In this article, IPC’s senior director of North American relations, Richard Cappetto, highlights new funding streams for advanced packaging materials and substrates. IPC praised issuance from the CHIPS for America R&D Office, through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for research and development activities to establish and accelerate domestic capacity for advanced packaging substrates and substrate materials. IPC’s senior director of North American relations, Richard Cappetto, said: “IPC applauds this ver ..read more

In this article, CIL’s managing director, John Boston, explains how advanced technology is being used to return semiconductor manufacturing to the UK. European OEMs are accustomed to importing semiconductor products, subassemblies and components from Far Eastern suppliers due to their lower staffing andmanufacturing costs. However, problems and threats in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Red Sea and China mean component sources could disappear or trade routes may become slow, expensive or unavailable. Therefore, governments and industry leaders are exploring domestic self-sufficiency ..read more

Swindon Silicon Systems’ director of business development and product engineering, Ross Turnbull, explains what to consider before embarking on an ASIC design project. For manufacturers looking to gain a technical and commercial edge over their competition, an application specific IC (ASIC) could be the ideal solution. An ASIC is a chip designed specifically for its designated application, offering superior performance and functionality over off-the-shelf solutions. While an ASIC’s benefits may be well understood, less so is the process of choosing the right ASIC partner.&nb ..read more

Phoenix Contact’s Step Power supplies are tailored for modern building automation. They supply smart meter gateways, Raspberry Pis and other smart home components via the USB port. They can be used for fast charging mobile end devices and other 5V loads. The unit has a USB-A or USB-C port for up to 15W. Using it as a USB charger provides more space in the distribution board, control cabinet or flat control panels due to the particularly narrow overall width of just 18mm (1HP). This eliminates the need for an electrical outlet (overall width 45mm 2.5 HP) and USB power supply unit. The integra ..read more

Quiksol Global’s president, Brian Ellison Quiksol Global’s president, Brian Ellison, describes how businesses can thrive in the ever-evolving world by staying informed, adapting to change and fostering strategic partnerships As we move through 2024, the global supply chain continues to navigate a complex and ever-changing landscape. While there was initial optimism following 2023’s challenges, the market remains characterized by a sense of uncertainty as customers and suppliers adjust to the post-shortage environment. Excess inventory looms in today’s market discussion as customers continue to ..read more

Softcat’s chief commercial officer, Richard Wyn Griffith Softcat’s chief commercial officer, Richard Wyn Griffith, comments on a new report looking into technologies manufacturers are prioritising over the next 12-months. The findings form part of a report based on the views of more than 4,000 customers from 2,900 organisations in the UK and Ireland, across 27 industries in both the public and private sectors. The report, produced annually, reveals the manufacturing sector is prioritising cyber security in 2024, with 56 per cent of respondents ranking it as their key focus area. As digital t ..read more

TTI’s connectors/emech business development manager, Steve Brahosky TTI’s connectors/emech business development manager, Steve Brahosky, explains how bespoke design helps interconnects survive harsh conditions. From the factory floor to oil/ gas exploration, undersea and even space, more applications require rugged connectors when reliable performance is needed in harsh environments. With new and innovative connector solutions coming to market to address these demanding environments it is important to partner with providers who can address all aspects of the application. Conne ..read more

Large handheld enclosures must meet the exacting requirements of life in factories or other challenging environments Advances in machine control, robotics and automation are fuelling demand for larger handheld devices. OKW explains how to specify the right housings. Ergonomics are crucial regarding handheld electronics—and even more so when the device is larger than the human hand. The housing must be large enough to accommodate the electronics but comfortable to use for long periods. There’s a fine line between ‘handheld’ and ‘portable’. Specify an enclosure too large and users will be ..read more

Kyocera AVX has expanded its line of single-piece card-edge connectors with the 9159-600 Series dual-row, inverted through-board card-edge connectors. The series is designed to satisfy demand for a single-piece inverted through-board solution for dual-sided PCBs. The connectors feature staggered contacts enabling double the number of positions (4–12 vs 2–6) in a similarly sized form factor, delivering space savings, cost savings and high-reliability performance. Uses include applications featuring perpendicular PCB mating requirements including automotive, transportation and LED lighting, plu ..read more

LEMO, a leading manufacturer of high-performance interconnect solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of its enhanced product family portfolio aimed at simplifying the selection process for customers. With a commitment to offering over 90,000 custom solutions tailored to meet specific requirements, LEMO continuously expands its product offerings to meet evolving market demands. Designed to streamline the presentation of LEMO’s extensive range of solutions, the new product family portfolio highlights core series organized into six distinct families based on shared functionality and speci ..read more