Jet Dragster World Champion Elaine Larsen to Keynote Women in Electronics Reception at IPC APEX EXPO 2020

Elaine Larsen, 2014 and 2015 IHRA Jet Dragster World Champion and driver of the Florida Institute of Technology Florida's Space Coast Jet Dragster, will speak at the IPC APEX EXPO Women in Electronics reception on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Larsen’s keynote, “A Chance Behind the Wheel in a Male-Dominated Industry” will focus on her entrée into the world of motorsports, a far cry from her Mennonite farming community upbringing. Now, with more than 20 years of drag racing experience, Larsen has found her home racing jet dragsters. With her current focus on mentoring the next generation of high-performance vehicle specialists, Elaine has never let being a female in the male-dominated racing industry affect her. "Drag racing is the equalizer, on any given day, I have the same chance as anyone to win, it just has to be my day,” Larsen has said.

In 2014, Larsen Motor Sports (LMS) launched its STEM initiative, and Larsen and her team work with students that have their eyes on the finish line. LMS has full fabrication capabilities, from composites, engines, and fabrication to the day-to-day operation of a multi car turbine powered race team; this is where students get the opportunity to jump right in and learn what it takes to put the dragsters down the racetrack. The company’s affiliation with Florida Institute of Technology has opened the door for internships, which led the LMS team to research many different avenues from biofuels to human centered design.

The Women in Electronics reception invites women in the electronics industry to join their colleagues across the supply chain to network, share ideas, discuss career experiences and engage with a woman who has made a name for herself in a male-dominated field.

“We are thrilled to welcome Elaine to IPC APEX EXPO 2020,” said Alicia Balonek, senior director, trade shows and events. “We are eager to learn her insights on expanding women’s leadership roles and to share our experiences ‘blazing our own trails’ within the electronics industry.”

The Women in Electronics reception and other special events as well as access to the exhibit hall are free to those who register in advance, a savings of $40 on-site. Attendees who register by December 19 will save 20 percent off registration fees. In addition, attendees who register for the All-Access Package will receive a significant percentage off a la carte options. Details, including dates, time and complete registration options, are available at www.IPCAPEXEXPO.org.

IPC Releases 2019 Quality Benchmark Study for Electronics Assembly

IPC's Study of Quality Benchmarks for Electronics Assembly 2019 is now available. This global study provides valuable benchmarking data to electronics assembly companies interested in comparing their quality measurements to those of the industry worldwide.

The quality control measurements covered by the study include first-pass and final yields, internal yields of key processes, defect rates, and DPMO and yield targets, as well as the average cost of poor quality as percentages of sales for rework and scrap, and percentages of OEMs that accept reworked boards. The study also reports on the use of various tests and quality control methods.

Customer satisfaction and supplier performance measurements are covered in the study, including rates of customer returns and returns due to product failure, and rates of on-time delivery. The industry's adoption of major quality certifications is also reported.

The data — in averages, medians and percentiles — are segmented by company size tier, by region, and by type of production including rigid PCBs, flexible circuits, finished end products, mechanical assembly, cable and harness, and discrete wiring terminal and connectors. The aggregate data represent 57 electronics assembly companies of all sizes — both OEMs and contract electronics manufacturers (EMS companies) — worldwide.

The 148-page report is available for sale to IPC members for $675 and to nonmembers for $1,350. For more information or to purchase the report, visit the IPC Online Store or contact IPC's market research department at marketresearch@ipc.org. For information on other IPC market research programs, visit www.ipc.org/IndustryData.

IPC E-Textiles 2019 to Address the Real World of E-textiles Applications for Multiple End Markets

Drexel University Center for Functional Fabrics in Philadelphia to host event, September 10-11

IPC E-Textiles 2019, a two-day technical education workshop for innovators, technologists and OEMs/brands to learn about the latest developments, designs and manufacturing concepts in the converging industries of textiles and electronics, will feature 14 technical presentations, tours of the Drexel Center for Functional Fabrics, a special interactive session and an IPC D-70 E-Textiles Committee Standards meeting. IPC E-Textiles will take place at the Drexel University Center for Functional Fabrics in Philadelphia, Pa., September 10-11.

Highlights of the agenda include:

  • Advanced inkjet printed e-textiles for health monitoring in military applications
  • E-textiles systems for military personal area networks
  • Addressing challenges for e-textiles in automotive conditions
  • Wearable e-textiles for telemedicine and energy storage
  • Smart garment production
  • Latest advancements in e-textile fabrics, fibers, yarns and printed materials, and much more

IPC E-Textiles 2019 will provide a platform for education and collaboration among a diverse group of professionals interested in producing e-textiles as well as to attract a myriad market segments, including fashion design, health monitoring, medical, automotive and military/aerospace. Unique to any other e-textiles conference you will attend in the US this year, this event will also kick off with an IPC D-70 E-Textiles Committee meeting, where industry can collaborate on and influence e-textiles standards being developed by the committee.

“Interdisciplinary collaborations are necessary to launch e-textile products” said Stephanie Rodgers, Apex Mills and IPC E-Textiles 2019 program committee chair. “I’m looking forward to seeing the innovators, designers, material suppliers, integrators, electrical, mechanical and textile engineers along with members of academia in the same room, working together to discuss solutions to the issues we face in this industry. All disciplines will be engaged in the development and testing of electronic integrated textiles. Additionally, the tour of the PA-Fabric Discovery Center will tempt the maker in all of us.”

Of particular interest to attendees will be the tours of the Drexel University Center for Functional Fabrics (CFF), which gained national and international recognition for its groundbreaking functional fabrics research. Its methodology is defined by an integrated “design thinking and doing” approach that combines human-centered design with fabrication, from prototyping and making of a product to full system integration. 

The CFF houses the Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center (PA FDC), which serves as a regional hub that facilitates advanced textile manufacturing in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic Region (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland). 

For more information on or to register for IPC E-Textiles 2019, visit www.ipc.org/E-Textiles-2019. For more information on the D-70 E-Textiles Committee, contact Chris Jorgensen, IPC director of technology transfer, at ChrisJorgensen@ipc.org.

ALPHA-electronik A/S, First European Company to Renew Qualified Manufacturers Listing for IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610

IPC's Validation Services Program has awarded and renewed an IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 Qualified Manufacturers Listing (QML) to ALPHA-electronik A/S, an ISO9001 and ISO13485 certified EMS-based company in Denmark. Following an IPC audit, Alpha-electronics became the first European company to successfully renew and complete an intensive audit, based on two of IPC's foremost standards: IPC J-STD-001, Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies and IPC-A-610, Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies.

For many years, ALPHA-electronik A/S utilized both IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 for specification of materials, processes and requirements. Moving forward with the QML certification allowed ALPHA-electronik A/S to tighten up their processes and products. Their quality management system was reviewed and updated accordingly to ensure traceability from relevant operational procedures to requirements in J-STD-001.

ALPHA-electronik A/S met or exceeded the requirements for the electronics industry's most rigorous classification, Class 3, which is intended for high-performance electronics assemblies. As a result, the company maintains their listing as an IPC-trusted source capable of manufacturing in accordance with industry best practices. ALPHA-electronik A/S and other trusted sources of supply can be found on IPC's QML/QPL (Qualified Product Listing) database at www.ipcvalidation.org.

Claus Molgaard, quality manager, said “Alpha-electronik A/S renewed the IPC QML as it provides us with an advantage when approaching new customers especially new medical device customers.” “We also experienced easier audits as the QML and ISO-13485 were recognized and acknowledged to have added value through better process performance by our customers,” added Molgaard.

IPC's Validation Services QPL/QML Program was developed to promote supply chain verification. It also provides auditing and certification of electronics companies' products and identifies processes which conform to IPC standards.

"Different from other audit programs, IPC's Validation Services Programs uniquely provides technical and in-depth assessments of products and processes in accordance with IPC standards," said Randy Cherry, IPC director of Validation Services. "We are pleased to re-confirm the QML for ALPHA-electronik A/S and maintaining their membership in the IPC's network of trusted QML suppliers."

For more information about IPC's Validation Services QPL/QML Program, visit www.ipcvalidation.org or contact Randy Cherry at RandyCherry@ipc.org or +1 847-597-2806.

North American PCB Sales Growth Continues as Order Growth Falters

IPC Releases PCB Industry Results for June 2019

IPC announced today the June 2019 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. Sales growth in June remained positive while bookings slipped and the book-to-bill ratio returned to parity at 1.00.

Total North American PCB shipments in June 2019 were up 5.5 percent compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date sales growth as of June was 11.0 percent. Compared to the preceding month, June shipments increased 10.7 percent.

PCB bookings in June decreased 5.9 percent year-over-year, bringing year-to-date order growth down to 2.4 percent. Bookings in June were up 3.2 percent from the previous month.

“The North American PCB industry continues to enjoy sales growth but at a slowing pace,” said Sharon Starr, IPC’s director of market research. “Order growth has also slowed, with the year-over-year growth rate dipping into negative territory in June for the third time this year. Declining order growth has put downward pressure on the book-to-bill ratio. The fact that the ratios have been at or near parity in recent months indicates that sales growth is likely to slow in the second half of the year.”


Note: The January 2019 ratio has been revised since its original publication due to updated data from statistical program participants.


Note: The November 2018 and January 2019 growth rates have been revised since their original publication due to updated data from statistical program participants.

View Chart in PDF

Detailed Data Available

The second-quarter 2019 edition of IPC’s North American PCB Market Report,containing detailed data from IPC’s PCB Statistical Program, will be published by mid-August. The quarterly report presents detailed findings on rigid PCB and flexible circuit sales and orders, including separate rigid and flex book-to-bill ratios, growth trends by product types and company size tiers, demand for prototypes, sales growth to military and medical markets, and other timely data. This report is available free to current participants in IPC’s PCB Statistical Program and by subscription to others. PCB companies that are IPC members doing business in North America are invited to contact marketresearch@ipc.org for information about participating. More information about this report can be found at www.ipc.org/market-research-reports.

Interpreting the Data

The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in IPC’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.

Year-on-year and year-to-date growth rates provide the most meaningful view of industry growth. Month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they reflect seasonal effects and short-term volatility. Because bookings tend to be more volatile than shipments, changes in the book-to-bill ratios from month to month might not be significant unless a trend of more than three consecutive months is apparent. It is also important to consider changes in both bookings and shipments to understand what is driving changes in the book-to-bill ratio.

IPC’s monthly PCB industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of both rigid PCB and flexible circuit manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. IPC publishes the PCB book-to-bill ratio at the end of each month. Statistics for the current month are normally available in the last week of the following month.

White House, U.S. SBA Praising IPC and Member Companies for Efforts to Boost the Skilled Workforce

The Trump administration is praising IPC – Association Connecting Electronics Industries® and several of its member companies for their efforts to expand the skilled workforce.  

On Thursday afternoon, an IPC group will take part in a White House event marking the first anniversary of President Trump’s Executive Order to develop a national strategy to expand the skilled workforce. The event will take stock of the progress made under that executive order and the related Pledge to America’s Workers, which called on private sector companies to step up their workforce upskilling efforts.

IPC responded to the President’s challenge by reviewing its education programs and seeking ways to grow and innovate. As a result, IPC last October joined in the pledge and made a commitment to create 1 million new skilled workforce opportunities over five years. Since then, IPC has made unprecedented, multi-million-dollar investments in its already-extensive educational programs, including trainings and valuable certifications for adult workers; new university chapters and electronics courses; new curricula and outreach aimed at students in middle and high school; and establishing the IPC Education Foundation, which prepares students for rewarding careers by supplying learning opportunities focused on electronics manufacturing and improving the perception of manufacturing as a stable and well-paid sector.

In recognition of the industry’s efforts, employees and executives from four IPC member companies were invited to attend Thursday’s White House event: Calumet Electronics of Calumet, Mich.; STI Electronics of Madison, Ala.; TTM Technologies of Santa Ana, Cal.; and Zentech Manufacturing  of Baltimore, Md.  

Audra Thurston, a 23-year-old employee of Calumet Electronics who will be at the White House event and is one of the youngest engineers in the industry, says, “The average age in the U.S. printed circuit board industry is 50 years old. So, I’m proud to work for a company that recognizes the need to recruit and retain younger engineers, including women, to help us stay on the cutting edge.” In the months since Calumet joined in the President’s pledge, Audra has attended a class on printed circuit board manufacturing at Michigan Technological University where IPC, with the help of Calumet, has formed a student chapter with more than 20 students. She also is working as part of a team that is developing an advanced microelectronics capability that would help it compete more aggressively in markets around the world.

Adds David Raby, president and CEO, STI Electronics, “As an IPC-member company, STI is proud to support IPC and the Trump Administration in the effort to expand training and career opportunities for American students and workers. We are determined to close the skills gap by providing technical training that will keep our industry competitive.”

On Tuesday, Chris Pilkerton, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), visited the Calumet factory in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region, and he took part in a roundtable discussion at Michigan Tech on workforce issues that affect the U.S. electronics industrial base. Participants including Colette Buscemi, senior director of IPC education programs, and Chris Mitchell, vice president, IPC global government relations, discussed what must be done by business, government, and other organizations to provide the right kinds of educational opportunities at all levels, from K-12 through college and career.

“IPC applauds the Trump administration for bringing together the public and private sectors to help today's workers thrive in the modern workforce,” says IPC President and CEO John Mitchell. “The national dialogue between the White House and the business sector has accelerated workforce readiness efforts, with more and more employers, workers, universities, and others getting involved. For our part, IPC is taking a holistic approach to cultivating skilled workers at all levels, from K-12 through college and career. Our education and credentialing programs are already creating opportunities for approximately 100,000 adults every year, and we are continuing to expand our efforts.”

More resources are available: The White House event will be live-streamed on the White House website. IPC can offer interviews, photos, and more background on these events and topics. Information is available on the websites of IPC (for adult education programs) and the IPC Educational Foundation (for programs aimed at grades K-12).

U.S. SBA Chief Visiting IPC Member Calumet Electronics, Praising its Efforts to Boost the Skilled Workforce

The Trump administration today is recognizing IPC member Calumet Electronics in Calumet, Michigan, for its efforts to expand its skilled workforce.  

This morning, Chris Pilkerton, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is visiting Calumet Electronics in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to walk the factory floor and learn about the manufacturing process for printed circuit boards (PCBs) used in aerospace, defense, power grid, medical, industrial controls and other commercial products. Later he will take part in a roundtable discussion at Michigan Technological University, focusing on workforce issues that affect the U.S. electronics industrial base. Participants including Colette Buscemi, senior director of IPC education programs and Chris Mitchell, vice president, IPC global government relations, will focus on what must be done by businesses, governments, and other organizations to provide the technical education opportunities at all levels, from K-12 through college and career.

Calumet Electronics is a 100% “Made in America” PCB manufacturer that is actively engaged in reskilling its workforce for advanced manufacturing technologies. The company was an early participant in the President’s “Pledge to America’s Workers,” which calls on companies and trade groups to expand skilled workforce programs. In its local area, Calumet supports impactful workforce-development programs including the Calumet High School CopperBots robotics team; the Copper Country Intermediate School District Career and Technical Education (CTE) program; and the Michigan Technological University’s Electrical Engineering Department, where Calumet recently helped create the first PCB fabrication course in 20 years.

Calumet is also working to adopt advanced microelectronics manufacturing techniques that could allow the company and other domestic PCB shops to leapfrog offshore competition.

Audra Thurston, a 23-year-old process engineer who joined the company one year ago, says, “The average age in the U.S. printed circuit board industry is 50 years old. So, I’m proud to work for a company that recognizes the need to recruit and retain younger engineers, including women, to help us stay on the cutting edge.” In the months since Calumet joined in the President’s pledge, Audra has attended the PCB class at Michigan Tech and worked as part of the team developing the advanced microelectronics capability.

Todd Brassard, vice president and chief operating officer of Calumet Electronics, says, “We are proud to support President Trump’s Pledge to the American Worker. In our community, we are fulfilling this pledge by working with high schools, youth programs, CTE programs, and hands-on university courses. Inside the company, we are focusing on careers rather than jobs, getting young people excited about electronics manufacturing, and solving problems within our industry.”

“IPC applauds the Trump administration for bringing together the public and private sectors to help today's workers thrive in the modern workforce,” says IPC President and CEO John Mitchell. “The national dialogue between the White House and the business sector has accelerated workforce readiness efforts, with more and more employers, workers, universities, and others getting involved. For our part, we know the difference we're making in workers lives through our education and credentialing programs, and we’re continuing to expand our efforts.”

On Thursday, the White House is convening an event on the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s Executive Order to develop a national strategy to expand the skilled workforce in key industries. IPC strongly supports such efforts and, since joining in the President’s pledge, has made unprecedented, multi-million-dollar investments in its already-extensive educational programs, including trainings and valuable certifications for adult workers; new university chapters and electronics courses; and new curricula and outreach efforts aimed at students in middle and high school. The White House event will be attended by employees and executives from five IPC member companies: Calumet Electronics (including Audra Thurston, noted above); Summit Interconnect of Anaheim, California; STI Electronics of Madison, Alabama; TTM Technologies of Santa Anna, California; and Zentech Manufacturing of Baltimore, Maryland.  

More resources available: IPC can offer interviews, photos, and more background on these events and topics. Online information is available on the websites of IPC (for adult education programs) and the IPC Educational Foundation (for programs aimed at grades K-12).  

Internationally Renowned Aerospace Entrepreneur Burt Rutan to Keynote IPC APEX EXPO 2020

Each year, IPC APEX EXPO features industry’s most dynamic, innovative minds to deliver keynote presentations that are both educational and entertaining. IPC APEX EXPO 2020 will feature aerospace entrepreneur and Virgin Galactic spacecraft designer Burt Rutan. During the opening keynote on February 4, Rutan will present, “SpaceShipOne: A New Era in Commercial Space Travel and Inspiration for Innovation and the New Race for Space.”

Described by Newsweek as “the man responsible for more innovations in modern aviation than any living engineer,” Rutan is a bold visionary with a passion for the advancement of technology. He founded the aerospace research firm Scaled Composites and was named one of “the world’s 100 most influential people” by TIME in 2005. Rutan designed the legendary Voyager, the first aircraft to circle the world nonstop without refueling. He also created SpaceShipOne, the world’s first privately funded spacecraft, which won the $10 million Ansari X Prize, offered in an effort to spur the development of affordable space tourism.

Rutan is currently working on two projects: the Stratolaunch — part airplane, part spaceship, and the SkiGull, an amphibious aircraft that runs on the same gas we use for cars and boats. In business, Rutan believes that the best ideas come from the collaborative efforts of small, closely-knit project teams and an environment not limited by adversity to risk. He’ll inspire IPC APEX EXPO keynote attendees with his vision on creativity, innovation and managers’ tasks to motivate a creative team.

Rutan’s opening keynote is free to all registered IPC APEX EXPO attendees. The conference and exhibition will run February 4–6, 2020. For more information, visit www.IPCAPEXEXPO.org.

David Adams, Collins Aerospace, Earns Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship Award at IPC SummerCom

In recognition of his ongoing leadership in developing and promoting IPC standards on a global basis, IPC bestowed a Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship Award upon David Adams, Collins Aerospace, at IPC SummerCom on June 17.

This recognition is given to individuals who have fostered a collaborative spirit, made significant contributions to standards development, and have consistently demonstrated a commitment to global standardization efforts and the electronics industry and embody the work ethic and spirit of the late Dieter Bergman, an industry pioneer and icon. Award recipients are eligible to bestow the Dieter Bergman Memorial Scholarship upon the university or college of his/her choice. Adams’s selection was the Pennsylvania State University College of Engineering.

Adams has supported IPC’s standardization efforts for more than 20 years and has served on nearly three dozen IPC committees, including serving as vice chair of the 5-24C Solder Alloy Task Group.

“For more than two decades, Dave has generously shared his knowledge and experience, guiding many task groups and new IPC members on the standards development and revision process. If you have a question, he will spend all the time you need to explain it to you, and he takes a sincere interest in the people around him,” said David Bergman, IPC vice president of standards and technology. “He has always been one to go the extra mile – volunteering to be on A-teams, filling in for absent chairs or co-chairs, and helping countless newcomers learn the ropes. IPC and the entire electronics industry are fortunate to have Dave volunteer his time and expertise to IPC standards and program development. His work has enriched both the industry and IPC and we are thankful for his dedication,” Bergman added.

For more information on the Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship Award, contact Sandy Gentry, IPC communications director, at +1 847-597-2871 or SandyGentry@ipc.org.

North American PCB Sales and Orders Continue to Grow but Book-to-Bill Ratio Falls

IPC Releases PCB Industry Results for May 2019

IPC announced today the May 2019 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. Sales and order growth in May remained positive, but the book-to-bill ratio dipped below parity to 0.99.

Total North American PCB shipments in May 2019 were up 5.6 percent compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date sales growth as of May was 12.3 percent. Compared to the preceding month, May shipments increased 2.5 percent.
PCB bookings in May increased 5.6 percent year-over-year, bringing year-to-date order growth to 4.3 percent. Bookings in May were up 0.5 percent from the previous month.

“Although sales and order growth continued in May for the North American PCB industry, slowing order growth rates pushed the book-to-bill ratio below parity,” said Sharon Starr, IPC’s director of market research.” This was the first time since January 2017 that the industry registered a book-to-bill ratio below parity (1.00). “Recent ratios hovering around parity indicate continued but slower growth in the coming months.” she added.


Note: The January 2019 ratio has been revised since its original publication due to updated data from statistical program participants.


Note: The November 2018 and January 2019 growth rates have been revised since their original publication due to updated data from statistical program participants.

View Chart in PDF

Detailed Data Available

The second-quarter 2019 edition of IPC’s North American PCB Market Report, containing detailed data from IPC’s PCB Statistical Program, will be published by mid-August. The quarterly report presents detailed findings on rigid PCB and flexible circuit sales and orders, including separate rigid and flex book-to-bill ratios, growth trends by product types and company size tiers, demand for prototypes, sales growth to military and medical markets, and other timely data. This report is available free to current participants in IPC’s PCB Statistical Program and by subscription to others. PCB companies that are IPC members doing business in North America are invited to contact marketresearch@ipc.org for information about participating. More information about this report can be found at www.ipc.org/market-research-reports.

Interpreting the Data

The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in IPC’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.

Year-on-year and year-to-date growth rates provide the most meaningful view of industry growth. Month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they reflect seasonal effects and short-term volatility. Because bookings tend to be more volatile than shipments, changes in the book-to-bill ratios from month to month might not be significant unless a trend of more than three consecutive months is apparent. It is also important to consider changes in both bookings and shipments to understand what is driving changes in the book-to-bill ratio.

IPC’s monthly PCB industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of both rigid PCB and flexible circuit manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. IPC publishes the PCB book-to-bill ratio at the end of each month. Statistics for the current month are normally available in the last week of the following month.

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