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It’s fall and it feels like it. Not only is the weather changing, but the fall trade show lineup is heavy, and pre-holiday business travel is bound to be copious for many of us. It has been for me. But as frenetic as this season sometimes feels, what we see and learn about is pretty darn cool!
In my top five must-read items from this week’s articles and news, I am focusing on the interconnect because, honestly, who isn’t? We are in the interconnect business, and it just gets more complex and more fun every day. My interview with MKS Inc.’s Dr. John Lee and the accompanying article, which breaks down the technology, implications of current market realities, and their effect on the state of “the interconnect,” is my first choice this week.
That is followed immediately by the ICT’s annual symposium coverage written by exceptional technology editor, Pete Starkey. Then it’s all about podcasts, materials, and flex as I highlight Qnity’s episode four in our On the Line with series. I had a great time in San Francisco at SEMICON West last week and shared some of it with you. Finally, I’m highlighting Dr. Hayao Nakahara’s market overview from PCB West. Here’s to technology, speed, frenetic fall seasons, and our amazing industry. I hope you enjoy my picks for this week.
Optimizing the Interconnect with Dr. John T.C. Lee
Published October 21
I love company profiles! So, don’t miss the lead feature for our October issue of I-Connect007 Magazine. MKS Inc. has a lot going on, not least of which is its 2022 acquisition of Atotech. “Optimize the Interconnect,” a phrase you hear a lot around MKS Inc., really means something to Mr. Lee, who saw growing complexity in the connections between increasingly powerful devices as both a manufacturing challenge and a business opportunity. This thinking helped drive the important acquisition. Additionally, he dives deep with his team in “Enabling Interconnect Technologies that Transform our World,” also in this month’s issue.
ICT 2026 Annual Symposium Review (Part 1): What Lies Ahead?
Published October 22
If Pete Starkey writes about something, you know I’m going to feature it. This time, he’s writing about the ICT Annual Symposium in Coventry, England on Oct. 6. Under new leadership of Steve Driver of Jiva Materials Ltd., Technical Director Alun Morgan, and Vice Chair Leigh Allinson, the 50-year-old organization saw solid attendance and good energy around a renewed vision for its future. This year’s event featured several notable presenters from both industry and academia, covering AI infrastructure, AI driven digital twin architecture, sustainability, and other technical topics, and featured representatives from Alpha Machines, TracXthon, and the Materials Centre of Coventry, who spoke about 3D circuits.
New Qnity Podcast Episode: Exploring the Role of Flexible Circuitry in Consumer Electronics
Published October 21
Both Nolan Johnson and I love doing podcasts where we can really go deep into a particular area of technology and manufacturing. In the latest Qnity podcast, Bruce Lee, business development and strategy manager at Qnity, explores how flex enables designers to squeeze more functionality into ever-smaller spaces, why thinner isn't always better, and how materials must balance bendability, signal integrity, thermal performance, manufacturability, and long-term reliability. As my son would say, “It’s a lot,” but in all the best ways. Get your tech on with Qnity.
SEMICON West 2026: Another Sold Out Show
Published October 21
It’s a good thing I enjoy traveling, because I’ve been doing a lot of it lately. Semiconductors are critical to many of the PCBs and hardware systems that we design and build. As Matt Kelly, CTO at the Global Electronics Association, says, “Silicon drives everything.” The scale of that silicon and the chips being built are changing the world, primarily driven by AI. Part of that change is its effect on the hardware and full gamut of electronics manufacturing. The presentations are always fascinating, even if some are well beyond my technical depth. Read my review for a glimpse of a show and an industry with unprecedented growth. I’ll have more coverage over the next few weeks through show floor interviews.
The Good News in the PCB Market Outlook
Published October 16
Three weeks ago, I was at PCB West, which is always a great show for North American PCB shops and vendors. I attended a presentation by the well-respected Dr. Hayao Nakahara, known as Naka to friends and longtime colleagues. It may be true that no one in our industry has been to as many PCB shops as this brilliant man. As spry and whip-smart as ever, his insights and declarations were good to take in. In all, there is a lot of legitimate positivity in the PCB market right now, something that no one disputes. This is a quick read, and I recommend it.
