CAD as we know it for printed circuit design came into existence in the mid-1960s. And while some industry designers still remember the days (more fondly than I would!) of hand-taping components and traces, then using a camera to produce films for fabrication, it didn’t take too long before computers started taking over.

In 1970, Racal-Redac, which later was acquired by Zuken, released its original PCB, schematic and silicon layout tool. A few years later, Scientific Calculations introduced SCICARDS for generating photoplots from Gerber files. Of course, the dimensions back then were epic in size – pads were 70 mils or more, and lines and spaces were 25 mils.

By 1976, the EDA market was starting to pop with companies, and not just for design. Makoto Kaneko founded Zuken. A trio of professors at the University of Texas – James Truchard, Bill Nowlin and Jeff Kodosky – launched National Instruments. A former Tektronix engineering manager, Doug Campbell, started Polar Instruments.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Electronics industry sentiment declined significantly in September due to rising cost concerns and weakening demand, according to IPC’s September Sentiment of the Global Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Report.

VEJLE, DENMARK – GPV has opened an additional SMT line at its factory in Guadalajara, Mexico, after transferring it from its factory in Elva, Estonia.

FONTENAY-AUX-ROSES, France – Icape Group announced €86.6 million ($97 million) in revenue for the first half of the year, down 8.4% compared with the first half of 2023.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Jabil announced revenue of $28.9 billion for its full fiscal year, representing a decrease of 16.7% from fiscal year 2023.

SENAI, MALAYSIA – VS Industry announced full-year revenue of MYR4.25 billion ($1 billion), a decrease of 7.3% from its previous fiscal year.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PCB shipments in August rose 35% year-over-year, IPC reported in its monthly North American PCB Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 0.99.

CHARLOTTE, NC – The SMTA Carolinas chapter will host a webinar, Mastering Solder Paste Printing for Optimal SMT Assembly, on Oct. 15 from 12-1 p.m. ET.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – 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 trade show.

BILLINGSTAD, NORWAY – Kitron has lowered its revenue forecast for the second half of 2024 after a reduction in orders from customers.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Jabil has announced the expansion of its advanced photonics packaging new product introduction capabilities at its site in Ottawa, Canada.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American EMS shipments in August declined 4.4% compared to the same month last year, according to IPC's North American EMS Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.27.