from the special IPC APEX EXPO keynote speaker election, William Shatner has emerged the clear winner, taking the popular vote by a considerable margin over the other candidates. The award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, horseman and major philanthropist will serve as the IPC APEX EXPO 2012 Opening Keynote speaker at 8:30 am on February 28, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif.

IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced the August findings from its monthly North American Printed Circuit Board Statistical Program. PCB Industry Growth Rates and Book-to-Bill Ratios Announced. Rigid PCB shipments were down 4.2 percent and bookings were down 6.5 percent in August 2011 from August 2010. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments increased 1.5 percent and bookings declined 9.6 percent. Compared to the previous mon...