On the Line with...

Hosted by I-Connect007

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Latest episode

Apr 2026

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EN-US

About the show

On the Line with… Brought to you by I-Connect007. This exciting, new podcast features the latest and future trends having market impact in the electronics industry from the voices of experts.

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60 recent

April 30, 2026Episode 610 min

PCB Materials: What’s Next? Innovations Shaping the PCB Industry

In the series wrap-up, Marcy LaRont discusses with CTO Kirk Thompson the turning point facing the PCB industry as innovation speeds up. With increasing data rates, power density, AI infrastructure, flexible electronics, photonics, and chiplet integration, traditional material assumptions are no longer enough. Kirk explains how advanced materials now enable higher speeds, better thermal management, and more precise dimensional control, while balancing manufacturability. The merging of PCBs and advanced packaging is both exciting and challenging, requiring substrate-like precision at scale. In the end, early collaboration across the ecosystem and smarter, more integrated materials will shape the next generation of cutting-edge PCBs.

April 15, 2026Episode 57 min

PCB Materials: The Global Supply Chain—Lessons From Disruption

Lessons learned from recent global supply chain disruptions. Drawing on recent events to shed light on current issues, Jim explains that many supply chain weaknesses experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic were structural, as geographic and supplier-base efficiency had been prioritized over resilience. However, achieving true resilience requires diversification, scenario planning, strategic inventory, and strong partnerships. Jim states that supply chain volatility is now constant, and companies must institutionalize lessons learned to stay prepared.

April 1, 2026Episode 49 min

Reliability Under Pressure—PCBs in Harsh Environments

Marcy LaRont speaks with Laura Martin, Director of Strategic Markets at Isola, about PCB reliability in harsh environments across aerospace, automotive, and defense applications. Martin explains that reliability under pressure involves managing cyclic strain within composite materials—not just meeting temperature limits. Thermal cycling, Z-axis expansion, moisture under bias, and anisotropic behavior all contribute to long-term fatigue and failure. Common failure mechanisms such as plated through-hole cracking and interfacial delamination are discussed, highlighting the increasing importance of material selection based on strain management rather than just Tg. The conversation emphasizes designing for real-world stress factors to ensure long-term durability and performance.

March 19, 2026Episode 313 min

The Green Circuit—Sustainability in PCB Manufacturing

As each area of electronics and manufacturing take a more serious look at sustainability and end product circularity, the base material of the PCB should in central in that discussion. In this episode of On the Line with, Isola’s Kirk Thompson explains the “green circuit,” new directions in materials and engineering that address important environmental impact issues such as the amount of energy it takes to process a particular material type, or how much copper is wasted in the process. As engineers seek materials that minimize VOC emissions or are designed for cleaner fabrication, there are many factors to consider. From halogen-free to PFAS to simply avoiding unnecessary extra layers in your board, Kirk has a lot of information you will want to hear.

March 4, 2026Episode 219 min

5G, AI & Beyond—Designing for High-speed Performance

It's no surprise to anyone that AI is transforming the rules of electronics, demanding speed, power, and frequency performance beyond what traditional electronics offer. Is AI rendering yesterday’s materials obsolete? In this episode of On the Line With, Isola's Drew Delaney offers a firsthand look at the materials science quietly powering everything from hyperscale AI data centers to 5G antennas and rugged edge devices. From ultra-low-loss laminates measured in thousandths of a decimal to PCBs designed to withstand liquid cooling, desert heat, and a decade of use without maintenance, what properties must these materials have to thrive in a world rushing toward high-speed performance beyond 400G? Drew Delaney has the details.

February 17, 2026Episode 18 min

Material Selection—The Key to Manufacturing Success

The base laminate of a printed circuit board is its literal and functional foundation. Making the right material choice for your build is key to manufacturing success and product reliability. In this episode of On the Line With, Sean Mirshafiei from Isola talks about the critical role of PCB base material has played, and continues to play, in electronics manufacturing. As today's technology demands drive the development of new material solutions, Sean also discussed Isola's role in the electronics manufacturing ecosystem and the material suites they are bringing to the market today to address these challenging demands, especially in terms of reliability in harsh environments, signal integrity, and power considerations.

January 6, 2026Episode 619 min

Remtec: Ceramic Comes of Age in the Complex Design World

Remtec president, Brian Buyea, leads us through ceramic as a board substrate, including a discussion of the ideal applications, technical advantages, and a customer story or two. Remtec's 35 years of manufacturing experience, along with a staff of qualified engineers, creates a deeply collaborative relationship with their customers.

December 15, 2025Episode 1223 min

Ultra HDI? It Depends

In this episode, John Johnson wraps up this series with some frequently asked engineering questions about UHDI adoption and gives some tips on when it's the right time to look at UHDI as a manufacturing solution.

December 9, 2025Episode 1114 min

Beyond UHDI—The Future of PCB Technology

So, what's in the future for UHDI? John Johnson imagines how UHDI technologies will change PCBs, fabrication, and the tools available to OEM designers.

December 2, 2025Episode 1014 min

UHDI for Medical Innovation

Possibly the most life-critical application sector is medical devices. John Johnson explains how UHDI can not only improve reliability, but deliver multiple new sets of functionality to the medical instrumentation field.