The soldering competition was a very interesting experience for me. I was able to watch and interact with other people that are involved in the same industry. It was also very informative to be able to speak with the judges and learn from my mistakes. The new technology that was provided at IPC APEX EXPO was remarkable. It was great to be able to talk with the vendors and get hands-on with some of the newest technology on the market.
—Jill Conaway, Solder Tech III, S and Y Industries
This was my first time attending the show. It is a very good opportunity to meet new vendors and see current ones. I found very interesting booths about lab accessories, tools, and equipment for inspection. I was not planning to investigate cleaning products, but I found some suppliers that provided good information. IPC APEX EXPO is a very good opportunity to learn about suppliers and their products.
—Angel Cervantes, Quality Engineer, Monster Cable Products
The IPC committee meetings provided crucial face-to-face consideration of all the important issues affecting the industry today. The exchange of ideas was invaluable.
—Bill Haas, Sr. Mgr., Seagate Technology LLC
I'm so glad I extended my stay because I met other designers and industry experts like Tom Hausherr and Rick Hartley and potentially, a few new suppliers of both bare PCBs and equipment.
—Bryan Lucas, PCB Engineer, Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Ltd.
This is my first time attending this event. It is eye-opening, enriching and inspiring for those of us from Singapore. We definitely look forward to next year's event!
—Charlene Phuang, Business Development Manager, Wizlogix Pte Ltd.
It was great to meet people from the industry and update each other on the standards and technologies used in different commodities but also continents! Great networking!
—Christopher Hermann, Account Quality Manager, AT&S (China) Co., Ltd.
Great show. My focus was specifically to view and research solder paste inspection systems. The show definitely delivered!
—Craig Winslow, Manufacturing Engineer, Itron, Inc.
Because our country is new to this technology, it was a great experience for me and my company for future work we are planning.
—Daniel Guta Wolkeba, Product Solution Operation Head, Information Network Security Agency
The professional development courses really opened my eyes to new techniques and practices that will improve the quality of my designs.
—Daniel Nicholson, CID, PCB Designer, L-3 Communications
IPC APEX EXPO allows me and my colleagues to evaluate new technologies to keep our company on the leading edge. The ability to learn and communicate with suppliers along with IPC experts at the same place makes IPC APEX EXPO a "must attend."
—David Gale, Manufacturing Manager, MJS Designs, Inc.
It is the one place I can go to see all the new technologies!
—Richard Garlic, President/Owner, RG & Associates
A great way to compare similar equipment; to see who has that extra feature that puts them at the top of the list...especially from a vendor you didn't know existed!
—Erik Wahl, Manufacturing Engineer, GE Energy
I really enjoyed participating on the IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 standards committees. It is exciting to see a room full of concerned volunteers share their vast wisdom and experience to improve the documents we use daily.
—Floyd Bertagnolli, Master IPC Trainer, Service To Mankind
I really enjoyed participating on the IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 standards committees. It is exciting to see a room full of concerned volunteers share their vast wisdom and experience to improve the documents we use daily.
—Floyd Bertagnolli, Master IPC Trainer, Service To Mankind
Attending is a must for all people involved in the PCB assembly industry. You get face to face with key people in the industry. You will go back to work with new ideas and knowledge.
—Francisco Andrade, SMT Engineer, MEC Southwest
Getting to see multiple vendors demonstrate their equipment was invaluable. I also gained a few ideas for further development to our surface mount line.
—Gordon Douglas, Ph.D., Manufacturing Engineer, Raytheon Company
The professional development courses were very useful for learning about processes and new technologies.
—Hiroya Saito, PWA IMC Manager, Schlumberger K.K.
I walked into the show with little knowledge about the dozen or so PCBA AOI providers and I walked away with a clear picture of all of their capabilities.
—Jack Lucas, Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Ametek Programmable
I use IPC APEX EXPO as my intro to finding suppliers that will help me improve current processes in my factory.
—Jeff Armato, Sr. Process Engineer, Paramit Corp.
As part of our company's technology roadmap strategy, we target specific equipment for platform review and set up appointments in advance to hands-on test the equipment and interview the suppliers. We can do this easily at the show. This saves us a lot of time compared to individual supplier visits.
—Jeff Hempton, Process Technology Lead, BAE Commercial Aircraft Solutions, Electronic Systems
The SMT pick and place machines are something our company is considering. Being able to watch the machines actually running was very helpful and informative.
—Jeromey Coffey, Sheetmetal Programmer, Geist Manufacturing, Inc.
Being able to discuss technical details with various suppliers opened my eyes to how willing and able suppliers are to help solve my problems. I don't always need to do everything on my own.
—Joshua Garrett, Process Engineer, Minco Products Inc.
I was pleased with the Hand Soldering competition. It was a great opportunity to see the effectiveness of the training programs through actual soldering. I have wanted to attend for years but never took the time. I learned a lot at the technical conference. I'm excited to go back.
—Julie Larson, QA/Training Manager, Raven — Aerostar
The results from the technical papers allow us to get to solutions faster, reduce our internal experimentation and make connections with experts that are great resources for future projects. By talking face-to-face with engineers working on similar challenges, we will make progress on reaching industry-wide solutions that benefit all of us.
—Julie Silk, RoHS Technical Program Manager, Agilent Technologies
One thing I did learn from the show is that the embedded components are the future. Very helpful!
—Lynette Hawkins, Sr. PCB Designer, CID, Tektronix Inc.
IPC APEX EXPO is "THE SHOW" to attend for everyone involved in electronics assembly. It's the place to attend valuable courses and see new equipment that will help you and your company see new possibilities, improve your efficiencies and cut costs. Keep your competitive edge. See you at IPC APEX EXPO!
—Mario Dion, MFG Eng Specialist, Trilliant Networks
IPC APEX EXPO is a must see! I knew we would have a good experience connecting with new and existing suppliers. It turned out to be a great experience, as it gave us a jump start in selecting next generation equipment for our facility!
—Mark Denn, Focus Factory Manager, Itron, Inc.
It was a wonderful event. I loved the San Diego venue!
—Matt Garrett, VPQA, Phonon Corporation
It was a wonderful event. I loved the San Diego venue!
—Matt Garrett, VPQA, Phonon Corporation
Great meetings with vendors; met new ones who will help our company.
—Pamela Edmondson, President, Edmondson Engineering Inc.
In one course I learned enough about a machine technology we're investing in to pay for my entire trip to IPC APEX EXPO.
—Peter James, Manufacturing Machine Dept Supervisor, IPC Systems
I made very good contacts with companies involved in aerospace.
—Pierre-Emmanuel Goutorbe, PCB Expert, EADS Astrium Satellites
IPC standards are technological link tools for electronic production. IPC APEX EXPO courses and conference have become indispensable worldwide for everyone concerned with electronic manufacturing from design to test and rework.
—Pierre-Jean Albrieux, President, IFTEC — France
I found the show very enlightening, especially the buzz sessions on moisture and embedded components.
—Rachel Woods, Training Officer, FAAC Electronics Ltd.
A great show where you can learn about new technologies to improve company capabilities and get more business for your company. To grow and expand, we need to challenge ourselves to always be more competitive.
—Ricky Le, Quality Leader, Creation Technologies
I loved the show. The conference and courses are a great opportunity to increase my value as a professional. Having the opportunity to shape the industry through the committee meetings, meeting my colleagues, and last, having the chance to talk to the technical experts and see equipment being used today is incredibly valuable. See you here next year!
—Rigo Garcia, Sr. Quality Assurance Engineer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
There really is nowhere else in the industry or around the globe where you can find such an amazing mix of technologies complemented with the awesome camaraderie of like-minded engineers.
—Sean Keating, Engineering Team Leader, Amphenol Ltd (UK)
The buzz sessions were wonderfully informative and well presented. The information on moisture in PCBs will be especially useful for us. The information on embedded technologies was also very interesting. All of the exhibitors I spoke to were extremely helpful. The networking meetings were very beneficial for discussing issues with others in similar positions.
—Susan Hughes-Coleman, Quality Assurance Officer, FAAC Electronics Ltd.
I came to IPC APEX EXPO to attend some professional development courses to help further my career as a PCB designer. I was able to speak with experts in the design, fabrication, and assembly of printed circuit boards. The knowledge I gained helped solve serious issues my company had with a few designs. The cost of the show was irrelevant compared to the money invested in diagnosing our issues and the tenfold knowledge gained.
—Tommy Ligotti, Senior PCB Designer
I wanted to see the latest offering of solder paste inspection and automatic optical inspection equipment and the show was a great avenue to achieve that. I met existing manufacturers of the equipment, new players, etc. Being able to see the equipment in action was a huge help.
—Victor Rojo, Group Quality Manager, Rain Bird Corporation — Controls Mfg. Div.
Interfacing with other designers helps me verify what I'm doing right while at the same time pointing out defects in my processes. The great upside is that the solutions to the defects are right there speaking with you!
—Wayne van Delden, Sr. Engineering Tech., Radio Design Group, Inc.
The show was invaluable. I went to the show to find new resources and suppliers. The payoff was great; I collected more ideas than ever before. It was an incredible experience.
—Bob Heston, Supervisor, Manufacturing Support, L-3 Communications
I always look forward to attending the IPC conference and show. It is a great opportunity to attend courses, sit in on standards meetings and connect with industry experts. To sum it up, IPC meets my personal and company goals. Thanks IPC for another successful show.
—Frank Collins, Process Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
Visiting exhibitors showing competing technologies saves me substantial time and money in seeing demonstrations in real time. This shrinks my decision time from several months to a couple of days: the ultimate efficiency benefit.
—Dr. Michael Khbeis, Associate Director-Microfabrication Facility, University of Washington
I networked with technical experts who can provide assistance for current issues. Instead of going to a website and getting five e-mails that don't directly address my needs, I was able to talk to exhibitors and get contacts for exactly what I need.
—Lynn Norman, Engineer, U.S. Army, Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center
What I learned at the course on High Speed Board Stackup will save us money by changing the way we document our board fab specifications. Thanks.
—Paul Fleming, CID+, Sr. PCB Design Engineer, Integrity Engineering and Design Services
The greatest experience at IPC APEX EXPO is connecting with new technologies and seeing how other people use those technologies to create new products and new processes.
—Jose Rocha, SMT Process Engineer, VirTex Assembly Services
The organization of the event was excellent and all companies that presented their products and services are very high quality.
—Elias Oliva , Electromechanical Technician, Arris Group de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
Attending the show helped our team find new equipment that can improve our throughput and the quality of services we provide to our customers. This year we found out about a new supplier of table top conductive gasket forming equipment.
—Parvin Kumar, Ph.D., Quality and Compliance Manager, JAVAD EMS
Every year I find at least one answer to issues and challenges I face every day. This year I found several!
—Joshua Muonio, Senior Engineer, ATC — Analog Technologies Corporation
I went to the show and found a new equipment supplier based in my own state — what a great find. Wish I would have known about them sooner!
—Sal Cracchiolo, Quality and Process Engineering Manager, Debron Industrial Electronics
I had a very good experience where I found lots of information for new projects and for solving existing problems. We also found excellent equipment for new technologies.
—Eduardo Antonio Rodriguez Cabrera, SMT Programmer, Oncore Manufacturing Services
I really enjoyed the show. It was so convenient to have all those vendors in one place. I found three major solutions for my company. IPC APEX EXPO was a huge success and I am looking forward to next year!
—Alice Marin, Team Leader, Automated Assembly Corp.
It was very interesting to see SMT placement machines scaling down for high mix, low volume. I also saw a trend in cameras for repair and inspection; these would make optical loops obsolete. I'm having some of my software upgraded as a result of enhancements I saw at the show. The show not only shows you what's available today, it also shows you the direction the industry is heading as a whole.
—Thomas J. Hollinden, Sr. CAD/CAM Engineer, Kimball Electronics
The opportunity at IPC APEX EXPO to view competing new technologies and purchase equipment from a variety of suppliers has enabled my company to meet increasingly complex customer needs. This has led to new business and increased orders from existing customers.
—Brande Mergenthaler, Manufacturing Manager, S & K Electronics
We are looking for x-ray and vision systems. The show helped dial in to the right suppliers to work with. Also, the show is a wealth of information. It's great to discuss technical issues with colleagues and experts. I always learn a few new things and find better ways of doing things.
—Dirk Kubernus, Quality Manager, Telirite Technical Services, Inc.
We are looking at adding new AOI and SPI equipment. It was invaluable to see and visit with all the different vendors to help us narrow down our choices.
—Marty Geffre, Associate Test Engineer, Onyx EMS, LLC
We receive many sales calls during the year, but IPC APEX EXPO gave us an opportunity to actually see new equipment in action. Nothing compares to seeing a machine actually run!
—Jeffrey F. Whitehorn, Quality Manager, Dynasty Electronic Company, LLC
It was really helpful being able to meet both machine and materials suppliers and to see live demonstrations on processes that were new to me.
—Ulf Oderfalt, Engineer, Ericsson AB
A large spike in new products created a demand to implement a lot of new technologies at my company. In two days at IPC APEX EXPO, we were able to solve them. Having so many resources in one location is a huge plus for any company!
—William Graack, Manufacturing Engineer, Intelligent Technologies (iTECH)
After being on the sidelines of the industry for several years and needing to implement a new TH line, I cannot think of a better way to be brought back up to speed on the state-of-the-art in electronics assembly than the IPC APEX EXPO All-Access Package.
—Randy Hasken, Senior Process Technology Engineer, Danfoss Drives
As a first time attendee, I found IPC APEX EXPO to be extremely valuable for connecting with new suppliers, reinforcing relationships with existing suppliers and providing new ideas to improve my company's lean processes.
—Nick Titus, Field Services Engineer, NCR
As a first time IPC show visitor, it was great to see all of the major players' equipment in one place at one time.
—Matt Estock, Process Engineer, Anaren Microwave Inc.
Attending IPC APEX EXPO allowed me to gain a wealth of technical information, put faces on friends whom I know from IPC Technet online and compare various machines/technology with very knowledgeable reps, all in a beautiful and relaxing oceanside setting. What more could you ask for?
—Richard Stadem, Senior Advanced Engineer/Scientist, General Dynamics AIS
Attending the show delivered technical resources and access to equipment vendors to advance our design and manufacturing capability that otherwise would not be available without considerable commercial risk. Thank you IPC APEX EXPO!
—Robert S. Hills, Manufactruing Technology Leader, Tait Communications
Attending this show led our company to learn about and meet many manufacturers and suppliers that we did not know of previously, as well as make many new contacts. The show was well worth the trip and we will be attending again next year!
—Tim Anderson, Vice President, Elefu
By attending this year's IPC APEX EXPO I was able to pick up valuable information via the training class offered on package on package. Since there are not many people using this process, it was nice to see as many process engineers in class as I did.
—Alan Stewart, Sr. Process Engineer, Harman International
The Designer CID class was very informative and I immediately used several of the topics that we covered when I returned to my job as a PCB Designer.
—Miguel Rosado, PCB Designer, Tri-Tronics, Inc.
Discussed issues with current suppliers and it was like having an industry partner rather than a supplier to assist us. Discussing common problems with colleagues is always helpful.
—Bill Vuono, Senior Process Engineer, Raytheon Company
Great place to see capital equipment.
—Gordan Jackman, Manufacturing Engineer, Campbell Scientific, Inc.
Great show! It helped me connect with existing suppliers and new ones with new technologies.
—Carlos Maldonado, Electronic Buyer, Kostal Mexicana S.A. de C.V.
I was able to talk about our application with several conformal coating vendors and get right to the heart of what I needed to know. Because of IPC APEX EXPO, I got the info I needed and found several new vendors I had not talked to before. Overall great experience. Saved me a ton of time sorting through datasheets.
—Shane Prideaux, Product Engineer, Everbrite Electronics Inc.
Good show! I met all of my objectives on my visit.
—Rupen Trivedi, Process Engineering Specialist, Research In Motion Limited
I liked the course I attended on the physics of failure. It was complete and the speaker was savvy.
—Efrain Cortes, Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Arris Group de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
I met a new supplier providing a new capability in an area where I am working on new and revised standards. The new capability will materially affect the standards so that they serve our needs going forward. Having the suppliers at the same place and time where we sit and work on standards made this whole process much more effective and efficient.
—David Pinsky, Engineering Fellow, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems
IPC APEX EXPO provided my company with valuable information and contacts to move us into the next generation of products.
—Charlie Davis, Quality Engineer Electronics Assembly, Crown Equipment Corporation
It definitely provided ideas that led to problem solving a particular process...
—Kris Wiederhold, Process Engineer, Harman International
It helped us find a new supplier with a new technology for conformal coating. We're now testing their process.
—Sebastien Gravel, R&D electronic technician, Cooper Power Systems
It was very beneficial to meet face-to face with our current suppliers to discuss solutions to equipment challenges and learn about product roadmaps.
—John Hanerhoff, Sr. Process Engineer, Garmin International
It's remarkable to find equipment that can outproduce our current methods with both better quality and lower expense. Being able to visit with industry experts gave me ideas I've never considered. My prior efforts with no-clean PCAs and coatings/encapsulants have been futile. I now have a refreshed level of resources to help me achieve my goals.
—Loren Ensor, Manufacturing Engineer, Daktronics Inc.
It's the best opportunity of the year to see equipment and kick the tires. It's the only chance we usually get for hands-on experience before getting out the checkbook!
—Ken Horky, SMT Technician, Peterson Manufacturing Co.
Nowhere else are we able to so quickly interact with so many suppliers that can help us take the quality level of our product to the next level.
—Bryan Perez, Senior Quality Assurance Specialist, Systems Engineering Support Co.
Once again, I enjoyed another great IPC APEX EXPO. Being a PCB design manager, I am glad to see such great training opportunities.
—Craig Myers, PCB Design Manager, Gentex Corporation
Solid location, strong technical content, great supplier exhibits.
—Steve Ethridge, Sr. PWB Engineer, Dell Inc.
I was looking for dispensing equipment and I found more than two options with very interesting applications.
—Mario Fernandez, Engineer, Philips Lighting Electronics Mexico
IPC APEX EXPO was great for viewing current and new equipment.
—Evan Bruce, Manager, Rockwell Collins
The show covers a range of industry technologies. It was a very good experience for a first-time attendee.
—Ricky Wan, Commodity Manager, QLogic Inc.
Think you have the best equipment? Go to IPC APEX EXPO and think again.
—Hancock Chan, Sr. Mfg Engineer, Unigen Corporation
This show is essential in our process equipment selection. No other show in North America is capable of displaying all the competitive makes and models in one location. This is a must attend for any electronics process engineer!
—Stephen Lechtenberg, Engineer, Marlin Technologies Inc.
This was my first IPC APEX EXPO so I wasn't sure what to expect. The exhibits were awesome! The show covers so many aspects of the circuit card assembly line. I was very impressed and learned so much as result of attending.
—Shanay Spencer, Principal Engineer, Raytheon Systems Co.
We had a specific application we were looking to develop, but our supplier network did not possess the capabilities to fill this need. By attending IPC APEX EXPO, I was able to meet potential equipment suppliers and integrators and we can now develop that future technology.
—Scott Hall, Advanced Specialist — Strategic Engineering, Denso Manufacturing Tennessee Inc.
I found a great new supplier for selective soldering equipment.
—Alan Waddell, Director of Manufacturing, Delta Controls Inc.
I found a new option for feeders to place labels and quick tool support for SMT placement machines. Comparing all of the suppliers helped us pick the best option for our company.
—David Rodriguez, Sr. Maintenance Engineer, Visteon Mexico
The show gave me a valuable idea for improving efficiency at my company. I found an upgrade to a piece of equipment we use that will be a real asset.
—Agnieszka Ozarowski, Technician/CIT, BAE Systems
Attending IPC APEX EXPO was valuable. I found several new suppliers that I was seeking for both products and services we need now and in the future as we continue to grow.
—Jorn Ormberget, Director of Business Development, Able Electronics (Able Engineering & Component Services, Inc.)
Attending IPC APEX EXPO gave me a great opportunity to ask all the detailed questions I had about how to use vapor phase soldering equipment and what to look for in machine features and operation. All of the exhibitors were eager to spend plenty of time teaching about, showing, and discussing their products and services and my industry knowledge increased significantly in just one week.
—Ward Gatza, Materials Engineer for PCA and PCB, Agilent Technologies
Attending helped me discuss manufacturing and design challenges with multiple customers of our PCB company.
—Rajwant Sidhu, Ph.D., Sr. Director of Technology, Viasystems North America, Inc.
I had a great time at IPC APEX EXPO. Attending the show helped me contact new suppliers I am interested in working with in my engineering projects.
—Parthiban Nadarajah, Process Engineer, FTG Circuits
I have a good experience each year I attend. It is a well-run show covering many relevant topics in the sessions and the latest industry tools and equipment in the exhibits.
—Ken Russo, PCB Design Supervisor, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Attending the conference brought a new perspective on how IPC is helping the industry and specifically provided me with up-to-date information on product environmental compliance issues.
—Donald Jones, Global Compliance Manager, Pentair Electronic Packaging
It is the best exhibition for me for the last 10 years.
—Volodymyr Brednikov, Director, Vlabreks LLC
