Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1515990
18 PCB007 MAGAZINE I FEBRUARY 2024 Rak: Let's do a quick overview of the session tracks related to PCB fabrication. We men- tioned the design session for bare board fabri- cation, and HDI and microvias will have three session tracks. It has been an area of very high interest for the past three years. We have a ses- sion track planned on general via design, for- mation, construction, stacking, plating, and plugging. ese sorts of topics should be of interest to PCB fabricators. ere is a session track planned on laminate materials, with a greater interest in things like high-speed appli- cations. We have two ses- sion tracks planned on PCB plating and surface fin- ishes. Additive manufac- turing is typically cov- ered under Factory of the Future. Finally, there is one session track planned and about four separate papers on flexible and hybrid circuits. ere is a lot of content in the pro- gram related to PCB fabri- cation. Matties: What has been the most fulfilling part of planning this year's show? What are you particularly proud of? Rak: For me, the integration and collaboration with ECWC colleagues was a special aspect of this conference. Welzel: I agree with Stan. I think it worked very nicely, even considering the scheduling challenges between all the time zones. It was very efficient and really enriched the program for the upcoming conference. Gumminger: We have modernized our pro- cesses as a team and as a committee. Logisti- cally, we have delineated and defined the tools we are using. ey are much more modern and that has been helpful when working with people from around the globe, allowing the 35 reviewers better access to the papers and information they need. It's a different way of doing business. Rak: It is a sustainable group and process; it doesn't depend on any one person. Kelly: I am most proud of this leadership team. What these three people do is unbelievable. I'm also most proud of the technical horse- power that IPC is delivering to the industry. Matties: You have provided a lot of great information, helping our fabricator readers plan to maximize their time at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. Are there any closing thoughts? Gumminger: I would like to encourage your readers t o s u b m i t p r o p o s a l s / papers in the future. ere is something very special happening this year with the wider global participa- tion, particularly in Asia thanks to the efforts of the WECC representatives who recr uited papers from their member countries. We won't have that level of attention and involve- ment next year, and the technical pro- gram committee will be much smaller, which means smaller networks of pro- fessionals from which to recruit papers. is is not an invitation-only conference. Anyone working on research or innovation should con- sider submitting their work. It is important for the whole industry to have more participation. It propels us all forward. Matties: Thank you all for spending this time with us. It was a pleasure. We're all really look- ing forward to IPC APEX EXPO 2024. PCB007 There is a lot of content in the program related to PCB fabrication.