-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
USPAE to Springboard U.S. Technology Forward
April 30, 2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics (USPAE) was launched as a nonprofit subsidiary of IPC in 2020 specifically to manage the DoD relationship and access to funding and to develop a cooperative facility to develop ultra HDI capabilities in the U.S., not only for the defense sector but for the whole of the U.S. electronics industry.
Though a multifaceted initiative, its primary objective is to bring very high-tech manufacturing capability to the U.S. to lessen reliance on foreign sources for critical parts of our supply chain. It carries a great hope that we will never allow ourselves to fall behind technologically as we have over the past three decades and, moreover, that we will, once again, become global technology leaders in this space.
Marcy LaRont: Joe, would you explain the Printed Circuit Board Market Catalyst (PCBMC)?
Joe O’Neil: Formerly referred to as NewCo, the proposed Printed Circuit Board Market Catalyst is a unique public-private partnership (PPP) that will be designed to deliver five core benefits to the U.S. industry and government.
The first core benefit is to quickly bring ultra high density interconnect (UHDI) capability to any U.S. PCB manufacturer as a subcontracted service. Second, PCBMC will catalyze commercial and government demand for domestic UHDI PCBs. Third, this PPP will transfer all the knowledge and expertise to operate a UHDI manufacturing facility to any U.S. PCB domestic manufacturer. The fourth core benefit provides education and workforce development. The PCBMC will be growing and upskilling the current workforce while attracting new workers into the industry. Finally, we will be delivering leapfrog technologies through R&D efforts to help U.S. PCB manufacturers become and stay more competitive globally.
LaRont: That is a big initiative with important goals. How did this project come about?
O’Neil: This project has been developed by industry, for industry. USPAE began holding industry workshops with government input in late 2022 and early 2023 to better understand the challenges and start devising a solution. In the fall of 2023, the Department of Defense provided funding to USPAE to conduct qualitative and quantitative research documenting those needs and formally propose solutions for the PCBMC. We've got a great team.
LaRont: Using the PPP business model, how will this facility bring UHDI capabilities to PCB manufacturers?
O’Neil: With a mix of both government and private funding, our vision has been that the proposed manufacturing facility will be rapidly stood up utilizing modified semi-additive process (mSAP) technology. Once the facility is operational, the PCBMC will begin providing UHDI subcontracting services to the U.S. PCB fabrication base.
To read the rest of this article, which appeared in the April 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
PCB Market Size to Grow by $29.06B from 2024-2028
05/17/2024 | PRNewswireThe global printed circuit board (PCB) market size is estimated to grow by USD 29.06 bn from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 6.6% during the forecast period.
Material Insight: The Dielectric Constant of PCB Materials
05/17/2024 | Dr. Preeya Kuray -- Column: Material InsightIn the world of PCB design, miniaturization can be achieved by using low dielectric constant (Dk) materials. Low Dk materials can allow for a reduction in thickness while maintaining a given trace width, leading to lower transmission loss and higher density circuitry.
The ICAPE Group Reports Revenue for Q1 2024
05/16/2024 | ICAPE GroupThe ICAPE Group, a global technology distributor of printed circuit boards (PCB) and custom-made electromechanical parts, announced its revenue for the first quarter of 2024.
IPC Releases May 2024 Global Sentiment of the Electronics Supply Chain Report
05/16/2024 | IPCSentiment among electronics manufacturers fell this month, after hitting a new high in April. Despite the decline, sentiment remains historically high according to IPC’s May Sentiment of the Global Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Report.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Electra's Passion for Inkjet Solder Mask Technology
05/15/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPODon Monn, national sales manager for Electra Polymers, discusses his transition to Electra and the benefits of inkjet solder mask technology. He emphasizes the significance of product passion and understanding customer issues. Don also outlines Electra's mission and expansion plans, and addresses the current state of the PCB market and the importance of education.