80 The PCB Magazine • October 2016
1
Weiner's World
People in the printed circuit
and electronic packaging in-
dustries often ask me about
re-shoring. My response
generally is that re-shoring is
a myth. It seems that when-
ever I try to contact someone
by email I get an automated
response stating, "I am cur-
rently in China and will return to my office on…"
2
Happy's Essential Skills:
Computer-Aided-
Manufacturing, Part 1—
Automation Protocols
I have addressed automa-
tion planning previously in
this series, so I hope by now
you realize the difference
between automation and
mechanization. In printed
circuit fabrication and as-
sembly, most of what is ad-
vertised is mechanization. But when you get to
assembly test, then you begin to see true auto-
mated solutions.
3
All About Flex:
FAQs on RoHS for Flex Circuits
In 2003, the European
Union (EU) adopted RoHS,
which restricts the use of
certain materials in elec-
tronic products and elec-
tronic equipment. The
intent is to reduce the
environmental impact of
known hazardous materi-
als and has driven changes
in manufacturing processes and materials used to
manufacture a wide array of electronic products.
4
EPTE Newsletter: Sony Sells
Battery Division to Murata
Large electronics
companies in Japan
continue to lose
market share in the
global arena. This
erosion of market
share has had a rip-
ple effect on Japa-
nese printed circuit manufacturers that supplied
these electronic companies; when they sneeze,
printed circuit manufacturers catch cold.
TOP
TEN
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