WASHINGTON DC – Effective May 1, 2023, Nathan Edwards will transition into the role of executive director of the U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics (USPAE). Currently serving as director of government development, Edwards will replace Chris Peters who will continue with the organization as a senior advisor, providing continuity and focus on special projects.

As executive director of USPAE, Edwards will be responsible for establishing and growing the organization to help ensure the U.S. Government has access to trusted, secure, and resilient electronics supply chains. One of the organization’s signature programs is the $42 million Defense Electronics Consortium, which provides a contract vehicle for the Department of Defense (DoD) to work on electronics-related challenges with trusted partners in industry and academia, including small and medium-sized innovators that typically do not do business with DoD.

Edwards joined USPAE in August 2022 after being highly recommended by several members of the electronics manufacturing community. He has significant electronics expertise stemming from an impressive academic record and valuable experience in commercial and government environments. Much of that experience involves security of microelectronics and hardware systems, including five patents for the protection of embedded technologies. Edwards’s previous employers have ranged from Medtronic and Boeing to Sandia National Laboratories. He also has supported the Trusted and Assured Microelectronics program under the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

“Nathan’s electronics expertise and experience in both commercial and government segments make him ideally suited to continue the growth of USPAE,” said board member and retired Navy Rear Admiral Kevin Sweeney. “Chris has done a superb job as founding director and we’re grateful that he will help transition Nathan into this leadership role.”

Adds John W. Mitchell, IPC president and CEO and USPAE board member, “We’re fortunate to have both Nathan and Chris as part of the USPAE leadership team. “Nathan knows the U.S. Government customer well, including the Department of Defense, and has substantial technical expertise. His work at USPAE will help us bridge the gap between industry capabilities and the governments’ needs for electronics that support our national and economic security. Chris’s extensive experience in driving the innovation and adoption of solutions throughout manufacturing supply chains has helped connect the electronics industry and government.”

For more information on USPAE, visit www.USPAE.org or send inquiries to info@uspae.org

SANTA CLARA, CA – Absolute EMS, Inc., an award-winning EMS provider of turnkey and consignment manufacturing services, was honored to welcome winners from a Brazilian Robotics Team to their state-of-the-art facility in Silicon Valley. The team, consisting of three talented young women, was awarded a trip to Silicon Valley to view some of the most advanced high-tech facilities in the world, with Absolute EMS being one of them.

During their visit, the team was given a tour of Absolute EMS' cutting-edge facility, which features the latest in manufacturing technology and equipment. The young women were able to witness firsthand the precision and attention to detail that goes into the manufacturing of high-tech electronics. They also had the opportunity to speak with the team of experienced engineers and technicians who make up Absolute EMS' skilled workforce.

"We were thrilled to have the opportunity to host the winners of the Brazilian Robotics Team at our facility," said Jayne Carthy, VP Sales and Marketing. "We are committed to supporting the next generation of innovators and engineers, and we hope that this visit has inspired these talented young women to pursue their dreams in the field of robotics and technology."

After touring Absolute EMS’ facility, the team travelled to OLogic Inc, Silicon Valley’s premier engineering consulting company that specializes in robotics. At the OLogic office, the team spoke to CEO and Founder Ted Larson about the evolution of the robotic industry and how to bring products to market successfully.

The Brazilian Robotics Team is from the University of Brasilia in Brazil. The team traveled to California to participate in the RoboGames robotics competition. In this competition, they participated in the Balancer Race category where the objective was to create a robot that could balance itself and travel six meters and stop standing up at the end of the course. In the competition rules, the teams were given the freedom to choose how the robot would be controlled – either autonomously or not. The Brazilian Robotics Team was the only team in its category to produce an autonomous robot. The three young women who represented the team impressed judges with their innovative approach to robotics, and their determination to succeed in a male-dominated field.

Absolute EMS is committed to supporting the next generation of innovators and engineers, and this visit was just one example of the company's dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

Absolute EMS is a leader in end-to-end electronic manufacturing services solutions that help its customers rapidly introduce innovative new technology by facilitating speed-to-market in their marketplace. Speed-to-market starts with engineering services, and extends into prototypes, pilots and then into production.

A long-time commitment to sustainability contributes to Absolute EMS leading the way for manufacturing operations among EMS organizations. For more information, visit www.absolute-ems.com  

MESA, AZ – Mechnano has trademarked its proprietary process that eliminates clumped and roped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and makes CNT dispersions discrete, dispersed, and functionalized, leading to increased electrical and mechanical performance in the company’s groundbreaking additive manufacturing (AM) masterbatches and materials.

“We are excited to bring D’Func to the AM industry,” said Mechnano President Bryce Keeler.

D’Func, which is represented by more than 130 issued patents, solves the problems caused by dispersions of “dirty tubes” (clumped CNTs) into materials. Dirty tube dispersions are mechanically inferior to their base formulas — resulting in broken parts or processes that need to be shut down as replacements are put in place. In contrast, D’Func dispersions improve mechanical properties of AM materials.

In ESD applications, dirty tubes leave insulative pockets that reject charges trying to dissipate to the ground, clump into ropes that create lightning rod effects that destroy electronics and leave residual metals from the CNT creation process that cause additional electrical and mechanical part failures.

“Mechnano’s D’Func dispersions are by nature clean and the answer for today’s increasingly stringent requirements for true static dissipation by AM fabricated parts from resins, powders, pellets, and beyond,” says Keeler. “D’Func provides Nano-Uniform ESD protection throughout the part, regardless of the process, which is why it is becoming the industry standard for AM providers who want consistent, reliable, Nano-Uniform ESD properties. Dirty tubes are less expensive, but they won’t protect sensitive electronics. When you need ESD in your AM materials, make sure you have D’Func.”

The term “D’Func” stems from the firm’s R&D lab, playfully named “Funkytown” for the work performed there to functionalize and disperse Mechnano’s discrete CNTs. While Mechnano scientists have fun with their naming conventions, Keeler says they are serious about developing new solutions that leverage Mechnano’s D’Func technology.

Trademarking D'Func helps clearly differentiate Mechnano’s intellectual property and R&D advances, which continue to keep the company at the leading edge of nano-engineered solutions for AM materials. Other providers cannot provide Nano-Uniformity without Mechnano’s patented discoveries. Contact Mechnano today to request a print of your part using the right D’Func materials for your application.

PCB East, the electronics industry trade show for the East Coast

Coming May 9-12, 2023 to the Boston suburbs!

Austin, TX (26 April 2023) - Cetec ERP has been recognized as a top cloud ERP provider for aerospace/defense distributors by Aerospace Export, a prominent online resource for the aerospace and defense industries.

The annual Aerospace Export report evaluates and ranks ERP providers based on a variety of criteria, including features and functionality, ease of use, customer support, and pricing. Cetec ERP was recognized for its robust feature set, intuitive user interface, and exceptional customer service and support.

For aerospace and defense companies, any process improvement effort that yields great results is worth it because global competition and market pressure are escalating. However, selecting an ERP software solution that follows industry-leading best practice protocols and ensures efficiency is no easy task, which is why Aerospace Export created a list of the top 20 best ERP software solutions for aerospace and defense.

Cetec ERP is a web-based manufacturing ERP platform used by several aerospace and defense companies with stringent regulatory requirements, from ISO 9001 to ITAR. The software mainly targets SMB growing manufacturing shops and distributors, and is the standard ERP option for small and medium-sized manufacturers. Cetec ERP has a fully native QMS (quality management system) that handles quality requirements, and uses real time features to record data and generate quality documents to reflect all actions and details on any given order.

Cetec ERP has exceptional traceability functionality that supports serialized inventory with date code and complete lot code traceability with a full integration from purchased material to in-production and final inspection into invoice and shipment Cetec ERP covers the scope of the manufacturing process, and also includes built in accounting and financial suites.

ABOUT CETEC ERP:

Cetec ERP is disrupting a stagnant, high dollar industry that has resisted change for decades. Since 2015, and without any major marketing initiatives or venture capital funding, Cetec ERP has independently migrated hundreds of companies off legacy technology platforms like Oracle and NetSuite, saving companies hundreds of thousands of dollars, onto a new generation of lower cost ERP technology.

PCB East, the electronics industry trade show for the East Coast

Coming May 9-12, 2023 to the Boston suburbs!