The printed circuit design industry’s choice for comprehensive training and certification. This 40-hour live curriculum was developed by leading experts and includes a 400-page handbook containing information on everything from parts libraries to high-speed design.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA – OCTOBER 8, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced Stephan Schmidt as recipient of the third annual PCEA Membership Award.
The award recognizes individuals for standout contributions to their local chapter. The announcement came at the PCEA annual meeting in conjunction with the PCB West conference and exhibition.
Schmidt is the leader for the Portland (OR) chapter, which meets each month and is now embarking on a review of intelligent data transfer processes. He is a global technology executive with over 20 years of experience in the laser and electronics industry, most recently as the North American President of LPKF Laser & Electronics, a leading provider of laser-based solutions.
“Stephan Schmidt has completely revitalized the Portland chapter, and it is now functioning as perhaps the most active group within PCEA,” said Stephen Chavez, chairman, PCEA, in announcing the award.
“Moreover, his energy and thoughtfulness about ensuring local members have a range of presentations – from design to fabrication to assembly – make him an invaluable leader in our organization. It gives me great pleasure to recognize Stephan Schmidt with the 2024 PCEA Membership Award.”
PEACHTREE CITY, GA – OCTOBER 8, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced Susy Webb as recipient of the third annual PCEA Leadership Award.
PCEA gives the award to recognize members who have made significant, long-term contributions to the association and the industry. The announcement came at the PCEA annual meeting in conjunction with the PCB West conference and exhibition.
Susy Webb is vice chairman of the PCEA Executive Board and a member of the Education Committee and Conferences Task Group. She co-authored PCEA’s Certified Printed Circuit Professional training and certification curriculum, and is a regular speaker at PCB East and PCB West, and international design conferences, and consults for individual companies and PCEA chapters. She is a former writer/columnist for PCD&F, a chapter writer for Clyde Coombs’ Printed Circuits Handbook, and one of the judges for the annual Siemens TLA competition. A senior PCB designer with 40 years of experience, her career includes experience in coastal and oceanographic oil exploration and monitoring equipment, point-to-point microwave network systems, and CPCI and ATX computer motherboards.
“Name the job in the printed circuit industry, and Susy Webb has done it,” said Stephen Chavez, chairman, PCEA, in announcing the award. “She has been one of the most popular presenters in the history of the PCB East and PCB West technical conferences, a significant contributor to the PCEA Training Design Certification curriculum, and a strong leadership voice and mentor across the organization.
“We can think of no one more deserving than Susy Webb for the 2024 PCEA Leadership Award,” he added.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA – SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association and JITX today announced the printed circuit board design industry’s first meetup will take place October 9, 2024, at the PCB West exhibition.
The event will feature networking and a special panel on generative AI and will be held at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center following the close of the exhibition on October 9.The meetup is an opportunity to discuss the latest trends, best practices and solutions for using generative AI in hardware design with like-minded professionals in a relaxed and informal setting. The get-together features a period of networking followed by a short panel discussion and will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
“In the spirit of collaboration and camaraderie, PCEA and JITX are thrilled to invite all registrants of PCB West to an evening of insightful conversations and networking at our inaugural PCB Design Community Meetup,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. “Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just beginning your design career, our larger aim is to put the fun back into learning about our profession.”
“We’re excited to establish a new community for PCB designers in partnership with PCEA. Today, there’s exploding interest in electronics design, especially as we work to reshore hardware manufacturing and engineering. However, we’re missing the common ground for new and experienced designers to network,” said Duncan Haldane, CEO of JITX. “We’re in a golden age of computer architecture and AI, and we designers can benefit if we can pull in a focused set of tools and resources that truly benefit experienced designers, while also attracting the next generation of engineers.”
Attendance is free for all badged registrants of PCB West. To register for a free badge for PCB West, visit pcbwest.com.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA – SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced a special free panel session on AI in Electronics will take place at the PCB West technical conference next month at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center.
The discussion will give a snapshot of the current industry status regarding the use of artificial intelligence, what’s feasible, and the expected timeline for implementation, offered straight from companies that are driving the technology. The panel will be moderated by Phil Marcoux, an electronics industry expert with over 50 years of experience, and will take place October 9 at 4 p.m.
Panelists include: Tomide Adesanmi of Circuit Mind, Matthew Leary of Newgrange Design, AI expert Reddy Mallidi, Kyle Miller, Ph.D. of Zuken, and Timon Ruban of Luminovo.
“AI is coming to a design or assembly tool near you,” said Marcoux. “Will it take your job OR make you a superstar?” Join us in a free session on October 9 with experts who can shed light on what’s happening in AI for electronics.”
The panel will also discuss the new PCEA Roadmap for AI for Electronics.
PCB West is the leading technical conference and exhibition in North America for electronics design, fabrication, assembly, and test engineers. It will take place October 8 – 11, 2024, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on October 9.
PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA – AUGUST 26, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced the PCB East 2025 Conference Task Group members.
Troy Hopkins, a senior printed circuit design professional and consultant, leads the group as chairman alongside eight other printed circuit industry veterans.
Other industry experts in the task group include John Burkhert Jr., Stephen Chavez, Tomas Chester, James Jackson, Keith Kowal, Matt Leary, Matt McBride, and Susy Webb.
“Building off the continued growth of last year’s conference, I am thrilled to bring together this exceptional group of industry experts,” said Hopkins. “Their experience and collective wisdom will help ensure PCB East 2025 will showcase content that addresses the challenges facing PCB designers as well as showcasing the latest innovations and best practices in PCB design and manufacturing.
“With this group I am confident this conference will continue to provide massive value, empower PCB designers, and bring our industry together.”
PCB East is the largest technical conference and exhibition for the electronics design, fabrication and assembly industry in New England.
The four-day technical conference takes place April 29 – May 2 at the Boxboro Regency in Boxborough, MA, with a one-day exhibition on April 30. For details, visit pcbeast.com.
PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA – AUGUST 7, 2024 – The exhibition floor space is sold out for PCB West, the largest exhibition and conference for printed circuit board design, fabrication and assembly in the Silicon Valley, Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) said today. It is the tenth time in 11 years all booths have been sold for the popular exhibition, PCEA added.
“Coming off an outstanding PCB West 2023, booth sales for our 2024 event have been strong,” said Frances Stewart, vice president of sales and marketing at PCEA. “We’re looking forward to another great event.”
PCB West will be held October 8 – 11, 2024, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on October 9.
This year’s show will feature more than 100 exhibitors showcasing the leading companies in the PCB industry, including the top CAD and CAM vendors and top names in printed circuit fabrication and electronics assembly. Attendees will be treated to a free lunch on the show floor during the exhibition on October 9.
PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event.
For more information about PCB West, visit pcbwest.com or contact Conference Director Mike Buetow at 617-327-4702; mike@pcea.net.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JULY 19, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced electronics design software architect Charles Pfeil will keynote the PCB West conference and exhibition in October.
Pfeil’s talk, “AI Roadmap for PCB Layout: New Opportunities for PCB Designers,” illustrates the capabilities and methodologies that will be needed for AI success with complex PCB designs, with a focus on constraints, place and route. Success, he says, lies in balancing the growing capabilities of AI with the preservation of proprietary design knowledge and methodologies. His talk will take place October 9 at 11 a.m. at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center.
“AI functionality for effective place and route of simple designs is currently available; however, using AI for place and route of complex designs is still in the first stages. But the ultimate goal of AI-driven PCB design tools is to replicate and potentially surpass the capabilities of experienced human designers, particularly for complex designs,” Pfeil notes.
“Communicating PCB design expertise and decisions to an AI program involves several steps, including knowledge extraction, representation, and the development of an appropriate system to leverage this knowledge. But significant challenges remain, particularly in capturing and applying the nuanced expertise of experienced designers and the unique methodologies of different companies.”
Over his 50-year career in the PCB industry, Pfeil has been a designer, owner of a service bureau, and had engineering management and product definition roles at Racal-Redac, ASI, Cadence, PADS, VeriBest, Mentor Graphics, and Altium. Most of his career was at Mentor Graphics, where he was a software architect focused on the advanced development of PCB design tools. He was the original product architect of Expedition PCB, and an inventor of Team PCB, XtremePCB, XtremeAR, and the Sketch Router. He is also the author of BGA Breakouts and Routing and High-Speed Constraint Values and PCB Layout Methods.
“Charles Pfeil is synonymous with electronics design automation,” said Mike Buetow, president of PCEA and conference chairman, PCB West 2024. “He has guided the development of two platforms in wide use today, and his presentation focuses on both the fundamental issues that are obstacles to AI implementation for complex designs, and the viable paths forward. Those interested in knowing how AI might change their jobs in a positive manner should not miss this keynote address.”
PCB West is the leading technical conference and exhibition in North America for electronics design, fabrication, assembly, and test engineers. It will take place October 8 – 11, 2024, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on October 9.
Read the latest issues of PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY!
The Printed Circuit Engineering Association® (PCEA) is an international network of engineers, designers, fabricators, assemblers, and anyone related to printed circuit development. Our mission is to promote printed circuit engineering as a profession by encouraging and facilitating the exchange of information and the integration of new design concepts through education, certification, communications, seminars, and workshops. This is facilitated by a network of local, regional, virtual PCEA-affiliated chapters and the support of our sponsors.
