CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Opens Entries for 2026 NPI Awards

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY is accepting entries for its 2026 New Product Introduction Awards for electronics assembly equipment, materials and software suppliers.

Colloquially referred to as the Engineer’s Choice Awards – a nod to the background and independence of the judges – the 19th annual NPI Awards recognize the leading new products for electronics assembly during the past 12 months. Recipients are selected by an independent panel of practicing industry engineers and are presented by CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY.

Entrants must submit a single registration form for each product and category entered. All entries must include a 250- to 1,000-word statement describing the product in the following terms:

• Creativity and innovation
• Compatibility with existing technology
• Cost-effectiveness
• Design
• Expected reliability
• Flexibility
• Expected maintainability/reparability
• Performance
• User-friendliness
• Speed/throughput.

Evaluations will be based on the above list.

The entry fee is $500 per product. The deadline for entries is Dec. 19.

To be eligible, entries must have been introduced to market (any region) no earlier than Jan. 1, 2025.

Categories include the following:

Equipment: Automation tools (conveyors, feeders, etc.); bonders; cleaning equipment; component placement – high-speed; component placement – multifunction; component placement – accessory technologies; component storage; device programming; dispensing equipment; labeling equipment; process control tools; rework and repair tools; screen/stencil printing; screen/stencil printing peripherals/consumables; soldering – reflow (convection); soldering – wave; soldering – selective; selective soldering tools and accessories; soldering – alternative (vapor phase, hot bar, laser, etc.); soldering – hand tools; test and inspection – AOI; test and inspection – AXI; test and inspection – ICT; test and inspection – SPI; test and inspection – functional test; first article inspection; curing ovens (for non-solder materials); ESD

Materials: Adhesives; cleaning materials; coatings/encapsulants; underfills; thermal interface materials; flux; soldering materials (paste, bar, wire, core, etc.); cored wire

Software: Process control; production; management (ERP, MRP, supply chain, etc.)

Training Materials

Process Innovation (assemblers only)

For more information and to register, visit https://pcea.net/npi-award.

PCEA and Mobius Materials to Hold PCB Community Meetup at PCB West

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association and Mobius Materials will sponsor a printed circuit board industry community meetup on Oct. 1, at the PCB West trade show.

The event will feature networking and a panel discussion on the Ever-Changing Procurement Environment and will be held at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center following the close of the exhibition on Oct. 1.

The meetup is an opportunity to discuss best practices and innovative solutions for real-time with like-minded professionals in a relaxed and informal setting. The get-together features a period of networking followed by a short panel discussion and will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Panelists include Olaf Hichwa, co-founder and CTO of Neros, a designer and manufacturer of military drones using US-sourced parts; Greg Papandrew, co-founder of DirectPCB, a distributor of bare boards and assemblies; and Creighton Chin, compliance senior associate at FD Associates, an expert in import and export compliance of controlled equipment and technology.

“PCEA and Mobius Materials are looking forward to an evening of insightful conversations and networking at the annual PCB Community Meetup at PCB West,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. “Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just beginning your design career, our larger aim is to put the fun back into learning about our profession.” 

Fall PCB Design Training Classes Scheduled

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – PCEA Training will hold its final scheduled sessions for the Certified Professional Circuit Designer (CPCD) training and certification program starting Nov. 3 and continuing once a week through Dec. 1.

The 40-hour instructor-led course is designed for printed circuit engineers, layout professionals and other individuals currently serving in the design engineering industry or seeking to get into it.

The 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.

Each class includes a copy of Printed Circuit Engineering Professional, a 400-page handbook on circuit board design, and the optional certification exam recognized by PCEA.

There are no prerequisites to enroll. Classes are held online and led by experienced instructors.

To enroll, visit pceatraining.net/registration.

RF and UHDI Design Focus of October Member Webinar

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – John Johnson of ASC Sunstone will present a free webinar for PCEA members on RF PCB design and UHDI technology on Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. Eastern. 

The webinar will cover the design and manufacturing intricacies of PCBs with unique RF features, especially as the industry shifts from high-density interconnect (HDI) to ultra-high-density interconnect (UHDI) technologies. It highlights the performance advantages of UHDI in terms of trace definition, impedance control and signal integrity, supported by new additive processes and advanced materials. Attendees are guided through considerations for material selection, RF feature implementation (e.g., edge plating, via fences), and the challenges of building complex, high-performance boards.

To register, click here.

The session encourages designers to collaborate closely with fabricators and material suppliers early in the design process to optimize for performance, cost and manufacturability.

Johnson holds a master’s in organic chemistry and has held a variety of engineering, quality, sales and senior management positions in his 45+ years in the electronics industry. He has worked with materials, technology and board fabrication companies, including his current position as director of quality and advanced technology at ASC Sunstone.