Fachverband Elektronik-Design

The Fachverband Elektronik-Design (FED), formally known as Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung e. V., is a German registered association (eingetragener Verein) that represents companies involved in the development and production of integrated circuit electronics. It is the original interest group for printed circuit board (PCB) designers, manufacturers and assembly producers in the German-speaking region, and can be regarded as the German counterpart to the international electronics manufacturing association IPC (Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits). The FED is also IPC's authorized distribution partner in Germany. Founded in 1992 as Fachverband Elektronik-Design e.V., the association counted more than 700 members in 2022 across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries. Its stated goals are to promote vocational education and further training, to serve as a forum for the exchange of experience, and to contribute to the competitiveness of the electronics industry. It researches, prepares and disseminates current specialist and expert knowledge and core competencies for developers and designers of electronic systems using electronic design automation (EDA), for PCB manufacturers and for assembly manufacturers. The FED is organized into 12 regional groups active in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which exchange information through regular lectures, workshops and discussions. Its annual two-day FED Conference has established itself as a technical and scientific forum for electronics design, PCB and assembly production, informing participants about the latest research, development and production technology and enabling contact with industry experts. A major task of the FED is the interpretation and dissemination of the many international standards and guidelines. To this end it works in national and international bodies, and maintains extensive contacts and an authorized distribution partnership with the American IPC association, whose globally leading role in developing standards and guidelines for electronics manufacturing is recognized. The FED provides leading IPC guidelines in German translation, including IPC-A-600K (acceptability of printed boards), IPC-A-610H (acceptability of electronic assemblies) and J-STD-001D (requirements for soldered electrical and electronic assemblies). Education and training is one of the FED's essential goals. It offers courses on PCB design, hand soldering, acceptance criteria for printed boards and cable harnesses, PCB repair, and ESD- and EMC-compliant design and handling. Based on the IPC guidelines IPC-A-610, IPC-A-600 and IPC/WHMA-A-620, the FED offers IPC-certified training in which employees of electronics companies can qualify as Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) or Certified IPC Trainer (CIT). The association is headquartered in Berlin and remains active, with recent news covering the expansion of its Hamburg regional group leadership and its 34th FED Conference scheduled for 23–24 September 2026 in Bamberg under the motto "Elektronik neu denken – vernetzt, intelligent, resilient" (Rethinking electronics – networked, intelligent, resilient).

The Fachverband Elektronik-Design was founded in 1992 as Fachverband Elektronik-Design e.V. It emerged as the original interest association for printed circuit board designers, manufacturers and assembly producers in the German-speaking region, filling a role comparable to that of the international IPC (Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits) in the United States. Over time the association broadened its scope to cover the entire electronics design and manufacturing chain, reflected in its current formal name, Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung e. V. By 2022 the FED counted more than 700 members in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries. It organized itself into 12 regional groups active across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which hold regular lectures, workshops and discussions to exchange information. The annual two-day FED Conference developed into a technical and scientific forum for electronics design, PCB and assembly production, where the latest research, development and production technology is presented and contacts with industry experts can be made. A central pillar of the FED's work has been its relationship with IPC. The FED works in national and international bodies on the interpretation and dissemination of international standards and guidelines, and maintains an authorized distribution partnership with IPC, whose globally leading role in developing standards and guidelines for electronics manufacturing is recognized. Through this partnership the FED provides leading IPC guidelines in German translation, including IPC-A-600K (acceptability of printed boards), IPC-A-610H (acceptability of electronic assemblies) and J-STD-001D (requirements for soldered electrical and electronic assemblies). Education and training has been one of the association's essential goals. The FED offers courses on PCB design, hand soldering, acceptance criteria for printed boards and cable harnesses, PCB repair, and ESD- and EMC-compliant design and handling. Based on the IPC guidelines IPC-A-610, IPC-A-600 and IPC/WHMA-A-620, it offers IPC-certified training in which employees of electronics companies can qualify as Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) or Certified IPC Trainer (CIT). The association remains active in the 2020s. In 2026 it announced the 34th FED Conference, to be held on 23–24 September 2026 in Bamberg under the motto "Elektronik neu denken – vernetzt, intelligent, resilient". In the same year it expanded its Hamburg regional group leadership with the election of Marcus Himmel as a third regional group leader alongside Martin Wedel and Andreas Klinger, and its board member Jürgen Braunsteiner publicly advised the industry to adapt PCB specifications in response to tightening supplies of FR-4 base materials.

• 2026

  34th FED Conference held on 23–24 September 2026 in Bamberg

• 2022

  Counted more than 700 members in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other countries

• 1992

  Founded as Fachverband Elektronik-Design e.V.

The original German-speaking interest association for PCB design, manufacturing and assembly, acting as the German counterpart to IPC and its authorized German distribution partner.

• IPC-A-600K – Acceptability of Printed Boards (German translation)

• IPC-A-610H – Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies (German translation)

• J-STD-001D – Requirements for Soldered Electrical and Electronic Assemblies (German translation)

• Certified IPC Specialist (CIS) training

• Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) training

1. 1Fachverband Elektronikdesign und -fertigung e. V. (FED)fed.de
2. 2Fachverband Elektronik-Design – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Fachverband – Wikidatawikidata.org