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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Inspection systems continue to find themselves at the center of the EMS manufacturing equipment evolution. Joel Scutchfield shines a three-dimensional light on what's driving the market, and a spotlight on Koh Young's latest companion guide to Brent Fischthal's book, "The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to SMT Inspection."

High reliability and sustainability are of increasing importance in the products we design and manufacture. How does Ultra High Definition Interconnect deliver on these key design constraints?

In this episode of Voices of the Industry, Marcy LaRont sits down with Satoshi Konagai of Elephantech to spotlight the cutting-edge technology behind their early success. Konagai shares how the company’s unique additive manufacturing process is redefining PCB production—dramatically reducing material waste, lowering energy use, and minimizing environmental impact. And beyond sustainability, Elephantech’s process delivers high-quality, high-performance results for advanced manufacturing. They are looking to transform the global electronics manufacturing landscape and set a new standard for innovation and environmental responsibility.