IPC membership in Europe has grown to an all-time high in 2017 with more than 600 member sites in 34 European countries. Last March, IPC opened an office in Brussels which delivers the full suite of IPC products and services, including member support, standards development activities, educational opportunities, public policy advocacy and more to all members in Europe. Brussels office staff are available to support IPC members in Europe in the major local languages and in their local time zone.

“IPC firmly believes in supporting the European electronics market and dedicated staff here in our Brussels office work hard to help our European members achieve competitive excellence and financial success,” said Philippe Leonard, director of operations, Brussels Office. “We will continue to engage our European members as strong voices and champions in the development of IPC standards, education and public policy for the industry.”

With new initiatives in standards development, European Standards Development Manager Andres Ojalill is working with design and assembly task groups and the European automotive industry on the development of a press-fit standard. “The document was specifically requested by the European automotive electronics industry and is evidence that European stakeholders are embracing IPC’s efforts to engage them in IPC’s global standardization process. Additionally, it will help to close a technology hole in IPC’s standardization tree by adding a fresh look at the use of press-fit pin technology in electronic hardware,” added Leonard.

In addition to strengthening IPC standards activities in Europe, IPC is committed to better serving its European members by delivering added value in education and advocacy. In June, IPC will host its fourth annual IPC Reliability Forum in Düsseldorf. Industry experts and thought leaders will provide two days of education on emerging technologies as a key enabler for long-term product reliability. In conjunction with the Wire Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA), IPC will launch the IPC/WHMA European Wire Harness Manufacturing Conference in October in Paris. And, in November, IPC will hold its second "IMPACT" advocacy event in Brussels, bringing together industry executives and EU policymakers to discuss issues of mutual concern.

"Our European members have enthusiastically asked us to engage more in the region. And now with Andres, Philippe's team and our training and distribution partners firmly on board, we can now deliver even more value in key areas like standards, events, education, training and advocacy," said Sanjay Huprikar, vice president of member success.

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