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.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JUNE 20, 2024 – Abstracts for next year’s PCB East technical conference are due September 6, 2024, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) said today. The conference, the largest of its kind in New England, takes place next spring in the Boston suburbs, and focuses on training and best practices for printed circuit board design engineers, electronics design engineers, fabricators and assemblers.

The four-day technical conference will take place April 29 – May 2, 2025, in Boxborough, MA. The event includes a one-day exhibition on April 30.

Papers and presentations of the following durations are sought for the technical conference: one-hour lectures and presentations; two-hour workshops; and half-day (3.5-hour) and full-day seminars. 

Preference is given to presentations of two hours in length or more, and no presentations of less than one hour will be considered.

Abstracts of 100-500 words and speaker biographies should be submitted to PCEA. Papers and presentations must be noncommercial in nature and should focus on technology, techniques or methodologies related to printed circuit board design, fabrication, assembly, test, components or packaging, and additive manufacturing. 

Submit abstracts at https://pcbeast.com/abstract-submission-guidelines/ by September 6, 2024. No emailed abstracts will be accepted. Submitters will be notified in mid-November if their abstract has been accepted. Presentations are due April 11, 2025.

Speaker Benefits: Presenters of accepted abstract(s) for the 2025 program receive the following event benefits.

• Complimentary access to the online proceedings
• Complimentary pass to the technical conference

For more information about PCB East visit pcbeast.com. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JUNE 19, 2024 – Registration for the PCB East 2024 conference and exhibits rose 18% overall year-over-year, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association announced today. Conference registration was up 12% from last year, while the expo-only trade show registration rose 9% over the same period.

The annual conference was held June 4-7 at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA. In all, more than 65 leading suppliers of electronics design tools, manufacturers of bare boards and assemblies, suppliers of fabrication and assembly equipment and materials, and related industry companies exhibited at the show.

“PCB East continued its growth this year as the region becomes more aware of the opportunities for education and networking,” said Mike Buetow, conference director and president, PCEA. “Our post-show surveys indicate 100% of respondents would either likely or definitely recommend the conference to a colleague.” 

“Attendees represented 35 states and 42 countries,” Buetow added, “a recognition of the timeliness and scope of the event.”  

“Another great show at PCB East!” said Lauren Waslick, director of PCB design, Newgrange Design. “I gave my first professional talk and met a lot of great people. Thanks to the Printed Circuit Engineering Association for putting on a great event!”

“It’s always great to sync up with my dear friends, as well as many industry colleagues old and new at PCB East!” said Stephen Chavez, senior product marketing manager, Siemens Digital Industries and chairman of PCEA. “A big shout out to the entire PCEA staff for putting on another great industry event! I can’t wait to attend PCB West later this year! I hope to see you there!”

PCB East 2025 will be held at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA, April 29 to May 2 with a one day exhibition on April 30.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JUNE 5, 2024 – The annual PCB East exhibition opens today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA.

Attendees at today’s exhibits will see more than 65 industry-leading companies, ranging from printed circuit board design software developers to fabricators and assemblers, and equipment and materials suppliers.

Registrants will also gain access to the keynote address and seven other free technical sessions, which will cover topics about AI and PCB design, strategic design PCB assembly, flex design, surface finishes, and more.

Free lunch will be served on the show floor from 12-1 p.m. Following the close of the free technical sessions, a reception will take place on the exhibition show floor from 5-6 p.m.

Today is the only day the exhibits are open. 

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event. 

For more information about PCB East, visit pcbeast.com or contact Mike Buetow, conference director, at 617-327-4702; mike@pcea.net. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JUNE 4, 2024 – The annual PCB East conference, featuring more than 75 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training, opens today at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA. 

The conference will be held June 4-7 and offers classes for every level of experience, from novice to expert. Rick Hartley, Susy Webb, Tomas Chester and Zachariah Peterson are among the headliners of this year’s conference. 

The scope of classes ranges from basics on design engineering and circuit grounding, to DDR5 routing, impedance characterization, controlling noise and EMI, thermal management, board stackups and design for assembly. 

More than half of the presentations are new to PCB East, including ones on SMT equipment validation, medical wearable device compliance, flex design, AI in electronics, and signal integrity/power integrity.

“We are excited about this year’s show,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. “The addition of the UHDI & Substrates: Design to Package Forum has been a welcome addition to the conference.”

An exhibition featuring more than 65 leading suppliers to the electronics design and manufacturing industry will be held June 5.

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event. 

For more information about PCB East, visit pcbeast.com or contact Mike Buetow, conference director, at 617-327-4702; mike@pcea.net. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 28, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced registration is open for the technical program for PCB West 2024, featuring more than 110 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training spread over nearly 50 sessions. 

Among the industry experts scheduled to speak this year are Lee Ritchey, Susy Webb, Zachariah Peterson, Tomas Chester, John Watson and Charlene McCauley. The conference will be held October 8 to 11 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center and features classes for every level of experience, from novice to expert. 

The scope of classes ranges from designing all types of printed circuit boards to complex signal and power integrity and power delivery systems design. Foundational topics such as circuit grounding and PCB stackups are interspersed with advanced tutorials on DDR5, thermal management, analog measurements, system mechanical design, and more. 

New courses this year include the role of AI in PCB design, PCB cost drivers, designing with embedded inductors, HDI and sub-lamination structures, new low-cost and sustainable PCB material performance and reliability, and avoiding PCB respins, among others.

PCB West will also see the return of the popular Ask the Experts help session, featuring recognized authorities in design for manufacturing, EMI/EMC, signal integrity, flex circuits and more. 

“Whether you are after training on printed circuit board design and manufacturing, or building your network, PCB West is hands-down the best place to go,” said Mike Buetow, conference director, PCB West. “It offers more than 110 hours of in-depth training from the industry’s most-recognized experts, all in one place and for a fraction of the cost.” 

Conference registrants who sign up by September 7 can take advantage of the Early Bird Special discounts for the conference. 

An exhibition featuring more than 100 leading suppliers to the electronics design and manufacturing industry will be held October 9. 

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 13, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced technology visionary Harold Moss will keynote the upcoming PCB East technical conference with his address, “Embracing AI in Electronic System Design: Shaping the Future with Confidence.” Moss is renowned for his expertise in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, having launched major programs at IBM, EMC and other major OEMs. 

Moss will speak at 11 a.m. on June 5, 2024, at the Boxboro Regency in Boxborough, MA, as part of PCB East. 

As we stand on the precipice of the AI revolution, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into electronic system design represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of technology. In this keynote address, Moss will delve into the profound impact of AI on electronic system design and explore why embracing this transformative technology is not just advantageous but imperative. From streamlining design processes to optimizing performance and reliability, AI holds the potential to revolutionize every aspect of electronic system design. Moss will address common misconceptions and fears surrounding AI, emphasizing its role as an enabler of innovation rather than a threat to human creativity and ingenuity. 

“There is tremendous interest in our field in the possibilities that artificial intelligence offers and how AI might affect workers’ traditional roles,” said Mike Buetow, president of PCEA and conference chairman, PCB East. “We have, of course, seen many technologies presented as the ‘The Next Big Thing,’ only to see them take much longer than forecast to mature or completely fizzle out. Harold Moss has a long history of taking new technologies to market and is well-suited to describe what we can expect from AI going forward.”   

Moss’s journey in the tech industry began with a notable tenure at IBM, where he honed his skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud solutions. His innovative approach and strategic insights led to significant advancements in IBM’s offerings, cementing his reputation as a trailblazer in the field.

Moss later played pivotal roles at EMC, Akamai Technologies, and various other organizations, where he has consistently demonstrated his ability to leverage emerging technologies to drive business innovation and growth.

As chief executive of Tautuk, Moss remains at the forefront of technological innovation, guiding the company toward new frontiers in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and beyond. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 13, 2024 – Registrants for the PCB East exhibition this June will gain access to eight free technical sessions ranging from printed circuit design to fabrication and assembly, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced today. The sessions take place on June 5 at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA, and cover topics about AI and PCB design, strategic design PCB assembly, flex design, surface finishes, and more.

“Free Wednesday” starts off with a session on “Controlling the Waves: A Field-based Perspective on High-speed PCB Design,” taught by Daniel Beeker, technical director at NXP Semiconductors. 

After Beeker’s presentation, Matthew Leary, founder and president of Newgrange Design, will speak about “AI and PCB Design: Where are We and Where are We Going.”

The morning sessions will conclude with the keynote presentation before lunch on the exhibit floor, which is free to all show attendees.

Free sessions resume in the afternoon with five sessions:

• “Precision in Design: A Course on Strategic Design PCB Assembly,” Tomas Chester, Chester Electronic Design 

• “Training the Next Generation of Designers,” Kristen Aguiar, Altium
• “Smart PCB Design and Surface Finish: Sustainable Solution for Automated and Optimized Cu Balancing and Electroplating Steps,” Agnieszka Franczak, Elsyca NV 
• “Quality Optimization through Accuracy and Force Validation,” Michael Sivigny, Cetaq Americas
• “Flex Design for Beginners,” Lauren Waslick, Newgrange Design.

Following the free sessions is a reception on the exhibition show floor.

Anyone who registers at pcbeast.com for the exhibition and free sessions by June 4 will receive free admission. Day of show registration for the exhibition and free sessions is $25.

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event. 

For more information about PCB East, visit pcbeast.com or contact Conference Director Mike Buetow at 617-327-4702; mike@pcea.net. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 8, 2024 – Experts in printed circuit design and manufacturing will be on hand at PCB East 2024 to answer attendee questions during the exhibition on June 5, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced today.

Among the industry experts who will be available are Troy Hopkins (PCB design/layout), Lauren Waslick (flex design), Ethan Pierce (thermal management), Tomas Chester (design certification), and John
Watson (libraries).

The experts will be available at scheduled times at PCEA booth 409 during the show hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m: Hopkins (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.), Waslick (1 p.m. to 2 p.m.), Pierce (2 p.m. to 3 p.m), Chester (3 p.m. to 4 p.m.), and Watson (4 p.m. to 5 p.m.).

“Part of our charter is to help promote new design concepts, and we take seriously the need to provide ample opportunities for attendees to network and get help,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. “Our ‘Ask the Experts’ segment with experts in board layout, thermal management, flex and more provides yet another educational setting inside this one-of-a-kind event for the East Coast.”

The help sessions are free to all expo attendees. Those who register for the exhibition will also have access to more than 60 leading suppliers to the electronics design and manufacturing industry.

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 3, 2024 – PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB is conducting its annual salary survey of printed circuit board designers, design engineers and other layout specialists.

PCD&F surveys designers and design engineers each year, asking questions related to annual salaries, job functions, experience, education, job satisfaction, and ECAD tools used, among other data.

The survey can be taken here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024pcdfdesignerssalary.

PCD&F publishes the aggregate data in a free downloadable report on its website and in the magazine. Individual responses are not shared.

“The results may be used to better understand the job environment and benchmark one’s responsibilities and compensation,” said Mike Buetow, president of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association.

The audience surveyed is not selected or controlled, and the more responses received, the more valid the results.

For a list of past results, click here: https://pcea.net/education.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 2, 2024 – PCEA Training today announced the deadline to register for the next Certified Professional Circuit Designer class is June 4. The dates for the popular 40-hour training course are June 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28.

The instructor-led classes cover the gamut of printed circuit design engineering, from layout, place and route to specifications and materials to manufacturing methods. Schematic capture, signal integrity and EMI/EMC are also part of the comprehensive program.

Class registration is open to printed circuit engineers, layout professionals, and other individuals currently serving in the design engineering industry or seeking to get into it. There are no prerequisite requirements to enroll.

The classes will be held online and are led by experienced instructors. The course includes an optional certification exam recognized by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA).

Registration fees include a copy of Printed Circuit Engineering Professional, a 400-page handbook on circuit board design authored by Michael Creeden, Stephen Chavez, Rick Hartley, Susy Webb and Gary Ferrari.

To enroll, visit pceatraining.net/registration for the next available class or email pceatraining@pcea.net for additional information.

For information about the course overview, class format, and materials to prepare in advance for the class, visit pceatraining.net/course-overview.

For information about the instructors of the course and authors of the course material, visit pceatraining.net/instructors-authors.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – APRIL 24, 2024 – The discounted price for the PCB East 2024 technical conference ends May 3, conference organizers said today. From May 4 through June 4, registrants will pay the advanced conference price, which is $80 more than the “early bird” rate.

The technical program for PCB East 2024 features more than 75 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training from leading experts such as Rick Hartley, Dan Beeker, Tomas Chester, Zach Peterson and Susy Webb. 

The conference will be held June 4 to 7 at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA. It features classes for every level of experience, from novice to expert. 

The scope of classes ranges from basics on design engineering and circuit grounding, to DDR5 routing, impedance characterization, controlling noise and EMI, thermal management, board stackups and design for assembly. 

More than half the presentations are new to the PCEA, including ones on SMT equipment validation, medical wearable device compliance, flex design, AI in electronics, and signal integrity/power integrity. A special all-day session on UHDI design and manufacturing rounds out the technical conference.

“Registration for this year’s technical conference is looking strong, and we look forward to an event that meets the needs of the entire electronics supply chain,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. 

Registration for the technical conference and the exhibition is open at pcbeast.com.

An exhibition featuring more than 65 leading suppliers to the electronics design, manufacturing and assembly industry will be held June 5. 

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – APRIL 2, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced a pair of free upcoming technical talks on PCB design layout and land pattern generation as part of its meeting at the Del Mar Electronics Show on Wednesday, April 24. 

The guest speakers include veteran PCB designer Stephen Chavez, who will speak on best practices for PCB design. Now senior product marketing manager at Siemens and PCEA chairman, Chavez has 30 years of experience designing complex circuit boards for high reliability applications. Chavez’s presentation takes place from 10 – 11 AM in the Mission Towers (Room C). For presentation details: https://www.mfgshow.com/seminars/speak.cfm?Id=187

Following Chavez is Tom Hausherr, founder and CEO of PCB Libraries, who will present on land pattern generation. Hausherr has 50 years of experience in PCB design and library management, including 30 spent working with standards groups on land pattern development. Hausherr’s presentation will take place  12 – 1 PM in the Mission Towers (Room C). For presentation details: https://www.mfgshow.com/seminars/speak.cfm?Id=188

 “I’m excited to see everyone this year, and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Nick Maldonado, communications director, PCEA San Diego Chapter. “The location of the event is in the same location as last year, but we’ve moved the times.”

At the end of each presentation, the PCEA San Diego chapter will hold free raffle giveaways. PCB Libraries is donating two one-year licenses for its Footprint Expert Software (valued at $798 each). There will also be other prizes and gift cards.

The sessions are sponsored by Siemens Digital Industries and PCB Libraries.

 “We are delighted to continue our technical presence at the Del Mar show,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. “And we want to thank Siemens and PCB Libraries for their generous sponsorship of the meeting.”

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MARCH 26, 2024 – PCEA Training is offering a pair of five-day training classes in June and September for printed circuit engineers, layout professionals, and other individuals currently serving in the design engineering industry or seeking to get into it. The classes include an optional certification exam recognized by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA).

The dates of the classes:
Class 1: June 14, 17, 21, 24, 28
Class 2: September 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

These instructor-led classes cover the gamut of printed circuit design engineering, from layout, place and route to specifications and materials to manufacturing methods. Schematic capture, signal integrity and EMI/EMC are also part of the comprehensive program.

There are no prerequisite requirements to enroll. Upcoming classes will be held online. All courses are led by experienced instructors.

To apply, visit pceatraining.net/registration for the next available class or contact Mike Buetow at pceatraining@pcea.net for additional information.

Registration fees include the 400-page handbook, Printed Circuit Engineering Professional, authored by Michael Creeden, Stephen Chavez, Rick Hartley, Susy Webb and Gary Ferrari.

For information about the instructors of the course and authors of the course material, visit pceatraining.net/instructors-authors.

For information about the course overview, class format, and materials to prepare in advance for the class, visit pceatraining.net/course-overview.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MARCH 6, 2024 – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY today announced the 2024 New Product Introduction Award winners for electronics assembly equipment, materials and software.

The 17th annual NPI Awards recognize leading new products during the past 12 months. An independent panel of practicing industry engineers selected the recipients.

The winners are:          

• Anda Technologies: Automation Tools – ADA Series Smart Manufacturing Platform
• Kyzen: Cleaning Materials – AQUANOX A4618 KYZDS
• Henkel: Coatings/Encapsulants – Loctite Stycast CC 8555
• Hanwha Techwin Automation Americas: Component Placement – XM520 High-Speed Dual Lane Chip Mounter
• Juki Automation Systems: Component Storage – ISM 3600 FA, FAMR System
• PVA: Dispensing Equipment – Direct Series with new PathMaster X Programming Software
• Tagarno: First Article Inspection – Tagarno 4K Microscope
• Indium: Flux – Indium8.9FRV
• ViTrox: Process Control Tools – V9i XL ARV
• ASYS Group: Screen and Stencil Printing – SERIO 6000 with  “Sphere” Intelligent Print Head
• StenTech: Screen/Stencil Printing Peripherals/Consumables – BluPrint CVD Surface Treatment
• Cetec ERP & CalcuQuote: Software – Management – Supply Chain Connected ERP
• Vayo: Software – Process Control – Vayo-Stencil Designer
• Arch Systems: Software – Production – ArchFX GLO
• Weller Tools: Soldering – Hand Tools – Zero Smog Shield Pro
• BTU International: Soldering – Reflow – Aurora
• Kurtz Ersa: Soldering – Selective – VERSAFLOW ONE X-Series
• ITW EAE: Soldering – Wave – Deep Wave Option
• AIM Solder: Solder – Materials – NC259FPA
• ViTrox: Test and Inspection – AOI – V510i 3D AOI
• Brooks Automation: Test and Inspection – Functional Test – PreciseFlex 3400 Cobot
• ViTrox: Test and Inspection – AXI –V810i Advanced X-Ray Inspection (AXI) System – Series 3 Dual-Lane
• Pemtron: Test and Inspection – SPI – D-2                                            
• Henkel: Thermal Interface Materials – Berquist Hi Flow THF 5000UT            

“The judges this year noted the current trend for speed without losing accuracy,” said Mike Buetow, president of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association. “But they also pointed out the interoperability requirements of systems and software, and stressed the importance of full functionality regardless of the logo.”

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – FEBRUARY 6, 2024 – PCEA Training is offering two upcoming five-day training classes starting in April and June for printed circuit engineers, layout professionals, and other individuals currently serving in the design engineering industry or seeking to get into it. The classes include an optional certification exam recognized by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA).

Upcoming Class dates include:

Class 1: April 5, 12, 19, 26, and May 3

Class 2: June 14, 17, 21, 24, 28

These instructor-led classes cover the gamut of printed circuit design engineering, from layout, place and route to specifications and materials to manufacturing methods. Schematic capture, signal integrity and EMI/EMC are also part of the comprehensive program.

There are no prerequisite requirements to enroll. Upcoming classes will be held online. All courses are led by experienced instructors.

Registration fees include the 400-page handbook, Printed Circuit Engineering Professional, authored by Michael Creeden, Stephen Chavez, Rick Hartley, Susy Webb and Gary Ferrari.

For information about the instructors of the course and authors of the course material, visit pceatraining.net/instructors-authors.

For information about the course overview, class format, and materials to prepare in advance for the class, visit pceatraining.net/course-overview.

To apply, visit pceatraining.net/registration for the next available class or contact Mike Buetow at pceatraining@pcea.net for additional information.

About PCEA Training, LLC

PCEA Training, LLC is a nonprofit corporation that specializes in curriculum development and conducts training classes such as the PCE Professional Curriculum. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Printed Circuit Engineering Association, Inc.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – FEBRUARY 5, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced the first UHDI & Substrates: Design to Package Forum will be held on June 5, 2024, in conjunction with PCB East in Boxborough, MA.

UHDI, or ultra high-density interconnect, describes lines and spaces of less than 25 microns on a printed circuit board. Among the presentations are talks on standards, electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing, direct imaging down to 15 microns and beyond, a new mSAP process, a new replacement for ABF (Anjinomoto Build-Up Film), planning a new UHDI facility, and new materials for UHDI.

Each presentation will be 30 minutes. The program will close with a panel discussion.

The forum is chaired by Gene Weiner of Weiner International Associates. Peter Bigelow, president of FTG East, and Alun Morgan, technology ambassador of Ventec and president of the European Institute for the PCB Community (EIPC) are vice chairmen.

“Rapid technical progress and major dollar commitments are being made in the US and Europe to establish sustainable, secure sources of organic substrates and UHDI circuitry for advanced electronics packaging,” said Weiner. “This forum is designed to present new design, process, material, and equipment capability information that delegates can immediately put to use.”

“The industry has begun to recognize the need for – and challenges of – UHDI technology,” added Mike Buetow, president of PCEA and conference chair of PCB East. “Gene Weiner and his colleagues have put together an outstanding program that will look at the state-of-the-art and the requirements for implementation.”

About PCB East®

PCB East is the electronics industry’s east coast conference and trade show. This four-day technical conference takes place June 4-7 at the Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center in Boxborough, MA with a one-day exhibition on June 5. The show includes a range of suppliers from the ECAD, PCB design service, fabrication, and assembly supply chain. For more information about PCB East, visit pcbeast.com.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JANUARY 25, 2024 – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY today opened registration for its annual Service Excellence Awards (SEAs) for EMS providers and electronics assembly equipment, material, service, and software suppliers.

Now in its 32nd year, the SEAs honor companies for excelling in the critical area of customer service, permitting participants to benchmark customer service against their peers. It is the only industry awards program that uses direct customer feedback to determine best-in-class.
Customers are surveyed to determine their satisfaction with a participating company in various categories, including dependability/timely delivery; manufacturing quality; responsiveness to requests and changes; technology; value for the price; and flexibility/ease of doing business. For each EMS category, the overall best-in-show winner is selected.

All customer responses and ratings are tabulated and provided in a confidential report to the participating company.

“We get customer scorecards all year long. We work hard to continuously improve. When we win the CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Service Excellence Awards, it means we’ve done everything right,” said Gary Larson, CEO, Electronic Systems Inc. (2023 Overall Winner, EMS Revenues $20 Million to $100 Million)

About the Awards
The SEAs recognize four categories of EMS providers based on revenues (under $20 million; $20 million to $100 million; $101 million to $500 million, and over $500 million).

Equipment, material or software supplier awards will be presented in each of the following categories: component storage systems; automation and handling equipment; cleaning processing or materials; device programming equipment; dispensing; pick-and-place; repair and rework; screen printing; test and inspection; materials (solder, encapsulants and adhesives); soldering equipment; automation/manufacturing software (not ERP/MRP); and supply-chain/ERP/MRP software.

Non-manufacturing service providers will be honored in the following categories: test laboratories; recycling, cleaning or other non-manufacturing process providers; and design service bureaus. Reps or agents and/or distributors will also be honored.

CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY will honor winners in person at SMTA International in October 2024 at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. Participants will receive their report as an Excel file after the show.

For more information, visit https://circuitsassembly.com/ca/editorial/service-excellence-award.html.

To register, visit https://na.eventscloud.com/2024sea.

The deadline to enter is March 25, 2024.

EDITORS: Please contact Megan Fletcher at megan@pcea.net for a logo.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JANUARY 10, 2024 – The PCEA Conferences Task Group today announced the technical program for PCB East 2024, featuring more than 75 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training. 

Rick Hartley, Susy Webb, Tomas Chester and Zach Peterson are among the headliners of this year’s conference. It will be held June 4 to 7 at the Boxboro Regency Hotel and Conference Center in Boxborough, MA. It features classes for every level of experience, from novice to expert. 

The scope of classes ranges from basics on design engineering and circuit grounding, to DDR5 routing, impedance characterization, controlling noise and EMI, thermal management, board stackups and design for assembly. 

More than half the presentations are new to the PCEA, including ones on SMT equipment validation, medical wearable device compliance, flex design, AI in electronics, and signal integrity/power integrity.

“Attendance more than doubled in 2023, showing both the vibrancy of the East coast electronics ecosystem and the need for topnotch technical training,” said Mike Buetow, conference director, PCB East. “This year’s event offers an array of experts in printed circuit design engineering and manufacturing, and a new emphasis on assembly.”

Registration is now open for both the technical conference and the exhibition at pcbeast.com.

Registrants who sign up by May 3 can take advantage of the Early Bird Special discounts for the conference.

The program was developed by the PCEA Conferences Task Group from more than 60 abstracts submitted. The task group is made up of nine industry veterans with more than 270 years of cumulative experience in the printed circuit industry, chaired by Troy Hopkins. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – DECEMBER 12, 2023 – PCEA Training is offering three five-day training classes next year for printed circuit engineers, layout professionals, and other individuals currently serving in the design engineering industry or seeking to get into it.

Class dates include:

• Class 1: February 5, 12, 20, 26, and March 4
• Class 2: April 5, 12, 19, 26, and May 3
• Class 3: June 14, 17, 21, 24, 28

These instructor-led classes cover the gamut of printed circuit design engineering, from layout, place and route to specifications and materials to manufacturing methods. Schematic capture, signal integrity and EMI/EMC are also part of the comprehensive program.

There are no prerequisite requirements to enroll. Upcoming classes will be held online. All courses are led by experienced instructors.

Registration fees include the 400-page handbook, Printed Circuit Engineering Professional, authored by Michael Creeden, Stephen Chavez, Rick Hartley, Susy Webb and Gary Ferrari. The course includes an optional certification exam recognized by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA).

For information about the instructors of the course and authors of the course material, visit pceatraining.net/instructors-authors

For information about the course overview, class format, and materials to prepare in advance for the class, visit pceatraining.net/course-overview

To apply, visit pceatraining.net/registration for the next available class or contact Mike Buetow at pceatraining@pcea.net for additional information.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – DECEMBER 4, 2023 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today issued a call for abstracts for the PCB West 2024 technical conference. The conference, the largest of its kind in Silicon Valley, focuses on training and best practices for printed circuit board design engineers, electronics design engineers, fabricators and assemblers.

The four-day technical conference will take place October 8-11 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on October 9.

Papers and presentations of the following durations are sought for the technical conference: one-hour lectures and presentations; two-hour workshops; and half-day (3.5-hour) and full-day seminars. Preference is given to presentations of two hours in length or more, and no presentations of less than one hour will be considered.

Abstracts of 100-500 words and speaker biographies should be submitted to PCEA. Papers and presentations must be noncommercial in nature and should focus on technology, techniques or methodologies related to printed circuit board design, fabrication, assembly, test, components or packaging, and additive manufacturing.

Submit abstracts at pcbwest.com by January 26. No emailed abstracts will be accepted. Submitters will be notified by early April if their abstract has been accepted. Presentations are due September 6.

Speaker Benefits: Presenters of accepted abstract(s) for the 2024 program receive the following event benefits.

• Complimentary access to the online proceedings
• Complimentary pass to the technical conference
• Invitation to the Speaker Reception

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 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) will hold three member webinars in the coming months on PCB materials, PCB thermal management, and the impact of artificial intelligence on electronics.

On Dec. 13, Tony Senese and Eriko Yamato of Panasonic will present PCB Material Properties – Consideration for Design and Manufacturing. Engineers use PCB material product charts to reference electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties to seek the best solutions for specific applications. It is important to understand the significance of a given property and how it affects PCB design and manufacturing. This presentation will cover key material properties such as Tg and modulus to guide how they can impact PCB design and processing. The presenters will also discuss IPC test methods and why they matter.

On Jan. 17, Doug Brooks and Dr. Johannes Adam will present Via and Trace Currents and Temperatures. Rather than thinking of current density, the presenters say, focus on material parameters and properties that determine the temperature of a trace and how these are calculated. Results of some simulations of vias of varying widths and amps will be shown.

And on Jan. 23, a special panel will debate AI in Electronics. Artificial intelligence has made its way into ECAD and other software used in electronics manufacturing. But what’s the actual intelligence in these tools? And in what ways – and how soon – can we expect them to impact our roles? CTOs and related domain experts from a handful of ECAD companies will offer a snapshot of where we are, what’s feasible, and the forecasted timeline for implementation.

All webinars will include time for audience questions. To register, visit https://pcea.net/events 

PCEA member webinars are free for all PCEA members. Join as an individual member for free at https://pcea.net/pcea-membership 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 – Nearly 2,000 industry professionals, representing 36 countries and 46 states, registered for the PCB West conference and exhibition held last week, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association announced today. Overall attendance was up 5% year-over-year, and the show floor was completely sold out for the exhibition.

The annual conference took place September 19-22, including a one-day exhibition on September 20, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. It attracted engineers and other professionals from a range of printed circuit and electronics design, fabrication, assembly and advanced packaging companies.

“PCB West isn’t just a trade show; it’s an amazing event that brings industry minds together and sparks innovation,” said Kelly Atay, marketing program manager, ASC Sunstone Circuits, a US-based printed circuit board fabricator. “Can’t wait for the next one!”

“The ICAPE team had a wonderful time at PCB West 2023!” said ICAPE USA, a supplier of printed circuit boards and electronic assemblies. “We were very impressed with the turnout!”

“We really enjoyed it, and it has given us more confidence that we should be doubling down on

the US market,” said Sebastian Schaal, founder and managing director at Luminovo, a provider of software for monitoring, quoting and procuring PCBAs.

PCEA also announced PCB West 2024 will take place October 8-11, 2024, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on October 9.

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 – SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced Bob McCreight as recipient of the second annual PCEA Membership Award. The announcement was made at the PCEA annual meeting in conjunction with the PCB West conference and exhibition.

McCreight has been the president of the Silicon Valley chapter of PCEA since its inception. He currently works for Tesla as a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) designer and has been active in the printed circuit industry for more than 30 years.

“Bob McCreight is very deserving of the 2023 membership award,” said Stephen Chavez, chairman, PCEA, in announcing the award. “He has been an active contributor in our industry for many decades, and continues to provide outstanding leadership in his role as chairman of the local PCEA Silicon Valley chapter. Bob is a model for getting things done, and it gives me great pleasure to recognize him with the PCEA Membership Award.”

Editors: For a photo of Bob McCreight, please contact Megan Fletcher at megan@pcea.net.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced Rick Hartley as recipient of the annual PCEA Leadership Award, for his lifetime service in the pursuit of educating and training PCB design engineers.

The announcement was made at the PCEA annual meeting in conjunction with the PCB West conference and exhibition.

Hartley was one of the cofounders of PCEA in 2020, and was the first chair of the Conferences Task Group. He also reviewed much of the reference material in the Education section of PCEA’s website. In his 50 years in the electronics design industry, Hartley has become a go-to for training on signal integrity, noise control, and EMI. He is the most popular speaker in the history of the PCB West conference, and has developed a series of webinars and workshops to train design engineers and designers.

“Rick Hartley’s name is synonymous not only with design engineering, but even more importantly, with sharing what you know with your industry peers and colleagues,” said Stephen Chavez, chairman, PCEA, in announcing the award. “He is a bright example of the power of determination and positivity, and he embodies the best in what PCEA offers its members and the industry.”

Editors: For a photo of Rick Hartley, please contact Megan Fletcher at megan@pcea.net.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – FEBRUARY 4, 2022 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced it has closed the acquisition of the functional assets of UP Media Group Inc., including its industry leading publications and trade shows.

The deal, which was announced during the PCB West conference and exhibition last October, includes the annual PCB West and PCB East trade shows; PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB (PCD&F) and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazine; the PCB UPdate digital newsletter; the PCB Chat podcast series; the PCB2Day workshops and webinars; and Printed Circuit University, the dedicated online training platform.

The deal establishes PCEA as the leading association for printed circuit engineers worldwide, with over 2.5 million engagements annually to printed circuit engineers, designers, fabricators and assemblers.

Upon closing, Mike Buetow has been named president; Frances Stewart has been named vice president, sales and marketing; Chelsey Drysdale has been named chief content officer; and Brooke Anglin has been named senior sales executive.

The staff reports to the PCEA board of directors, which is made up of 10 industry professionals led by chairman Stephen Chavez and vice chairman Michael Creeden.

“We have been looking forward to this day since we entered negotiations with PCEA several months ago,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. “We are fired up and ready to engage with our members, starting with PCB East, our first live event as part of PCEA, which takes place in April in Marlborough, MA.”

“I cannot believe we finally closed the deal,” said Stephen Chavez, chairman, PCEA. “Simply amazing, but I’m more amazed at what we just accomplished from only being in existence for two years and starting from scratch.

“We are extremely excited and very eager to attack this great new adventure. We’re even more tenacious and passionate in our eternal quest to collaborate, educate, and inspire for the betterment of the industry. The first upcoming PCEA conference is PCB East. We hope to see you there.”   

About Printed Circuit Engineering Association, Inc.

Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) (pcea.net) is a nonprofit association that promotes printed circuit engineering as a profession and encourages, facilitates, and promotes the exchange of information and integration of new design concepts through communications, seminars, workshops, and professional certification through a network of local and regional chapters. PCEA serves the global PCB community through print, digital and online products, as well as live and virtual events. PCEA publishes PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB (pcdandf.com) and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY (circuitsassembly.com), as well as the PCB UPdate (pcbupdate.com) e-newsletter. UPMG also produces the PRINTED CIRCUIT UNIVERSITY (printedcircuituniversity.com) online training platform, and trade shows and conferences, including PCB East (pcbeast.com), PCB West (pcbwest.com) and the PCB2Day workshop series.