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FEATURES

Board Fabrication
3D Printing PCBs
In practice since the 1980s, 3D printing is finally ready for prime time. Why this additive manufacturing technology is being embraced by electronics manufacturers, and what it means for PCB companies.
by Richard Bartlett

Apex Expo Recap
'Trekking On'
Following three tepid years in Las Vegas, a move to San Diego offered the annual trade show a new lease on life. And like the last time it was held in this Southern California city, Apex did not disappoint. Plus: Our annual SEA and NPI Award winners.
by Mike Buetow

EMS Top 50
Hard Lessons Learned
Mother Nature put the hurt on contract assemblers from Japan to Thailand last year, but it wasn't just gravity that brought the once high-flying Elcoteq back to earth. It was almost enough for us to overlook another year of controversy at Foxconn. (Almost.) Elcoteq notwithstanding, the 10 largest EMS companies remained mostly static in 2011. But there was plenty of movement below.
by Mike Buetow

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  ITAR'd and feathered.
  Mike Buetow
  
  
  

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  Changes in attitude.
  Peter Bigelow

• Focus on Business
  Mixing generations.
  Susan Mucha

• Forefront
  Going for broke.
  E. Jan Vardaman

TECH TALK

• Designer’s Notebook
  Modifying the stencil layer.
  Duane Benson

• In Flex
  Material selection.
  Jay Desai

• Defects Database
  Solder tip life.
  Dr. Chris Hunt

• Solar
  Progress on efficiency.
  Tom Falcon

• Technical Abstracts
  In case you missed it.