As the Smart replacement for the long-successful IPC-SMEMA standard, the IPC-HERMES standard directly addresses business-critical line automation needs, whilst retaining the freedom to select the ideal equipment from any chosen vendor. Hermes provides machine-to-machine (M2M) communication that allows machines to consistently transfer a physical PCB together with the PCB’s related Digital Twin. With an emphasis on flexibility to produce any quantity, of any product, at any time, Hermes features fully automated changeover and flow-control in adaptive multi / mixed production lines, without the need for specialist hardware or systems at each machine.

What does supply chain resiliency really mean? What can you do in your business, regardless of size, to react and adapt to supply chain disruptions? Join us for an interactive discussion with Suzanne Richer of the Global Trade Academy as she helps us define what supply chain resiliency means, including understanding whether an impact can be delayed and if not, how quick a company can recover. Explore how to better gain control of your supply chain, in a climate that seems to have taken control out of our hands. Suzanne will share unique approaches to and lessons learned about data management, supplier cooperation, and the future of talent. Additionally, she will share how procurement is changing and will impact the electronics industry.

We did it! We just experienced the first-ever all virtual IPC APEX EXPO. We hope that you enjoyed it and that you found the content valuable. We appreciate all the work the instructors, exhibitors, and attendees did to adapt to the virtual platform.

Which famous scientists were also artists? Name a rock star who studied at the London School of Economics. There’s still so much to take in at IPC APEX EXPO, including Trivia Networking and Name that Tune. What else is going on? Find out from IPC President and CEO John Mitchell.

Welcome to Wednesday at IPC APEX EXPO! Our technical conference sessions are open, providing brand-new material to keep you up to date on our ever-changing industry. In addition, there is a great keynote today.

IPC President and CEO John Mitchell announced IPC’s ESG (environmental, social and governance) for Electronics initiative during Monday’s keynote: Industry 2030: The Big Ideas Reshaping Electronics Manufacturing. The new ESG for Electronics Initiative will develop guidance for electronics manufacturers on an industry-specific approach to ESG practices and reporting and to develop aspirational goals that the industry is working together to achieve. To view additional information on IPC’s ESG for Electronics Initiative, including an ESG FAQ and call for steering group participation, go to www.ipc.org/esg-electronics. The recording of this keynote will be available on demand March 15 through June 13, 2021.

The first ever virtual IPC APEX EXPO has launched! We’ve cut the ribbon and are thrilled to connect with attendees and exhibitors online.

Kunal Shah, LiloTree, will present PD Course 05: Role and Selection Criteria of Surface Finish for Next Generation PCB Technologies - 5G, HDI, RF-Microwave, High Frequencies, on March 11, at IPC APEX EXPO 2021.

The best technical conference paper of IPC APEX EXPO 2021 has been selected. Voted on through a ballot process by members of the IPC APEX EXPO Technical Program Committee, the paper authors will be recognized during show opening remarks on Tuesday, March 9.

New and experienced managers will gather at the Managers Forum at IPC APEX EXPO on March 8 to discuss strategies for thriving during times of crisis.