U.S. export control rules have changed significantly in the last decade, and more change is expected over the next few years as policymakers tackle the treatment of emerging and foundational technologies and respond to geopolitical developments.

In conjunction with Global Industrie/Midest and SNESE, IFTEC and IPC conducted the first regional European qualification for the IPC Hand Soldering Competition in Lyon, France on March 5-8, 2019. The competition was fierce as 32 competitors went soldering iron to soldering iron to compete for the coveted hand soldering competition crown.

The proliferation of tighter microvia densities and signal integrity requirements in printed boards within the electronics industry has revealed reliability concerns with microvia structures in high performance products. A number of IPC OEM member companies have approached IPC with examples of microvia failures in high-profile hardware that were not observed until after bare printed board fabrication, inspection and acceptance.

Lead, Educate and Connect - these three words gives the perfect insight into this year’s Wire Harness Conference. Starting with a record high of 50 attendees joining the “First Timers Session” that was led by representatives of WHMA’s Board of Directors; this meeting was to educate the participants on the association and conference, discuss industry topics, and introduce and connect the First Timers with other members throughout the conference.

The IPC Education Foundation was formally launched during IPC APEX EXPO 2019. As part of that launch, the Foundation committed to starting scholarship programs to raise awareness and reward educators and students that have interest in the electronics industry and the engineering disciplines. On March 4, 2019, the first two of these scholarship programs were opened to eligible participants.

IPC-1401, Supply Chain Social Responsibility Management System Guidance was listed as a top-10 standard in 2017, for Chinese Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CHINA WTO TRIBUTE magazine published the Chinese CSR 2017 listing, which focuses on influential events in the Chinese economy and worldwide corporate coverage.

IPC’s statistical programs for the global electronics manufacturing services (EMS), assembly equipment and solder industries are now open to new participants for 2019. The deadline for IPC members to sign up is April 1. Participating companies receive quarterly market data at no cost. Participation is free to IPC-member companies as a benefit of membership.

IPC® invites innovators, technologists, materials suppliers, electrical engineers and academicians to submit technical conference abstracts and educational course proposals for IPC E-TEXTILES Europe 2019 to be held on November 12, 2019 in Munich, Germany.

During IPC APEX EXPO 2019, the IPC Education Foundation launched six IPC student chapters at: Auburn, North Carolina State, Sacramento State, Central Carolina Community College, Gwinnett Technical College, and Michigan Technical University. The student chapters at North Carolina State, Central Carolina Community College and Michigan Technical University provide examples of how industry can partner with education institutions to prepare engineering students with knowledge specific to the electronics industry.

Representing the views of more than 2,500 U.S. companies engaged in the global electronics industry, and their nearly 1 million workers, IPC, is joining the new USMCA Coalition, which is being launched today in Washington by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.