PEACHTREE CITY, GA – AUGUST 5, 2024 – The discounted price for the PCB West 2024 technical conference ends September 7, conference organizers said today. From September 8 through October 8, registrants will pay the advanced conference price, which is $100 more than the “early bird” rate.

The technical program for PCB West 2024 features more than 115 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training from leading experts such as Rick Hartley, Lee Ritchey, Tomas Chester, Dan Beeker, Gerry Partida and Susy Webb.

The conference will be held October 8 to 11 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, CA. It features classes for every level of experience, from novice to expert. 

The scope of classes ranges from designing all types of printed circuit boards to complex signal and power integrity and power delivery systems design. Foundational topics such as circuit grounding and PCB stackups are interspersed with advanced tutorials on DDR5, thermal management, analog measurements, system mechanical design, and more.

“This year’s lineup of presenters is second to none,” said Mike Buetow, president, PCEA. “It is literally the only place where you can meet Rick Hartley, Lee Ritchey, Susy Webb and Dan Beeker in one place. That’s what makes PCB West the industry’s leading event for technical information and professional networking.”

Registration for the technical conference and the exhibition is open at pcbwest.com/.

An exhibition featuring more than 100 leading suppliers to the electronics design, manufacturing and assembly industry will be held October 9.

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JULY 19, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced electronics design software architect Charles Pfeil will keynote the PCB West conference and exhibition in October. 

Pfeil’s talk, “AI Roadmap for PCB Layout: New Opportunities for PCB Designers,” illustrates the capabilities and methodologies that will be needed for AI success with complex PCB designs, with a focus on constraints, place and route. Success, he says, lies in balancing the growing capabilities of AI with the preservation of proprietary design knowledge and methodologies. His talk will take place October 9 at 11 a.m. at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center.

“AI functionality for effective place and route of simple designs is currently available; however, using AI for place and route of complex designs is still in the first stages. But the ultimate goal of AI-driven PCB design tools is to replicate and potentially surpass the capabilities of experienced human designers, particularly for complex designs,” Pfeil notes.

“Communicating PCB design expertise and decisions to an AI program involves several steps, including knowledge extraction, representation, and the development of an appropriate system to leverage this knowledge. But significant challenges remain, particularly in capturing and applying the nuanced expertise of experienced designers and the unique methodologies of different companies.”

Over his 50-year career in the PCB industry, Pfeil has been a designer, owner of a service bureau, and had engineering management and product definition roles at Racal-Redac, ASI, Cadence, PADS, VeriBest, Mentor Graphics, and Altium. Most of his career was at Mentor Graphics, where he was a software architect focused on the advanced development of PCB design tools. He was the original product architect of Expedition PCB, and an inventor of Team PCB, XtremePCB, XtremeAR, and the Sketch Router. He is also the author of BGA Breakouts and Routing and High-Speed Constraint Values and PCB Layout Methods.

“Charles Pfeil is synonymous with electronics design automation,” said Mike Buetow, president of PCEA and conference chairman, PCB West 2024. “He has guided the development of two platforms in wide use today, and his presentation focuses on both the fundamental issues that are obstacles to AI implementation for complex designs, and the viable paths forward. Those interested in knowing how AI might change their jobs in a positive manner should not miss this keynote address.”

PCB West is the leading technical conference and exhibition in North America for electronics design, fabrication, assembly, and test engineers. It will take place October 8 – 11, 2024, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on October 9.

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 28, 2024 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced registration is open for the technical program for PCB West 2024, featuring more than 110 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training spread over nearly 50 sessions. 

Among the industry experts scheduled to speak this year are Lee Ritchey, Susy Webb, Zachariah Peterson, Tomas Chester, John Watson and Charlene McCauley. The conference will be held October 8 to 11 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center and features classes for every level of experience, from novice to expert. 

The scope of classes ranges from designing all types of printed circuit boards to complex signal and power integrity and power delivery systems design. Foundational topics such as circuit grounding and PCB stackups are interspersed with advanced tutorials on DDR5, thermal management, analog measurements, system mechanical design, and more. 

New courses this year include the role of AI in PCB design, PCB cost drivers, designing with embedded inductors, HDI and sub-lamination structures, new low-cost and sustainable PCB material performance and reliability, and avoiding PCB respins, among others.

PCB West will also see the return of the popular Ask the Experts help session, featuring recognized authorities in design for manufacturing, EMI/EMC, signal integrity, flex circuits and more. 

“Whether you are after training on printed circuit board design and manufacturing, or building your network, PCB West is hands-down the best place to go,” said Mike Buetow, conference director, PCB West. “It offers more than 110 hours of in-depth training from the industry’s most-recognized experts, all in one place and for a fraction of the cost.” 

Conference registrants who sign up by September 7 can take advantage of the Early Bird Special discounts for the conference. 

An exhibition featuring more than 100 leading suppliers to the electronics design and manufacturing industry will be held October 9. 

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – OCTOBER 31, 2023 – The exhibition floor for PCB West 2024 is now open to any interested company, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced today.

The show floor is expected to sell out, show organizers added, as booth space is now open to companies that did not exhibit last year. 

Booth sales opened in mid-October to returning exhibitors, and the show floor is currently more than 50% sold out.

“PCB West has sold out nine of the past 10 years, and we fully expect it to do so again,” said Frances Stewart, vice president of sales and marketing at PCEA. “Attendance at the show was up 5% year-over-year in 2023, and attendees have noted the access to vendors and each other as the primary reasons why they come to PCB West.” 

PCB West will be held October 8-11, 2024, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on October 9.

For more information about PCB West, visit pcbwest.com/ or contact Conference Director Mike Buetow at 617-327-4702; mike@pcea.net. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 – Nearly 2,000 industry professionals, representing 36 countries and 46 states, registered for the PCB West conference and exhibition held last week, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association announced today. Overall attendance was up 5% year-over-year, and the show floor was completely sold out for the exhibition.

The annual conference took place September 19-22, including a one-day exhibition on September 20, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. It attracted engineers and other professionals from a range of printed circuit and electronics design, fabrication, assembly and advanced packaging companies. 

“PCB West isn’t just a trade show; it’s an amazing event that brings industry minds together and sparks innovation,” said Kelly Atay, marketing program manager, ASC Sunstone Circuits, a US-based printed circuit board fabricator. “Can’t wait for the next one!” 

“The ICAPE team had a wonderful time at PCB West 2023!” said ICAPE USA, a supplier of printed circuit boards and electronic assemblies. “We were very impressed with the turnout!”

“We really enjoyed it, and it has given us more confidence that we should be doubling down on the US market,” said Sebastian Schaal, founder and managing director at Luminovo, a provider of software for monitoring, quoting and procuring PCBAs.

PCEA also announced PCB West 2024 will take place October 8-11, 2024, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on October 9. 

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 – Registrants for the PCB West exhibition this fall will gain access to seven free technical sessions, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association announced today. The sessions take place on September 20 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, and cover topics about AI for electronic systems, reverse engineering PCBs, ultra-high interconnects, trace technology, and more.

“Free Wednesday” leads off with a panel on “Next-Generation Engineers,” moderated by Phil Marcoux, a legend in SMT and advanced packaging. Show attendees can interact with the panel of seers as they attempt to divine what’s in store for the entire electronics design to assembly supply chain.

The panel is followed by a pair of sessions that address leading-edge circuit board wet processing (“Novel Embedded Trace Technology”) and automated assembly inspection using artificial intelligence (“Transforming PCBA Visual Inspection through Generative AI”).

Later that morning, the keynote speaker, Louis Feinstein, Global Director of High Tech Strategy at Dassault Systèmes, will speak on “Revolutionizing Electronics Cyber-Physical Systems: Unleashing the Power of MBSE and AI for Electronics System Design.”

Following a lunch on the show floor sponsored by Sierra Circuits, which is free to all show attendees, the free sessions resume with a one-hour explanation on “Reverse Engineering PCBs: How to Recreate a Lost Design.”

Filling out the afternoon schedule are two sessions including a panel discussing “AI in Electronics: What Can We Expect?” moderated by Feinstein, and a presentation on ultra-high density interconnects, including the technology approach and manufacturing processes.

Following the free sessions is a reception on the exhibition show floor.

Anyone who registers at pcbwest.com/ for the exhibition and free sessions by September 18 will receive free admission. Day of show registration for the exhibition and free sessions is $25.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – AUGUST 29, 2023 – The exhibition floor is sold out for PCB West, the largest conference and exhibition for printed circuit board design, fabrication and assembly in the Silicon Valley, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association said today. It is the ninth time in 10 years all booths have been sold for the popular exhibition, PCEA added.

PCB West 2023 will be held September 19-22 in Santa Clara, CA. The event includes a four-day technical conference and one-day exhibition, to be held at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center.

“We are delighted to announce that the exhibition floor for PCB West is sold out again,” said Frances Stewart, vice president of sales and marketing, PCEA. “Coming on the heels of last year’s successful event, we think the mood and needs are aligning for another great show.”

This year’s show will feature 110 booths showcasing the leading companies in the PCB industry, including the top CAD and CAM vendors and top names in printed circuit fabrication and electronics assembly. Attendees will be treated to a free lunch on the show floor, sponsored by Sierra Circuits, during the exhibition on Sept. 20.

PCB West, the leading technical conference and exhibition in North America for electronics design, fabrication, assembly and test engineers, takes place September 19-22, 2023, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on September 20.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – AUGUST 18, 2023 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced Louis Feinstein of Dassault Systèmes will keynote the PCB West conference and exhibition in September.

Feinstein’s talk, Revolutionizing Electronics Cyber-Physical Systems: Unleashing the Power of MBSE and AI for Electronics System Design, focuses on the next paradigm in Electronics Cyber-Physical Systems (ECPS) development. His talk takes place September 20 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., and is free to all conference and expo registrants.

By leveraging model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and artificial intelligence (AI), we accelerate the design of electrical and electronic systems. MBSE streamlines integration, while AI-driven optimization ensures alignment with design intent and derived requirements. The synergy of MBSE and AI empowers efficient ECPS development, establishing new benchmarks in quality and speed. A use case will be showcased to validate the approach, paving the way for the future of ECPS.

Feinstein is High Tech Industry Strategy Director, High-Tech at Dassault Systemes. He is a seasoned executive and visionary engineer with profound knowledge and experience in the high-tech market. His current role at Dassault Systèmes involves the global management of High Tech Solutions within the Dassault Systèmes portfolio. His responsibilities encompass product strategy, global market development, technology acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and technology roadmaps for the High Technology portfolio of products and solutions.

“Lou Feinstein’s diverse background, which ranges from design systems to the assembly floor at leading companies like Dassault Systèmes, Textron and EMC, makes him ideal to explain the impacts of the array of coming technologies on the day-to-day operations of almost every engineer and production staffer,” said Mike Buetow, president of PCEA and conference chairman, PCB West 2023.

PCB West, the leading technical conference and exhibition in North America for electronics design, fabrication, assembly and test engineers, takes place September 19-22, 2023, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on September 20.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – JUNE 12, 2023 – Experts in printed circuit design and manufacturing will be on hand at PCB West 2023 to answer attendee questions during the exhibition on September 20, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association announced today.

Among the industry experts who will be available are Rick Hartley (signal integrity and noise control), Susy Webb (design layout and routing), Nick Koop (flexible circuits), Stephen Chavez (PCB design), and Keven Coates (design for assembly).
The experts will be available at scheduled times at the PCEA booth during the show hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit pcbwest.com/ to see the schedule and to register.

“Past attendees have asked for more time to network and get help, and our ‘Ask the Experts’ series with experts in signal integrity, high-speed design, EMI, DfM, flex circuits and more is intended to do just that,” said Mike Buetow, conference director, PCB West.

The help sessions are free to all expo attendees. Those who register for the exhibition will also have access to more than 100 leading suppliers to the electronics design and manufacturing industry.

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 22, 2023 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association today announced registration is open for the technical program for PCB West 2023, featuring nearly 50 presentations and more than 130 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training.

Among the industry experts on tap for this year’s show are Rick Hartley, Lee Ritchey, Susy Webb, Tomas Chester and Dan Beeker. The conference will be held September 19 to 22 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center and features classes for every level of experience, from novice to expert.

The scope of classes ranges from basics on design engineering and DfM, to designing and building RF and microwave products, board stackup, circuit grounding, PCB layout of DDR memory, thermal management, manufacturing PCBs, and more. New courses this year include the role of AI in PCB design, system level simulation, and signal integrity in thin PCB materials, among others.

Also new this year: Ask the Experts, a series of help sessions with experts in signal integrity, high-speed design, EMI, DfM, flex circuits and more.

“PCB West is the preeminent technical conference for printed circuit board engineers in the industry,” said Mike Buetow, conference director, PCB West. “Nowhere else can designers, design engineers, and manufacturers find the in-depth training available at this conference.”

Conference registrants who sign up by August 18 can take advantage of the Early Bird Special discounts for the conference.

An exhibition featuring more than 100 leading suppliers to the electronics design and manufacturing industry will be held September 20.

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event.