Tech, Management Talks Highlight Assembly Program at PCB East

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – The PCEA Assembly Conference will take place Apr. 30-May 1, concurrent with PCB East, PCEA announced. The new event will feature three all-day tracks across two days, with two tracks focused on SMT processes and aimed at engineers and operators, and the third track designed for managers and executives interested in supply-chain and business issues.

The conference is split into basics and advanced courses, to help engineers and operators new to the industry and more experienced personnel looking to learn about new technologies.

Among the technical presentations are talks on materials, printing, placement, reflow, cleaning and inspection. The advanced courses will cover stencil design, printer setup, type 5 and beyond solder pastes, placement advancements for AI and data center applications, reflow optimization and formic acid, and cleanliness measurement and conformal coatings.

Among the presenters are experts from Honeywell, Aurora Boardworks, Indium, Parmi, Heller, MacDermid Alpha, Metal Etch, ItDepends and Shea Engineering.

Two half-day, hands-on sessions on hand soldering round out the technical conference.

In addition, an all-day management track includes talks on the future of defense electronics manufacturing, cybersecurity implementation, trusted suppliers, import/export rules, Cooperative Project Management, equipment evaluation, board supplier audits, and AI in assembly.

A panel on workforce training and development rounds out the program.End of article content 

Strategic Leadership Session Tackles AI, Workforce Issues

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – Strategic Leadership in the Age of AI, New Technology Adoption and Talent Scarcity, a new, full-day program aimed at C-level executives and managers, takes place Apr. 28, concurrent with PCB East at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester, MA. 

Chaired by Gene Weiner and Peter Bigelow, the forum will bring together leaders from across the PCB industry to discuss AI, mentoring and training the next generation of workers, rapid technological and organizational changes, and collaboration between industry and educational institutions. 

Sessions include:

• 

  “Build AI vs. Buy AI: Why AI Isn’t a Technology Problem … It’s a Leadership One – Sean Patterson, CrossGen AI
• AI Needs Hardware: Rebuilding Advanced PCB Manufacturing – Vytautas Ilgunas, TLT Electronics 
• PCBAA Update on Washington Legislative Efforts – John Vaughan, Summit Interconnect 
• Unintended Consequences! How the AI Infrastructure Build Out Will Reshape the PCB Materials Supply Chain – Alun Morgan, Ventec 
• AI’s Role in the Future of Electronics Manufacturing Collaboration – Timon Rubin, Luminovo  
• Addressing the Skilled/Semi-Skilled Labor Shortage  
•  Outlook In View of AI Surge in PCB Demand and Severe Material Shortages/Allocations 

Registration for both the technical conference and the exhibition takes place at pcbeast.com. Those who sign up by Mar. 27 can take advantage of the early bird special discounts for the conference. 

PCEA Opens Registration for PCB Detroit Conference

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – Registration for PCB Detroit is now open, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced. The event, now in its second year, takes place Jun. 15-16 on the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.

The technical program will feature two full days of in-depth electronics engineering training featuring some of the industry’s most esteemed experts. Rick Hartley, Stephen Chavez, Dan Beeker, Tomas Chester, Ethan Pierce and Tim Wang Lee are among the headliners of this year’s conference. 

The scope of classes ranges from placement and routing, thermal management, ESD design techniques, AI implementation, flex and rigid-flex design, nondestructive measurement techniques and thin copper, among others. In all, PCB Detroit will offer more than 20 hours of technical sessions for every level (novice to expert).

PCB Detroit will also feature a tabletop exhibition on Jun. 16, followed by a free reception.

“After last year’s conference, we heard from registrants who were grateful to an event to call their own, as well as exhibitors that landed new customers,” noted Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. “Given the emphasis Michigan is placing on semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing, we are pleased to return to Detroit to meet the regional demand.” 

Registration for the two-day technical conference and the tabletop exhibition takes place at pcea.net/pcb-detroit. Conference registration is required for both the conference and tabletop exhibition. 

Wayne State University is Michigan’s third-largest university, and a licensee of the PCEA Training Certified Printed Circuit Designer curriculum. 

For more information about PCB Detroit, visit pcea.net/pcb-detroit or contact pcbdetroit@pcea.net.End of article content 

PCEA, SMTA Capitol Chapter Sponsoring Design for Sourcing Webinar

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – PCEA in conjunction with the SMTA Capitol Chapter will present a two-part two-hour webinar on sourcing strategies for PCB designers and design engineers starting in April. The webinar, “Design for Sourcing,” will be presented by supply chain expert Ed Dodd, vice president of government and defense for Cofactr.

This webinar takes place in two one-hour sessions starting at 1 p.m. EDT on April 21 and May 5.

In these sessions, Dodd will empower designers and design engineers with the knowledge and tools necessary to proactively design out supply chain risks during component selection. Attendees will learn about the current landscape of supply chain vulnerabilities, the principles of design for sourcing, and practical strategies to ensure continuity and reliability in their electronic designs.
Attendees will gain the information to make informed decisions that safeguard their projects against disruptions and contribute to a more robust supply chain ecosystem.

For more information or to register, click here.End of article content 

PCEA Names Leah Spinks Events Planner

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – PCEA in February named Leah Spinks events planner, responsible for pre- and on-site management of the association’s conferences and trade shows.

Spinks has more than 10 years’ experience in events planning, most recently as senior project manager at Enterprise Events Group. She was also a meeting and event manager at Maritz Global Events and events manager at the America’s Center in St. Louis. Throughout her career, she has been involved in strategic planning, contract negotiation, customer service, logistics, and other key facets of show management.

“Leah is a strategic and results-driven project and event management professional whose infectious personality and intellect will quickly make its mark with our customers and the industry,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA.End of article content 

Spring PCB Design Training Classes Scheduled

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – Registration is open for the PCEA Training Certified Professional Circuit Designer (CPCD) training and certification classes this spring. 

Class dates are May 15, 22, 29, Jun. 5 and 12. Registration closes Apr. 16.

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.End of article content