# What's Driving the Next Wave of Electronics Engineers?

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2025-01-31
- Length: 39m
- Episode: 288
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-31-whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers/

## Summary

Paul Cooke, Director of Application Engineering at AGC Multi Materials, discusses the critical role of advanced materials in Ultra HDI (UHDI) PCB manufacturing and the challenges facing the North American electronics supply chain. He explains how AGC is developing non-reinforced, low-CTE resin systems to eliminate glass-related issues like skew and flatness problems in high-density designs. Cooke also highlights the severe workforce shortage in the industry, noting that the number of US board shops has dropped from over 2,000 to roughly 140, and argues for greater government and military investment to revitalize domestic manufacturing capacity.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-31-whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers#t=0) Introduction and Paul Cooke's Background
- [3:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-31-whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers#t=184) AGC Multi Materials and Material Challenges for UHDI
- [7:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-31-whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers#t=457) Non-Reinforced Materials and Flatness Solutions
- [15:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-31-whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers#t=933) Supply Chain Gaps and Lack of US Investment
- [24:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-31-whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers#t=1474) Workforce Development and the Board Shop Decline
- [33:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-31-whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers#t=1984) Convergence of Semiconductor and PCB Technologies

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- AGC Multi Materials (company)
- SMTA (company)
- Intel (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Fast Rise TC (product)
- Easy Pure (product)
- PTFE (material)
- Teflon (material)

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- [How A Cornwall EMS Company Scales With Defense And Aerospace Demand, with Jon Hurrell, Sellectronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-how-a-cornwall-ems-company-scales-with-defense-and-aerospace-demand-with-jon-hur) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
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- [EMS@C-Level 2022 Season, episode 10 - Greg Papandrew of PCB Buying Expert](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-08-29-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-10-greg-papandrew-of-pcb-buying-expert) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
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## Citing this page

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