ATLANTA, GA – UP Media Group Inc. today announced Phil Zarrow will moderate the industry’s second “chat,” an open question/answer session using pioneering new software developed by UPMG.

The event will be held Feb. 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern time, at Printed Circuit University.

“Chats” refer to moderated question/answer sessions between an expert on a particular topic and any number of parties interested in the subject. Chats are conducted online, and attendees can submit questions privately via email in advance of the chat, or while the chat is live.

Moderators review the questions and choose which will be answered. As questions are answered, they appear online in sequential fashion. After each chat session is over, the transcript is made available for on-demand viewing. Transcripts are also searchable.

During the premiere of PCB Chat, printed circuit board signal integrity guru Dr. Eric Bogatin answered more than 20 questions from participants. A transcript is available here. (Free registration required.)

UPMG has invested several months of development work to realize the new software platform for PCB Chat.

Zarrow has been involved with PCB fabrication and assembly for more than 30 years. His expertise includes the manufacture of equipment for circuit board fabrication and assembly of through-hole and surface mount technologies. In addition to his background in automated assembly and cleaning, Zarrow is recognized for his expertise in surface mount reflow soldering technology and in the design and implementation of SMT placement equipment and reflow soldering systems. He has held key technical and management positions with Vitronics, Excellon-Micronetics and Universal Instruments, he has extensive hands-on experience with setup and troubleshooting through-hole and SMT processes throughout the world. He was director of technology development for EMS firm GSS/Array Technology. In 1993, Zarrow formed ITM Consulting, and has taught thousands of engineers around the world since that time. He has been an occasional speaker on DfM/DfA at the PCB West conferences.

PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event. For more information about PCB Chat, contact Mike Buetow at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 617-327-4702.