FED information 01/2025

3D electronics working group: 3rd Innovation Day showcases the potential of additive manufacturing processes

On November 6, the FED Working Group 3D Electronics together with Jöckel Innovation Consulting hosted the 3rd Innovation Day at the IoT Xperience Center of the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechatronic Design Technology (IEM) in Paderborn. The event presented the innovative possibilities of additive manufacturing processes for electronics applications and offered a platform for exchange between industry and research.

Hanno Platz (GED Gesellschaft für Elektronik und Design), head of the working group, kicked off the event. Under the title "Digitalization and AI as drivers of 3D electronics", he shed light on how intelligent sensor technology, AI on the edge and energy supply through "energy harvesting" are driving the electronics industry forward. Visions such as 4D electronics with self-folding materials were also outlined. The subsequent discussion showed that AI is already finding its first applications in the industry, but that there are also clear limits and challenges, such as the availability of training data.

A highlight was the presentation by Thomas Mager (Fraunhofer IEM), who gave practical insights into the use of additive processes for the production of spatial electronics. He presented MID technology and illustrated how additive manufacturing creates new design possibilities, from SLS-printed components (SLS = selective laser sintering) to the combination with special coatings. His results show that these processes are not only technically promising, but also industrially feasible.

Sebastian Quednau (NanoWired) impressed the audience with an in-depth insight into the NanoWiring joining technology. The "KlettWelding" process enables electrical connections at room temperature and opens up new possibilities for integration in PCB production. The accompanying SME-innovative project "Nano-AVT" is already achieving groundbreaking results and illustrates the potential of this technology.

The Innovation Day impressively demonstrated how additive manufacturing technologies can shape the future of electronics. Thanks to the active involvement of the participants and the support of the ZIM innovation network "3D Electronics", the event provided numerous impulses for research and application projects. With this initiative, the FED is underlining its commitment to actively promoting innovation in the electronics industry.

The 3rd Innovation Day 2024 in Paderborn underlined the importance of additive manufacturing processes for the electronics industry

FED on-demand training: new PCB manufacturing course for beginners

Passing on specialist knowledge to qualify specialists for future tasks, imparting basic knowledge for career changers and training specialists to become experts is the DNA of the FED. The extensive range of courses, training sessions and in-house training courses is highly specialized in terms of subject matter and tailored to the needs of industry and professional practice.

The on-demand training course "Assembly production for beginners" is freely available to members. The essential process steps in the production of electronic assemblies are presented step by step, in German and English.

A new addition and also free for members is the training course "PCB production for beginners". Short, easy-to-understand learning videos explain step by step in 28 lessons how a printed circuit board is manufactured industrially and what is important in the process. 11 multiple choice quizzes serve as a learning control. As is usual with eLearning, the exercises and videos can be repeated as often as required and accessed from any location. After a successful final test, a certificate of attendance is automatically issued. Any number of people per member company can use the learning portal. The training is carried out in the elearning.fed.de portal, for which a separate user account is required.

The online on-demand courses can be accessed via the members' area on the FED website or via the main navigation bar for training and further education

Continuity and fresh impetus: changes to the FED Advisory Board

The FED Board and Advisory Board have bid farewell to Jürgen Deutschmann with the FED Certificate of Merit. For over 14 years, the likeable PCB specialist from Styria led the FED Regional Group Austria in an honorary capacity and, since 2018, the FED Advisory Board. The previous two deputies Markus Biener (Zollner Elektronik) and head of the Nuremberg regional group and Peter Klare (IMM electronics) and head of the Dresden regional group now lead the 21-member FED Advisory Board. Together with the Executive Board, the FED Advisory Board advises on the technical orientation and bundles the wishes of the members. The dual leadership of the FED Frankfurt regional group is complete again. At the regional group meeting at specialist machine manufacturer for weighing and inspection technology Wipotec in Kaiserslautern, the FED members elected Manuel Martin, Area Sales Manager at PCB manufacturer KSG Group, as the second regional group leader alongside Renato Fontes (AKM Meadville Electronics). Manuel Martin has been working in the PCB industry for 20 years and has been involved in the FED 3D electronics working group from the very beginning. The next meeting of the Frankfurt regional group will take place on March 25 at EMS specialist Limtronik in Limburg.

Jürgen Deutschmann (left) at the farewell from the FED Advisory Board by CEO Dieter Müller

The dual leadership of the FED Regional Group Management Frankfurt: Manuel Martin (l.) and Renato Fontes

Congratulations from the FED: Professional title ZED - Certified Electronics Designer

The PCB and assembly designers Florian Rötzer, Noëmi Kurt (Endress+Hauser Flowtec), Boy Buchholz (Logopak Systeme), Paul Block (Rheinmetall Air Defence), Dennis Klewing (Rosen Technology & Research Center GmbH), Stefan Kofler (alpitronic GmbH - Srl) and Manuel Bellini (Rheinmetall Air Defence AG) have reached a special milestone in their careers. The seven design specialists have successfully completed all four PCB and assembly design modules, from basic knowledge to specialized knowledge (Level I to IV). The certified qualification is proof of professional qualification and a recognized reference for the design profession. The four-level ZED training course is unique in Europe. The FED congratulates the new professional title "Certified Electronics Designer ZED" and presents the golden certificate.

Calendar of events January to March 2025

The contents, course leaders and registration options can be found in the event calendar on the FED website fed.de

Welcome to the FED network: We welcome the new members

Pooling specialist knowledge, networking experts, driving innovation - that is our goal at the FED. With over 700 members, we bring together PCB designers, manufacturers, EMS service providers, distributors and many more from the electronics development and manufacturing industry. In calendar year 2024, we welcomed 43 new members. A strong signal of the value of exchange and cooperation in our industry. We look forward to engaging in dialog and achieving even more together!

FED Board, Beitrat and the FED office team welcome the companies:

and the personal members: