IPC

Bonjour from Paris, where smart polymers take center stage at the 10th edition of the Smart Polymers Congress. The congress started with an excellent keynote putting smart polymers in action, followed by outstanding technical presentations on the functionalization of plastics, thermoforming, printed electronics, additively manufactured electronics, and 3D plastronics, including in-mold electronics. Thanks to all the speakers who presented innovative solutions in automotive mobility by applying these sustainable technologies. Great industry leaders’ insights during the round table discussion on challenges and opportunities for sustainable mobility were followed by IPC's Francisco Fourcade’s presentation on the standardization of polymer technologies, putting the spotlight on the hard work that IPC committee members are doing to develop new industry consensus standards to continue fostering innovation in this rapidly evolving industry. As proud sponsors, IPC would like to thank POLYMERIS for organizing the event in partnership with NextMove and thanks to the host, ESTACA —Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Aéronautiques et de Construction Automobile.

Trellis Group, formerly GreenBiz, is a reliable news source for those in the sustainability profession and anyone interested in sustainability happenings. IPC recently posted in Trellis on #sustainability for #electronics. To read the article: https://hubs.li/Q03dkZm20 There, you’ll read about how “Electronics will be imperative for solving sustainability challenges,” along with other insights from John W Mitchell, IPC president and CEO. Evolve, IPC’s sustainability program, aims to support the electronics industry in creating a sustainable future. It encourages collaboration through a unified approach that addresses budget constraints, the challenges of implementing sustainable practices, and the volatility of today’s business environment.

A huge shoutout to Josh Sears, our amazing photographer at #IPCAPEXEXPO! Your energy, positivity, and talent captured every moment perfectly. Thank you for keeping us on our toes and making us all look our best! Want to see your event snapshots? Check out Spot My Photos while we work on uploading the full gallery to Flickr. Stay tuned for more pics coming soon! ?? Spot My Photos: https://hubs.li/Q03d6pC60

Wow! We are celebrating forty thousand fabulous followers on LinkedIn! Thank you for enjoying our content, engaging with us, and sharing your expertise about the #electronics industry. We are grateful for the community we are building in this corner of the internet. #thankyou

AI isn’t about automation—it’s about transformation. Too many leaders still think AI is just another tool to streamline tasks or boost efficiency. The real value of AI? Reshaping workflows. Challenging legacy thinking. And unlocking entirely new ways to work, collaborate, and innovate. Tomorrow’s industry leaders are the ones embedding AI into their processes today, creating workflows that are agile, data-driven, and continuously evolving. Ask yourself: Where do outdated methods still slow your team down? Where is intuition overshadowing clear, data-driven decision-making? What friction points could AI erase entirely? I've been at #IPCAPEXEXPO this week, where AI dominated conversations among industry leaders. AI’s true competitive edge isn’t in the technology itself, but in how creatively and effectively you weave it into your organization's DNA. The real power of AI lies in reshaping workflows—fundamentally changing how your organization operates.??

The D-Code Podcast was absolutely thrilled and privileged to sit down for a chat with Mr. John W Mitchell President /CEO of IPC Apex 2025 continues to deliver some incredible conversations and energy in our space! We are extremely thankful to the IPC for their hospitality during what we hope to be our first of many Apex appearances!

We really aim to show the breadth and depth of IPC members and their contributions to the electronics industry, and it's so rewarding to see all your hard work come together. Our next issue is even more special because it will be printed and distributed at IPC APEX EXPO. If you haven't read the Winter 2025 issue, be sure to check it out as well! Use Brittany's link below.

Catching up with the Winners That’s a wrap! On the 14 March 2025, Allison Guermond and Nathalie Foubert from Safran Fougeres in France made the podium ranking number two and three at the IPC 2025 Hand Soldering Competition at Global Industrie in Lyon, France. Post competition, the two winners shared their thoughts on their victories and overall experience. Both ladies were very relieved and happy with their results and their performance. Interestingly, they both echoed the opinion of other contestants, as well as that of Eva Gobet, that this competition and board assembly were more challenging due to more components, more technology, and that the skill level is increasing every year. Allison and Nathalie appreciated the structure of the PCB board, apart from the “Plomb masse.” The two victors admitted that they were prepared for the competition technically. However, they felt that the time pressure was a challenge. According to Allison: “We were well prepared, but stress is the thing that you can never be prepared for. But we were willing!” A heartwarming moment was when the ladies expressed what they loved most about these HSC competitions. They explained that they came for the competition and the good atmosphere. They find that the advantage of these competitions is that they get the opportunity to catch up with other teams and make new friends and relationships. It was a good time to share with everyone. According to Safran Fougeres’ HSC coach, the point of having their staff participate in this competition is to assess their know-how, promote this knowledge and skillset, and demonstrate their company-specific expertise. They love and are thankful for being able to take part in these competitions every year and would like to thank IPC and IFTEC for organizing the competition! Congratulations again, Allison and Nathalie! We wish you luck and hope to see you again soon at the next competition!

?? NEW INDUSTRY ANALYSIS: "Navigating Uncertainty: The EMS Industry at a Crossroads" In this article, and following my recent conversation with IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac, PhD, CFA, I examine how the electronics manufacturing services sector is responding to unprecedented challenges: - Are strong book-to-bill ratios masking a rush to beat tariff deadlines? - Why are manufacturers reconsidering their Mexico operations? - Is the US-Europe relationship creating new defense opportunities? - How can AI provide a silver lining amid geopolitical turbulence? As tariff policies shift at lightning speed and recession fears loom, the companies that thrive will be those with adaptable business models and an eye on technological innovation. The paradox? Unprecedented uncertainty layered on a solid foundation of innovation and demand. What strategies is your organization implementing to navigate this unpredictable landscape? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. #ElectronicsManufacturing #EMS #SupplyChain #Tariffs #AI #DefenseSector Wach ot listen to the full conversation with Shawn on "EMS & The Economist" podcast:?https://lnkd.in/gm8AMwhD?or find "EMS@C-Level" wherever you get your podcasts.