SMTA International 2026: Full Schedule

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7:30am CDT

SMTA Registration

Wednesday October 28, 2026 7:30am - 5:00pm CDT

LOBBY

Wednesday October 28, 2026 7:30am - 5:00pm CDT
LOBBY

Registration

10:00am CDT

Electronics Assembly Explorer Kickoff

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am CDT

Room 13 - Level 1

Welcome to the Electronics Manufacturing Explorer
Step into the world of electronics manufacturing through hands-on challenges, expert conversations, and practical problem-solving - all on the SMTA International expo floor. Enter for a chance to win a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones!

Can You Keep Production Moving?
You are the lead manufacturing engineer for a new electronics product. As production begins, challenges appear throughout the assembly process, and you are tasked with getting things back on track.

How It Works
-Read the scenario for each manufacturing process.
-Consider how the problem or challenge can be identified, prevented, or resolved.
-Locate an exhibiting company or piece of equipment that could help.
-Capture a photo with your solution as proof of your visit and upload it to the Explorer site.
-Complete the station to move to the next challenge.

The subject of your submission photos will depend on the solution to each challenge. Some might involve a short conversation, and others may be a specific piece of equipment. Be creative and ask questions - we're counting on you!

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am CDT
Room 13 - Level 1

Special Event, Student & Young Professionals

10:00am CDT

SMTA International Keynote Presentation

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Room 13 - Ground Floor

Information coming soon….

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Room 13 - Ground Floor

Special Event, Free Event

10:00am CDT

Electronics Exhibition

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:00am - 5:00pm CDT

EXPO HALL B,C,D

See full exhibitor listing and floorplan here: https://www.smtai.org/exhibitors

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:00am - 5:00pm CDT
EXPO HALL B,C,D

Exhibition

10:30am CDT

Bright Manufacturing Challenge Round 3 (Team Robotics Challenge)

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:30am - 4:00pm CDT

SMTA Booth #2851

What is the Bright Electronics Manufacturing Challenge?
The Bright Electronics Manufacturing Challenge is an immersive, hands-on experience where student teams will design, fabricate, and test a custom printed circuit board to serve as the control center for a robot — simulating a real-world engineering product development cycle.

ROUND 3- The Final Challenge
$2,000 prize
The culminating event — teams bring their completed robots to life in a real-world competition on a physical arena floor. Round 3 evaluates the integration of electronics, firmware, mechanical design, and teamwork under pressure. It demonstrates how effectively teams turned their PCB design into a functional, mission-capable robot.

Timeline

10:30am-12:00pm: Speed Round Qualifying

1:30pm-2:00pm: Quarterfinals

2:05pm-2:25pm: Shake-out Runs

2:45pm-3:00pm: Semifinals

3:15pm-3:30pm: Final

3:45pm Award: Ceremony

Wednesday October 28, 2026 10:30am - 4:00pm CDT
SMTA Booth #2851

Special Event, Student & Young Professionals

11:00am CDT

SMTA Benefits & Max (AI) Demonstration Session

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

SMTA Booth #2851

SMTA Benefits & Max (AI) Demonstration Session

What Can SMTA Do for You? Stop by the SMTA booth for an overview of the benefits, resources, and opportunities available to you with a membership. See how Max, our AI research assistant, can be an asset in your job every day.

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
SMTA Booth #2851

Special Event

11:00am CDT

APT1: Advanced Interconnect Materials and Reliability

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm CDT

APT

Session Chair: Andrew Mawer, NXP Semiconductors
Session Co-Chair: Prathiksha Ramprasad Dhanpal, Westcliff University

11:00am-11:30am
Improving Cu-to-Cu Bonding through Cu Nanoparticle Characteristics and Substrate Residual Stress Control
Presenter: Albert Wu, Ph.D., National Central University
Co-Authors: Li-Chen Wu; Shao-Chi Chen; En-Szu Chang; Chang-Meng Wang, National Central University

11:30am-12:00pm
CT-Based Analysis of Cu Loading and Particle Size Effects in Cu-Sn Particulate Systems
Presenter: Gilad Nave, SLB
Co-Authors: Md Asif Faisal Beg, Mark Kostinovsky, Mohamed El Hadachy, F. Patrick McCluskey, SLB

12:00pm-12:30pm
Metal Thermal Interface Materials (TIM) Portfolio Part 1: Indium-Based Solder TIMs
Presenter: Ronald Lasky, Ph.D., P.E., Indium Corporation
Co-Authors: Miloš Lazić, Kyle Aserian, Ryan Mayberry, Carson Burt, Indium Corporation

Speakers

ALBERT TZU-CHIA WU

Professor, National Central University

Prof. Wu earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. Since August 2012, he has served as a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at National Central University. His research focuses on reliability challenges in advanced electronic packaging... Read More →

Ronald Lasky

Senior Technologist, Indium Corporation

Ronald C. Lasky, Ph.D., P.E. Ron is currently an Instructional Professor at Dartmouth College, a Senior Technologist at Indium Corporation and a Consultant with ITM. Prior to these assignments, he had over thirty years experience in electronic and optoelectronic packaging and assembly... Read More →

Gilad Nave

Material and Process Engineer, SLB

Gilad holds a PhD from the University of Maryland, with research conducted at the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE), where his work focused on high‑temperature Pb‑free solder systems and transient liquid phase sintering (TLPS) materials, including microstructural... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm CDT
APT

Conference Session, APT Track

11:00am CDT

RHE5: Mechanical Testing and Interconnect Reliability

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm CDT

RHE

Session Chair: Cathi Miles, Raytheon Technologies
Session Co-Chair: Tim Pearson, Collins Aerospace

11:00am-11:30am
Sinusoidal Vibration Testing of Wafer Level Chip Scale Packages
Presenter: Jayse McLean, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group

11:30am-12:00pm
High Density Connector Solder Joint Producibility and Reliability Evaluation for Military & Aerospace Environments
Presenter: Jacob Weber & Daphne Gates, Collins Aerospace
Co-Authors: Kimera Cho, Colette Anctil, John Halverson, Tim Pearson, Ross Wilcoxon, Collins Aerospace

12:00pm-12:30pm
Improving the Mechanical Reliability of a SAC305 Solder Joint by Using Different SAC Solder Pastes and Additional Doping Elements
Presenter: George Winstead, Ph.D., Technology Service Corporation
Co-Authors: Sa’d Hamasha, Ph.D., John Evans, Ph.D., Auburn University

Speakers

Jayse McLean

Senior Engineer, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group

Jayse is a senior engineer in the advanced engineering group as a part of the overall John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group. He has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University. He has worked at Deere for 7 years and during... Read More →

Jacob Weber

Senior Mechanical Engineer, Collins Aerospace

Jacob is a Senior Mechanical Engineer in the Microelectronics Department of Applied Research & Technology at Collins Aerospace (An RTX Company) in Cedar Rapids, IA. He is involved with evaluating commercial off the shelf (COTS) and custom components for thermal cycle reliability and... Read More →

Daphne Gates

Mechanical Engineer, Collins Aerospace

Daphne Gates is a Mechanical Engineer in the Microelectronics Department of Applied Research & Technology at Collins Aerospace (An RTX Company) in Cedar Rapids, IA. She has a B.S. in Materials Engineering from Iowa State University and has been in her current position for 6 years... Read More →

George Winstead

Senior Systems Engineer, Technology Service Corporation

George K. Winstead serves as a Senior Systems Engineer at Leidos at Huntsville, AL. He spent the last 22+ years working in military defense as a mechanical engineer, systems engineer, IPT lead, and chief engineer for Leidos and Northrop Grumman. His work covers designing and developing... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm CDT
RHE

Conference Session, RHE Track

11:00am CDT

Interactive Presentations (Posters) on the Show Floor

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT

EXPO HALL B

Explore cutting-edge research and technical innovations at the Interactive Presentations session. This interactive poster event allows attendees to connect directly with presenters, ask questions, and gain valuable insights into the latest developments shaping the electronics manufacturing industry.

Posters/Presenters:

Expanding Electronic Technician Workforce Opportunities – Introduction to PCB Layout, Grant Emmel, Madison Area Technical College
Expanding Electronic Technician Workforce Opportunities – Introduction to PCB Assembly, Andy Kurth, Madison Area Technical College
Reliability Assessment of Copper-Wire-Based Micro-Via BGA Pad Repair, George Isaac, Lockheed Martin
Hybrid Parylene + ALD Al₂O₃ Conformal Coating for Hermetic Moisture Protection of Electronic Devices, George Isaac, Lockheed Martin

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
EXPO HALL B

Special Event, Free Event

11:30am CDT

MFX6: Conformal Coating

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT

MFX

Session Chair: Adam Klett, Ph.D., KYZEN Corporation
Session Co-Chair: Jeff Kennedy, Retired (Formerly with ZESTRON Corporation)

11:30am-12:00pm
Conformal Coating - Between De-wetting and Crystalline Growth. The Quality Problem Identification by FT-IR Spectroscopy
Presenter: Viktoria Rawinski, Rawinski GMBH

12:00pm-12:30pm
The Dirty Dozen - 12 Common Mistakes Made When Cleaning Circuit Assemblies
Presenter: Michael Konrad, Aqueous Technologies

Speakers

Viktoria Rawinski

CEO, Rawinski GmbH

Viktoria Rawinski graduated in Plastics and Rubber Engineering from the University of Applied Science in Wuerzburg. After her thesis on "Development and Design of a Temperature Controlled Electromechanic Test Rig for the Analysis of Piezo-fibre Sensors" she has been called to the... Read More →

Mike Konrad

Founder / CEO, Aqueous Technologies

Mike began his career in the electronic assembly equipment industry in 1985. Mike founded Aqueous Technologies in 1992 in response to the Montreal Protocol and the resulting international treaty banning most popular cleaning/defluxing solvents. Mike is an internationally known speaker... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm CDT
MFX

Conference Session, MFX Track

1:00pm CDT

NextGen10 Award Ceremony

Wednesday October 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

SMTA Booth #2851

Next Gen 10 Awards Ceremony

Celebrate the emerging leaders shaping the future of the electronics manufacturing industry as SMTA recognizes this year’s Next Gen 10 honorees.

Wednesday October 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
SMTA Booth #2851

Special Event, Student & Young Professionals

2:00pm CDT

APT2: Advanced Packaging and Reliability

Wednesday October 28, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

APT

Session Chair: Marie Cole, Retired (Formerly with IBM Corporation)
Session Co-Chair:

2:00pm-2:30pm
Advanced Packaging for Photonics: Hybrid Bonding and Silicon Interposer Integration
Presenter: Charles Woychik, NHanced Semiconductors

2:30pm-3:00pm
Failure Modes in Flip Chip and Wire Bonded Packages
Presenter: Mumtaz Bora, pSemi

3:00pm-3:30pm
Finite Difference Based Model to Estimate Eutectic SnPb Solder Joint Fatigue Life
Presenter: Robert Darveaux, Ph.D., TMBS, LLC
Co-Authors: Andrew Mawer, NXP Semiconductors; Jean-Paul Clech, Ph.D., EPSI; Pradeep Lall, Ph.D., Auburn University

3:30pm-4:00pm
Copper Core Solder Columns Transfer Heat from Semiconductor Chip Packages More Efficiently than Solder Balls at Cryogenic Temperatures for Quantum, Aerospace, Data Centers and Harsh Environments
Presenter: Martin Hart, Topline Corporation

Speakers

Mumtaz Bora

Principal Packaging Engineer, pSemi

Mumtaz Y. Bora is a Principal packaging Engineer supporting development and outsource assembly of RF -IC packages at pSemi. She directs qualification of fcLGAs, WLCSPs and wire-bonded packages and supportsboard level reliability testing of RF packages. She has worked in advanced PCB... Read More →

Charles Woychik

VP Business Development, NHanced Semiconductors

Charles Woychik is currently the VP of Business Development at NHanced Semiconductor, Inc. Previously he was Senior Director of Advanced Packaging Platforms at SkyWater Technology. Chuck has held technical and managerial positions at i3 Microsystems, Invensas, GE Global Research... Read More →

Robert Darveaux

President, TMBS, LLC

Robert Darveaux is currently President of TMBS, LLC providing expert witness and engineering consulting services in electronic packaging and related fields. He was previously with Skyworks Solutions, Amkor Technology, Motorola, and Microelectronics Center of North Carolina. Robert... Read More →

Martin Hart

CEO, Topline Corporation

Marty Hart is the founder and CEO of TopLine Corporation. He earned his degree in electrical engineering from California State University, Long Beach, and holds 17 patents related to Column Grid Arrays and vibration dampers. Marty is passionate about advancing the art and science... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
APT

Conference Session, APT Track

2:00pm CDT

MFX7: OPS Excellence

Wednesday October 28, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

MFX

Session Chair: Nick Ostrom, Lockheed Martin
Session Co-Chair: Sharissa Johns, Lockheed Martin

2:00pm-2:30pm
Manufacturing Readiness: The Six Pillars of Operational Excellence
Presenter: Mark Dydyk, Dydyk Consulting LLC

2:30pm-3:00pm
The Lost Art of Auditing PCB and SMT Suppliers
Presenter: Albert Block, Better Boards

3:00pm-3:30pm
Don't Change It Yet: A Data-Driven Framework for Extending Cleaning Agent Bath Life
Presenter: Ram Wissel, KYZEN Corporation

3:30pm-4:00pm
Evaluation of Solder Paste Printability with Solder Paste Inspection Equipment After Extended Stencil Cleaning Cycle Intervals
Presenter: Shantanu Joshi, Koki Solder America
Co-Authors: Takeshi Yahagi, Jasbir Bath, Koki Solder America Inc; Ray Welch, Joel Scutchfield, Brent Fischthal, Koh Young Technology

Speakers

Mark Dydyk

President, Mark Dydyk Consulting LLC

Mark Dydyk is a manufacturing executive and consultant with four decades of leadership experience spanning the semiconductor, specialty chemical, and medical device industries.
He has held roles including Plant Director, VP of Engineering, Director of Engineering and Operations, R&D Manager, Process Engineering Manager, and consultant supporting organizations ranging from emerging growth companies to global manufacturers... Read More →

Albert Block

Chief Manufacturing Strategist, Better Board Buying- DirectPCB

ALBERT (AL) BLOCK is a seasoned PCB Manufacturing Strategist, bringing to DirectPCB over 45 years of expertise in the SMTA/PCB industry. Throughout his 22-year tenure at National Instruments (NI), Al evaluated new designs for product reliability and led supplier audits to ensure... Read More →

Ram Wissel

Vice President, KYZEN Corporation

Ram is a process-driven engineer with a passion for developing “greener” cleaning solutions that enhance wash process efficiency while reducing environmental impact. His work focuses on advancing technologies that control, contain, and recycle materials, helping customers operate... Read More →

Shantanu Joshi

Head of Customer Solutions and Operational Excellence, Koki Solder America Inc.

Shantanu Joshi is the Head of Customer Solutions and Operational Excellence at KOKI Solder America and an Engineering Sales Manager at Koki Company Ltd., a global leader in soldering materials and solutions. With more than 10 years of experience in electronics manufacturing, he has... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
MFX

Conference Session, MFX Track

2:00pm CDT

RHE6: Predictive Modeling

Wednesday October 28, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

RHE

Session Chair: Charlie Polidoro, Inventec Performance Chemicals
Session Co-Chair: Thiagarajan Raman, Google

2:00pm-2:30pm
A Metamodel for Screening Solder Fatigue Life of BGA Joints with Voids
Presenter: Arvind Purushotaman, Synopsys
Co-Author: Josh Akman, Synopsys

2:30pm-3:00pm
Comparison of Analytical Thermomechanical Modeling and Finite Element Analysis for Lead-Free Wafer-Level Packages Subjected to Temperature Cycling
Presenter: Jean-Baptiste Libot, Ph.D., Hooke Electronics
Co-Author: Philippe Milesi, Hooke Electronics

3:00pm-3:30pm
Simulating Reflow Deformation on Highly Complex Printed Circuit Board Designs
Presenter: Tyler Ferris, Ansys

3:30pm-4:00pm
Mission Planning and Digital Twin Workflow for Thermo-Mechanical Solder Fatigue Prediction of Electronics
Presenter: Josh Akman, Synopsis
Co-Authors: Mina Karimaghaei, Ian Pond, Synopsys

Speakers

Arvind Purushotaman

R&D Engineering, Staff Engineer, Synopsys

–R&D Engineer, Synopsys Inc.–Have been developing Ansys Sherlock™ since 2020.–Focus is on developing analytical and finite element models and workflows for predicting board level reliability for electronics.

Jean-Baptiste Libot

Electronic Assembly Expert, Hooke Electronics

Dr. Jean-Baptiste Libot is an Electronic Assembly Expert with over 12 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry. He began his career at Airbus Group, where he worked as a visiting researcher at the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE). He then joined... Read More →

Tyler Ferris

Sr Staff Consultant, Ansys, Part of Synopsys

Tyler Ferris is a Senior Staff Consultant at Synopsys focusing on electronics reliability simulation. He is an expert in the use of reliability physics, finite element analysis and hands-on laboratory failure analysis. Tyler has consulted with customers in the aerospace, automotive... Read More →

Josh Akman

Senior Staff Engineer, Synopsys

Josh Akman is a Senior Application Engineer at Synopsys. His background is in electronics reliability with a focus on simulation and physics-of-failure methodologies. Josh also has experience with reliability testing and failure analysis of electronics. Josh holds a bachelor’s degree... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
RHE

Conference Session, RHE Track

4:00pm CDT

SMTA Officer Meeting and Social

Wednesday October 28, 2026 4:00pm - 6:00pm CDT

TBA

All current Chapter and Alliance Group officers are invited to attend the Annual Officer Meeting. This event is a great opportunity to connect with fellow officers and the SMTA Board of Directors, hear the latest organizational updates, and celebrate outstanding volunteer achievements.

Wednesday October 28, 2026 4:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
TBA

Special Event

4:30pm CDT

APT3: Korean Packaging Integration Association

Wednesday October 28, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT

APT

Session Chair: Sung-Jin Kim, Chungbuk National University
Session Co-Chair: HyunHo Kim, Korea Packaging Integration Association

4:30pm-5:00pm
AI and HPC Advanced Packaging Technology
Presenter: YoungDo Kweon, AMKOR Technology

5:00pm-5:30pm
Metal- Oxide Sphere-Structured Thermal Interface Material for Efficient Heat Dissipation
Presenter: Jinsub Park, Ph.D., Hanyang University

5:30pm-6:00pm
Comprehensive review on Artificial Synaptic Devices with Amorphous Oxide Semiconductor Thin Film Transistors for Neuromorphic Computing: Materials, Devices, and Emerging Applications
Presenters: Sang Yeol Lee, PhD., Gachon University
Co-Authors: Sandeep Kumar, Hyeonji Kim, Gachon University

Speakers

Jinsub Park

Professor, Hanyang University

Jinsub Park is a Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea, where he also serves as the Head of the Department of Semiconductor Engineering and the Department of Electronic Engineering. He is the Director of the Advanced Convergence... Read More →

Sang Yeol Lee

Professor, Cheongju University

Sang Yeol Lee is a Professor in the Department of Semiconductor Engineering at Cheongju University and Director of the Research Institute of Advanced Semiconductor Convergence Technology. He also serves as Director of the Gachon Advanced Institute of Semiconductor Technology (GAIST... Read More →

YoungDo Kweon

AMKOR Technology

YoungDo Kweon joined Amkor Technology in 2015 and currently serves as Senior Director of
Development Program Management, focusing on advanced chiplet-based flip chip packaging
technologies for AI and high-performance computing applications. Since 1988, he has built extensive
exp... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT
APT

Conference Session, APT Track

4:30pm CDT

RHE7: Lead-Free Solder Evolution

Wednesday October 28, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT

RHE

Session Chair:
Session Co-Chair:

4:30pm-5:00pm
RoHS: Twenty Years Later
Presenter: Ronald Lasky, Ph.D., P.E., Indium Corporation

5:00pm-5:30pm
A Review on Impact of Isothermal Aging on Thermal Cycling Reliability of Ball Grid Array Packages Assembled Using SAC Lead-Free Solder Alloy
Presenter: Anto Raj, Ph.D., Medtronic
Co-Author: Richard Coyle, Ph.D., Nokia Bell Labs

5:30pm-6:00pm
Impact of Surface Finish on Voiding in Mixed Alloy Solder Paste Systems
Presenter: Thuy Nguyen, Indium Corporation
Co-Authors: Hongwen Zhang, Ph.D., Adam Murling, Ronald Lasky, Ph.D., P.E.,Indium Corporation

Speakers

Ronald Lasky

Senior Technologist, Indium Corporation

Anto Raj

Sr Reliability Engineer, Medtronic

Anto Raj received the B.Eng. degree in electronics and communications engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India, in 2011, and the M.I.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees in industrial and systems engineering from Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA, in 2015 and 2019, respectively. From 2020... Read More →

Thuy Nguyen

Technical Support Engineer II, Indium Corporation

Thuy Nguyen is a Technical Support Engineer II at Indium Corporation, where she provides advanced soldering process support to customers across the Southwest and Rocky Mountains region. With over a decade of experience spanning Quality, Research and Development, and Manufacturing... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT
RHE

Conference Session, RHE Track

5:00pm CDT

Wednesday Reception: Halloween Bash

Wednesday October 28, 2026 5:00pm - 7:30pm CDT

LOBBY

Information coming soon….

Wednesday October 28, 2026 5:00pm - 7:30pm CDT
LOBBY

Special Event

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