It took longer than expected, but only by a couple weeks. PCEA is now the owner of a number of publications, websites, educational events and trade shows for printed circuit engineers.

In January, we completed the acquisition of several longtime and popular brands from UP Media Group, including PCD&F, CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY, the PCB2Day webinar series, the Printed Circuit University online education platform, the PCB Chat podcast series, and of course, the leading technical conferences and trade shows for design engineers: PCB West and PCB East. It’s the latter one I’ll look at today.

Last month’s discussion focused on training opportunities. We looked at developments at the college level and new certification programs like the Printed Circuit Engineering Professional course offered by PCE-EDU, the brainchild of a team of veteran design engineers led by Mike Creeden and Rick Hartley.

This month, we dive into the upcoming PCB East technical conference. For the uninitiated, PCB East is the Eastern US version of the popular PCB West trade show. It debuted in the 2000s, then went on hiatus after the industry downturn in 2007-08. At the urging of several companies and individual design engineers, it was set to return last year, until the pandemic got in the way.

STOCKHOLM – Note reported fourth quarter sales increased 75% to SEK 814 million (US$86.4 million). Adjusted for acquisitions and currency effects, growth was 48%.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — North American EMS orders in December were up 47.1% year-over-year and 13.8% sequentially, says IPC.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PCB year-to-date orders in December were up 33.6% compared to December 2020 and 47.1% compared to November 2021, according to IPC.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Waséyabek Development Co. acquired Safari Circuits for an undisclosed sum.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — New data from IPC show supply chain challenges remain acute, but may have peaked, while lead times remain high. High material and labor costs are expected to continue for at least six months, while recruiting and finding skilled talent continues to be difficult.

TORONTO – Celestica reported fourth quarter revenue of $1.5 billion, up 9% year-over-year.

SAN JOSE – Flex reported fiscal third quarter 2022 net sales were $6.6 billion, a decrease of 1.5% year-over-year.

NEENAH, WI – Plexus posted fiscal first quarter revenue of $817.5 million, down 1.6% year-over-year and 3% sequentially.

MILPITAS, CA — North America-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers posted $3.92 billion in billings worldwide in December, up 46.1% year-over-year and down 0.5% sequentially, according to SEMI.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The US has lost its historic dominance in a foundational area of electronics technology – printed circuit boards – and the lack of any significant US government support for the sector is leaving the nation’s economy and national security dangerously reliant on foreign suppliers, according to a new report by IPC.  

WUTHA-FARNRODA, GERMANY – Scanfil’s EMS factory here will increase 2,200 m², with production estimated to begin in the second quarter of 2022. The existing factory is 4,500 m² and employs approximately 270 staff.