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PCEA Announces Free Technical Sessions for PCB West 2026

Posted on by Andy Shaughnessy

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – August 27, 2026 – Registrants for the PCB West exhibition in September will gain access to 11 free technical sessions (plus a keynote presentation) ranging from printed circuit design to fabrication and assembly, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced today.

The free sessions take place on Sept. 30 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center, and cover topics including AI and PCB design, flex design, simulation, UHDI, and more. “Free Wednesday” kicks off with “Career Day,” an all-day event featuring classes and a moderated panel aimed at students and graduates interested in a career as a PCB designer.

Signal integrity instructor Rick Hartley will discuss the pros and cons of “Copper Pours on PCB Signal Layers.” Next, Ed Dodd, VP of government and defense for Cofactr, will present “The Prototype Trap: Bridging the Sourcing Gap to Volume Production.”  

Matt Leary, founder of Newgrange Design, will delve into “Changing PCB Design Software: No Big Deal, Right?” Longtime industry analyst Dr. Hayao Nakahara will share “The PCB Market Outlook,” and Al Block of DirectPCB will present “The Hidden Failure Mode Using Mixed VIPPO in BGA Structures.”

The morning sessions will conclude with Itera CEO AJ Cooper’s keynote presentation “It’s Time to Kill the Respin,” followed by lunch on the exhibit floor, which is free to all show registrants.

Free sessions resume in the afternoon with five sessions:

  • The Most Common Issues Seen in Incoming Designs for PCB Fabrication 
  • Designing High Thermal PCBs with Advanced Dielectrics
  • Lessons Learned from Installing AI in an EMS NPI Environment
  • The Journey of a Material Disruptor
  • Cutting Edge PCB Technologies

Following the free sessions is a reception on the exhibition floor sponsored by Cofactr.

Anyone who registers for the exhibition and free sessions by Sept. 28 will receive free admission. Day of show registration for the exhibition and free sessions is $25.

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

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

News

PCEA Launches Designer Career Day at PCB West 2026

Posted on by Andy Shaughnessy

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – AUGUST 25, 2026 –  PCB West this year will debut Designer Career Day, a free program targeted at students, graduates, and anyone interested in careers in PCB design and design engineering, Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced today. 

The daylong event will be held on September 30, and is chaired by Matthew McBride and John Burkhert, Jr. Designer Career Day will feature sessions by industry experts including Stephen V. Chavez, Tomas Chester and Dan Beeker, as well as a panel discussion. Speakers will cover everything from interview skills, networking and compensation through technology, CAD tools and the reality of working as a PCB design professional today. 

Attendees will learn about securing industry internships, certifications, fine-tuning a resume and utilizing social media, plus “soft” skills such as communication and problem-solving. Career pathways, education, and training opportunities will also be discussed.

“Designer Career Day could end up being a pivotal moment in a young engineer’s future,” said Burkhert. “I can still recall the first time I was shown a CAD workstation. From that point onward, I knew what kind of work I wanted to do.”

This year’s show will feature more than 100 exhibitors 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. 

PCB West will be held September 29 – October 2, 2026, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on September 30.

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

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

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