IPC WinterCom 2024: Elevating Global Standards in the Heart of Barcelona
By Chris Mitchell, vice president, global government relations
Key Summary
• IPC WinterCom 2024 gathered nearly 300 global industry leaders in Barcelona to advance international electronics standards
• Participants collaborated on materials, design, PCB fabrication, assembly, Factory of the Future, and e-textiles
• Social media highlights showcased strong global engagement and community spirit, including the return of IPC’s gnomes
• The event reinforced IPC’s commitment to global collaboration despite geopolitical tensions
• Standards developed at WinterCom support innovation, quality, and manufacturing consistency across the electronics industry
A quick congratulations to the IPC team and industry participants that made IPC WinterCom in Barcelona a huge success! The IPC event this week brought together close to 300 industry leaders from approximately 40 countries to participate in standards development activities on topics related to materials, design, PCB fabrication, PCB assembly, Factory of the Future and e-textiles to name just a few.
Although I could not be there, I enjoyed living vicariously through the social media posts of my colleagues (John Mitchell, Sanjay Huprikar, IPC India, Patrick Crawford) and industry leaders (Raquel Rodriguez, Xavier Xampeny, David Graham, Jan Pedersen, and José Becerra González).
Wonderful to see that the industry’s favorite gnomes, Clumpy and Kloumpios, made an appearance as well!
The event’s European location and global participation, once again, affirms IPC’s commitment to facilitating industry collaboration on international standards—even in a climate of increased geopolitical competition and tension.
The electronics industry is at the vanguard of technological innovation. The standards development activities at IPC WinterCom and that take place in IPC committees throughout the year help to accelerate innovation across the industry by creating a strong foundation of widely accepted design and manufacturing standards that reflect the collective insights of the smartest and most dedicated professionals in electronics manufacturing. They truly are the unsung heroes of the industry and of the global marketplace.
IPC WinterCom exemplifies how standards not only meet the needs of today but also pave the way for the evolving landscape of tomorrow.
To learn more about IPC standards development committee activities and how to join a committee, visit www.ipc.org/committee-page.
IPC WinterCom is a global standards development event where industry experts collaborate on new and updated electronics manufacturing standards across design, materials, PCB fabrication, assembly, and emerging technologies.
The European location drew strong global participation from roughly 40 countries, highlighting IPC’s commitment to international collaboration and reinforcing Europe’s role in global standards development.
Nearly 300 leaders from across electronics manufacturing attended, including IPC staff, global committee members, and industry professionals contributing to standards work in multiple technical areas.
By creating consensus-driven standards, WinterCom provides the technical foundation that enables consistent quality, reliability, and innovation across the global electronics supply chain.
Companies can join IPC committees and participate in ongoing standards work year-round. Details and sign-up information are available at www.ipc.org/committee-page