CARTS Europe 2008: One of a Kind
In its 22nd year, CARTS Europe 2008, 20–23 October in Helsinki, Finland, promises to bemore dynamic than ever, addressing the technologies, applications and issues driving the passive components industry today and tomorrow. CARTS is the only conference and exposition in Europe devoted solely to passive components in all myriad forms. This year’s program features more than 30 technical sessions, technical and marketing seminars, and two tutorials. Subjects include the latest technologies and applications, circuit design, reliability, testing, design and construction, advanced materials and processes, and the state of the market. Inside the “silent revolution” This year’s technical seminar focuses on a topic that is hovering in everybody’s mind and is set to burst into the components market in a big way: embedded passives. Two years ago, Per Viklund of Mentor Graphics called embedded passives “a silent revolution—companies employing EP technology see it as a competitive advantage, but few speak openly about it.” CARTS Europe 2008 will remove the silence, as industry experts discuss the latest techniques for embedding passives in the newest generation of electronic designs. Where is the market headed? The market—what it’s doing, where it’s heading, what’s hot and what’s not—we’re all interested in that. So far, the electronics market that dictates much of what happens in passive components has been remarkably stable among general economic turmoil. But, those questions remain. Attendees at CARTS Europe 2008 will be able to tap into the ultimate source for marketing information and forecasts: Dennis Zogbi of Paumanok Publications. For years, Dennis has amazed people by calling the shots months before anyone else even saw anything on the horizon. Expect new insight on market segments, volume, pricing by types, and the impact of new technologies. Find out who will be the winners and losers from the industry’s most-recognized pundit. All about capacitors and resistors Capacitors and resistors are always of interest to designers, component engineers and others. Two tutorials at CARTS Europe 2008 will provide overviews in these key areas: “Discrete Resistor Technologies and Potential Future Advancement” and “Special Capacitor Application Considerations.” When in Finland... With CARTS Europe 2008 being held in Finland, it makes sense that we’d call upon top managers from a Finnish company that’s a worldwide leader in a critical passive components market to keynote the conference: T. Suorsa and S. Vesala of Nokia Siemens Networks in Espoo, just outside of Helsinki, will present “Passive Component Manufacturers in a Rapidly Changing Telecommunication World.” The technical backbone The backbone of any CARTS conference, of course, is the technical papers from leading engineers in Europe and around the world. This year’s conference will include papers on 33 topics. Here is a sampling: • high-voltage tantalum polymer capacitors
And, there’s Helsinki Finally, some words about the setting. CARTS Europe 2008 will be at the Radisson SAS Seaside Hotel, a beautiful location in the rapidly growing Ruoholahti business district. Helsinki, the nation’s capital, is on the southernmost tip of Finland, neighboring the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. It houses eight different universities and six huge technology parks. Besides industry, technology and the amenities of a bustling, modern city, there are many attractions in Helsinki and nearby areas. The National Museum of Finland details Finnish history from the Stone Age to modern times. Seurasaari is a unique destination: a picturesque island with no permanent habitants that is nonetheless a district of Helsinki. Add it up: the best minds in technology and marketing, a convivial environment for meeting and exchanging information, and the pristine setting of Helsinki. What more could one want? Leon Hamiter of the Components Technology Institute and Rob Derksen of AthomeinPassives are co-chairs of CARTS Europe 2008. |