Minneapolis, MN – The 2017 SMTA International Conference and Exhibition, which took place September 17 – 21, 2017 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, concluded successfully. A record number of international attendees from 22 countries were registered this year.

The technical conference continued the tradition of being the strongest in the electronics assembly industry. The Technical Innovations Symposium at the beginning of the week received much praise as it covered Micro-Dispensing and Additive Manufacturing Developments, Adhesive and Coating Development and Characterization, and a Lead-Free Current/Future Presentations Panel Discussion. The Technical Innovations Symposium keynote presentation by iNEMI’s Bill Bader on the 2017 Roadmap Highlights was well-received by attendees.

The Women’s Leadership Program brought together speakers from IBM, Intel, FLITE, WNIE, and Women in Manufacturing on Monday afternoon. The program closed with a panel discussion about diversity in the workplace followed by a wine and cheese reception.

On Tuesday morning a crowd filled the Keynote Presentation Session until it was standing-room-only to hear Microsoft’s GM of HoloLens Hardware Design, Rune Jensen, share his experiences developing the company’s premier mixed reality device. The presentation included several videos demonstrating the advanced capabilities of the HoloLens. The presentation inspired attendees to imagine how a device like this could change the future of manufacturing.

The Lead-Free Soldering Technology Symposium as well as the expanded Advanced Packaging, Manufacturing Excellence, Inspection Technologies, and HDP Consortium tracks kept the meeting rooms full until the very end of the conference on Thursday.

Over 170 exhibiting companies filled the exhibit hall bringing more equipment and new products than past years. Traffic on the show floor was noticeably higher this year.

Once again the Tech Tour program featured distinguished tour guides leading groups of attendees to exhibiting companies demonstrating new products and test equipment.

Next year the SMTA International Conference and Exhibition will be held October 14 - 18, 2018 at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. The IPC Fall Standards Development Committee Meetings will again be co-located.

For more information on SMTA International please contact Tanya Martin: tanya@smta.org or 952-920-7682 or visit https://www.smta.org/smtai/.

SMTA – A Global Association Working at a Local Level

The SMTA membership is an international network of professionals who build skills, share practical experience and develop solutions in electronic assembly technologies, including microsystems, emerging technologies, and related business operations.

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