It’s  unfortunate how negative news often overshadows the positive trends which are occuring.  Every day I recieve an email newsletter from UP Media (subscribe to PCB Update here if you wish).  As an exercise in positive thinking, I have cut and pasted the most positive stories from the past week or so.  Hope you are encouraged!

PWB fabricator Eltek reported 2008 revenues rose 15% to $43.1 million. PCD&F >>>

Sanmina-SCI plans to expand its Ottawa assembly plant and add up to 90 workers by year-end. Circuits Assembly >>>
Phoenix Precision Technology and Nan …

Working in a business development role means that I spend a lot of time working my way into various communities and developing mutual beneficial relationships with potential customers and affiliates. One of the tools I use is LinkedIn – “facebook for professionals” is how I often describe it to those who have yet to hear of it. I find the ability to search for professionals worldwide very beneficial, although I spend a lot of time filtering out irrelevant content and have a fairly low reply rate to my personal messages that I send to fellow group members. Industry groups are a fantastic tool for any professional, but some are better that others. Below I outline a few groups that I am a member of that pertain to the industry.

Etsy.com is “your place to buy & sell things handmade.”
Whether you are a novice artist looking to make a little extra money on the side selling things you’ve made, or if you are a broker of handmade and unique products, Etsy.com is a great resource.
I came across some really cool looking products made from recycled circuit boards. From Earrings to desk organizers, there is a plethora of creative, useful, and artistic items that have been put up for sale.  I’m sure that I will be following the site as different …

Flex Circuits Overview
APPLICATIONS
Static v. Flex to Fit:

Static; the flex circuit is installed flat between two or more stationary parts.

Flex to fit; the flex circuit is bent or molded into position then installed between two or more stationary part.

Dynamic:

The flex circuit is installed between one or more moving parts.

Bend radius:

Single-sided flex 6X circuit thickness.
Double-sided flex 10X circuit thickness.
Multilayer flex 10-15X circuit thickness.
Dynamic Application 20X circuit thickness.

FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT MATERIALS

Pyralux LF Military/Commercial Adhesive Based.

IPC CERTIFIED CLASS 3
FC 241/1 CLADS
FC …

Every day we read or hear about how a healthy life is about balance.  There are only two things my dad critiques me about when it comes to my health: “sit up straight and stretch more”.  I find that amusingly ironic.  The same desires my dad has for me have made their way into the PCB Industry.  As designers have sought to develop longer lasting and more complex electronics, circuit boards have been forced into a regimen of balancing traditional rigidity with the ability to bend, twist, and essentially be …

PCB East Website

LinkedIn Group
Do you, or any of your co-workers, plan on attending the PCB East 2009 Conference in Waltham-Boston, MA? If you do, you should join the LinkedIn group “PCB East Pre-Event Networking”. There you can begin to network with potential suppliers, customers, and colleagues. Why wait until that week to begin your research and to develop your relationships? Start now and ensure that your time there is spent efficiently. Feel free to discuss dinner options, happy hours, local events, and any other networking opportunities …