68 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2023
American Standard Circuits Acquires
Sunstone Circuits, Joins Forces to Enhance
Customer Value in the PCB Industry E
American Standard Circuits (ASC) and Sun-
stone Circuits are excited to announce their
merger, creating a dynamic partnership that
will revolutionize the printed circuit board
(PCB) manufacturing landscape. This stra-
tegic alliance brings numerous advantages
to customers, establishing a new standard of
excellence in PCB solutions.
Excello Circuits to Showcase
Rigid-Flex/Flex & PCB Capabilities
at AEMS 2023 E
Excello Circuits, a dedicated quick-turn
rigid-flex, flex and PCB manufacturer, will be
exhibiting at this year's Anaheim Electron-
ics Manufacturing Show (AEMS), scheduled
for Sept. 27-28, 2023. e annual gathering
brings together some of the most innovative
minds in the industry and we're excited to be
a part of it.
IDTechEx: Printed Electronics
Progresses Towards Greater
Commercial Adoption E
How far is pr inted/f lexible electronics
along the road to widespread adoption? e
emerging manufactur ing methodolog y,
which replaces etched copper laminate with
printed conductive inks on flexible substrates,
offers multiple benefits, including flexibility/
stretchability, the potential for low-cost roll-
to-roll production, digital manufacturing/
rapid protot yping , and improved sustain-
ability.
Flexible Thinking: Stretching
Conductors—and Design Possibilities E
Stretchable circuits, also referred to as elastic
circuits or even "elastronics," are a subset of the
venerable flexible circuits that have enabled
countless numbers of today's electronics
products, from toys to smartphones to the
International Space Station. is most recent
"member" of the interconnection family—
stretchable circuits—has been designed and
engineered to be resiliently bent, twisted, and/
or stretched in support of the end product's
need without negatively affecting its electrical
function.
Designing and Manufacturing
Wearable Biosensors E
To cost-effectively mass produce wearable bio-
sensors, vertical integration of manufacturing
and assembly operations is key. is involves
printing conductive inks on flexible substrates
and successfully performing converting opera-
tions (such as lamination of medical-grade
hydrocolloids, adhesives, non-woven and foam
layers, hydrogel dispensing and/or placement
and final packaging) in surface-mount technol-
ogy (SMT) components.
PCB Technologies Invests in
Advanced Packaging E
Jeff De Serrano, president of PCB Technolo-
gies North America, gives an update on the
company's recent move into advanced pack-
aging—a move that stemmed from company
leadership and vision for the future. He also
shares his forecast on the PCB market, specifi-
cally around rigid-flex, along with some of the
challenges the industry still faces.
