Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1543032
FEBRUARY 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 9 emerging technologies, seemingly taking a lesson from NHL hockey great Wayne Gretzky: They're skating to where the puck will be, rather than where it is. We see that trend in CFX, wearables, EVs, and, most recently, advanced electronic packaging. All this means that standards are increasingly contem- porary, making them even more valuable. 4. An Enhanced Technical Conference I'm very excited about the profound changes to this year's technical conference, now renamed the Advanced Electronic Packaging Conference. Its curation has become much more focused and rigor- ous than in years past. The quality of the papers is trending up and this year, the Technical Program Committee (TPC) specifically targeted topics related to advanced electronic packaging. This is actually a very big deal. By consciously steering toward advanced elec- tronic packaging topics, the Association intends to drive the conversation to how this technology fits into the PCB manufacturing world before it arrives in full force. This is where semiconductor and printed circuits converge. I believe the TPC is laser focused on making sure that we as an industry transition to these technologies gracefully. Advanced electronic packaging technologies are either in our product portfolio or included in the work we do, sooner than we might think. We talked to Udo Wetzel and Stan Rak, TPC co-chairs, along with the Association's Matt Kelly and Devan Iyer, who provided insights into all the changes to the technical conference in 2026. N O L A N ' S N OT E S 5. Innovations and Surprises One of the things we enjoy most about being at APEX EXPO is our opportunity to interact with the wide mix of people who attend. Whether you sit in front of our cameras for an interview, or we're talking to you in the busy aisles of the show, you're sharing innovations and surprises about what's happening in the world of electronics manufacturing. To see all our coverage, including sponsorships, video inter- views, articles, and photos, visit realtimewith.com. Rounding out our content in this issue are details for the keynotes, programs, and other events during this busy week. We talked in depth with the Asso- ciation's standards development team, headed by Teresa Rowe, about the importance of their work. Mark Wolfe discusses the EMS Leadership Summit, painting a clear picture of why and how this one- day meeting can inform and influence your strategic plans. Emily Daley reflects on a year of service as the Student Board Member, and you'll get insights into how the East Asia, India, and Mexico offices will be represented at APEX EXPO. We'll see you at APEX EXPO. Be sure to stop by Booth 3510 and say hello. SMT007 Nolan Johnson is managing editor of SMT007 Magazine. Nolan brings 30 years of career experience focused almost entirely on electron- ics design and manufac- turing. To contact Johnson, click here.