IPC Restructures Exhibition

NORTHBROOK, Ill., January 28, 2003--IPC Association Connecting Electronics Industries� announces its plans to collocate IPC SMEMA Council�s APEX� and IPC Printed Circuits Expo� on February 24-26, 2004, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. The combined show floor will be the largest North American exhibition for the entire electronics industry.

"The idea of collocating the two exhibits grew out of a rising interest by our exhibitors and attendees in tightening the links of the supply chain," said IPC President Denny McGuirk. "By bringing both shows to the same location, the designers, manufacturers and specifiers at IPC Printed Circuits Expo can more easily network with the assemblers at APEX. The real beneficiary will be the entire electronics interconnect industry."

IPC will preserve the focused offerings its attendees came to expect at IPC SMEMA Council�s APEX and IPC Printed Circuits Expo. From the prestigious keynote speakers and the premier technical conference program to the highly informative tutorials and workshops and crucial standards development meetings, the high quality of events will remain. In addition, IPC promises to maintain the mantra it established in the beginning: a cost-effective and fair show for its exhibitors.

"The new format will provide a better venue for our attendees to see the benefits of both shows at one time and in one place," added McGuirk. "Both segments, though, will retain their own identities."

For more information about the collocation, contact Lisa Griffin, IPC director of assembly industry programs, at LisaGriffin@ipc.org or 847-790-5379; Jean Hebeisen, IPC director of PCB industry programs, at JeanHebeisen@ipc.org or 847-790-5338; or e-mail GoAPEX@ipc.org or ExpoInfo@ipc.org.

About IPC

IPC is a Northbrook, Ill.-based trade association dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its more than 2,400 member companies, which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed circuit board manufacturing and electronics assembly. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of a $44 billion U.S. industry employing more than 400,000 people. IPC maintains offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Garden Grove, Calif.; and Shanghai, China. For more information, visit http://www.ipc.org.