Global PCB Connections: Rigid-flex and Flexible PCBs—The Backbone of Modern Electronics
Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Successful Flex Circuit Design Transfer
Happy’s Tech Talk #29: Bend-to-Install Semi-flex FR-4
EDA Tools and the Designer of the Future
January 28, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 1 minute
We’re seeing new, young technologists moving into the PCB design and design engineering segment, and it’s just in time; many veteran designers are headed to retirement.
At the same time, there have been various recent advances in EDA tools. What will the PCB designer’s job—and the designer’s software tools—look like in the next five years?
Bob Potock, vice president of marketing for Zuken USA, weighs in on the PCB designers of tomorrow, and the EDA tools that will take them into an evermore complex future.
Andy Shaughnessy: I imagine Zuken has a “profile” of its typical user. How do you see this their job and its requirements evolving over the next few years?
Bob Potock: At Zuken, we believe that the PCB design and layout market is evolving. Today’s tools are mature, powerful, and easy to use. However, what's changing in the design process is how the tools are used and by whom. The standard hand-off from the design engineer to the PCB layout designer is becoming a thing of the past. A board with average complexity is more commonly designed, placed, and routed by the same individual: the hardware engineer. The modern hardware engineer will be an electrical engineer who can learn how to do PCB layout on the job. Moderately complex board designs now and in the future will see the traditional PCB layout function moving to the hardware engineer.
The high-complexity PCB market is different. The tools are more powerful, and the designs have more critical requirements. IC packaging may become part of the PCB layout activity at this complexity level. The traditional design engineer hand-off to the PCB layout designer may still exist. However, this modern PCB layout designer is an electrical engineer with training in power integrity, signal integrity, manufacturing, and IC packaging.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the January 2025 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
MKS Showcases Next-generation PCB Manufacturing Solutions at the Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia 2025
08/06/2025 | MKS Instruments, Inc.MKS Inc, a global provider of enabling technologies that transform our world, today announced its participation in Thailand Electronics Circuit Asia 2025 (THECA 2025), taking place August 20–22 at BITEC in Bangkok.
Summer Vacation at AT&S: Welcome to World of Experience
08/06/2025 | AT&SWelcome to the cool world of microelectronics. At AT&S, high-quality IC substrates and printed circuit boards are produced for prominent customers from the high-tech world, which have essential functions in smartphones, smartwatches and laptops and are also indispensable in airplanes, electric cars, satellites and many applications of digital life.
AI Is the Golden Track Reviving Electronics and PCBs
08/06/2025 | Edy Yu, Chief Editor, ECIO, and the I-Connect007 Editorial TeamRemember 2021? Despite COVID, the electronics industry hit a high. Then came the slide. By 2023, the industry was deep in the red. With inflation, policy shifts, and exchange rate shocks, the problems were long, and the outlook was bleak. Recovery finally appeared in 2024, but it was fragile. Automotive electronics slumped, wireless demand stayed soft, and the ride up was anything but smooth. Yet, amid the uncertainty, one bright track emerged: artificial intelligence (AI).
Review: PCEA Orange County Summer Meeting
08/06/2025 | Dan Feinberg, Technology Editor, I-Connect007The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) represents a community of engineers, designers, and industry influencers dedicated to the advancement of PCB technology, design, and manufacturing, and the growth and knowledge of its membership. PCEA regularly hosts events to share the latest developments, best practices, and visions for the future of electronic design and manufacturing. The Orange County chapter seems to be one of the largest and most active ones and I was invited to attend the latest chapter event on July 24 in Costa Mesa, California.
DuPont Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
08/06/2025 | PRNewswireNet sales increased 3% led by organic sales growth of 2% which consisted of a 4% increase in volume partially offset by a 2% decrease in price. Currency was a 1% benefit.