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Beyond the Rulebook
What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
March Madness
From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
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I-Connect007 Launches Six-Part Podcast Series Highlighting the Critical Role of PCB Materials
February 24, 2026 | I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
I-Connect007, the leading media source for the electronics manufacturing industry, today announced the release of the first episode in a new six-part podcast series, “PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics.”
Titled “Material Selection—The Key to Manufacturing Success,” the debut episode examines the critical role PCB base materials play in product reliability, manufacturability, and long-term performance. The discussion features Sean Mirshafiei, president of Isola, who shares his perspective from the PCB laminate materials sector.
Marcy LaRont of I-Connect007 hosts the episode and offers listeners a practical, engineering-focused look at why laminate selection remains one of the most consequential early decisions in any PCB build, often determining success or failure long before fabrication begins.
During the conversation, Mirshafiei discusses how evolving technology demands are shaping the development of new material solutions and highlights Isola’s role in supporting today’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem. He also shares insight into Isola’s current material portfolios designed to address increasingly stringent requirements, particularly in harsh-environment reliability, signal integrity, and power performance.
“This new series is designed to help engineers, fabricators, and decision-makers better understand the fundamentals that most directly impact manufacturing outcomes,” says LaRont. “And it starts where successful builds begin: material selection.”
The six-part series will continue with episodes focused on key topics shaping today’s PCB fabrication and manufacturing landscape.
Listeners can now access the episode via I-Connect007’s podcast platform, or through Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
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AI Demand Drives PCB Material Market Growth
05/08/2026 | TPCAAs AI computing continues to drive a comprehensive upgrade in hardware specifications, the global printed circuit board industry is undergoing a profound structural transformation.
Zhen Ding April 2026 Revenue Hits Record High on Strong AI Demand
05/07/2026 | Zhen Ding TechnologyZhen Ding Technology Holding Limited, a global leading PCB manufacturer, reported April 2026 revenue of NT$15,196 million, up 11.83% YoY, reaching a record high for the same period in the company’s history.
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Designing Without a Rulebook: When Engineering Becomes Innovation
05/05/2026 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAWhat if the very rules that made you successful as a PCB designer are the ones now holding you back? This reminds me of walking the floor and attending sessions at both PCB West 2025 and APEX EXPO 2026, where one common theme stood out: More designs with traditional PCB “best practices” simply don’t apply. It’s not because they’re wrong, but because the problems we’re solving have fundamentally changed. In some cases, those best practices can actually limit performance. This is where PCB design moves beyond optimization and into something far more challenging: designing without a rulebook.
Zhen Ding, Chung Yuan University Establish Green AI-PCB Co-Definition Laboratory
05/05/2026 | Zhen DingDriven by global AI demand and the imperative of green sustainability, Zhen Ding Technology Holding Limited held a donation and talent cultivation ceremony with Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) to establish the "Green AI-PCB Co-Definition Laboratory."