--- title: Epec's Blog | Zachary Walker description: As Product Manager of Flex and Rigid-Flex Circuits, Zachary’s main responsibility involves interacting with a customer’s flex and rigid-flex products from start to finish, from initial creation to delivery. He assists customers in their product creation to ensure they can suit the customer’s needs while still being manufacturable, alongside addressing any concerns or issues that may arise during any part of the process. Additionally, Zachary oversees the quoting process for flex and rigid-flex PCBs from the receipt and review of the design to the communication with production for a quote to send back to the customer. Zachary came to Epec with 3 years of experience from the production and planning side of circuit boards. He has familiarity with aspects of production involving engineering and manufacturing. Zachary has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Texas Tech University with minors in chemistry, mathematics, and polymers and materials science. --- [![Epec Engineered Technologies](https://www.epectec.com/images/logo.png "Epec Engineered Technologies")](https://www.epectec.com/) [![Epec Engineered Technologies](https://www.epectec.com/images/logo.png "Epec Engineered Technologies")](https://www.epectec.com/) - [Articles](https://www.epectec.com/articles/) - [Blog](https://blog.epectec.com/) - [Webinars](https://www.epectec.com/webinar/) - [Videos](https://www.epectec.com/videos/) - [Case Studies](https://www.epectec.com/case-studies/) - [News & Events](https://www.epectec.com/news/) - [Customer Portal](https://system.netsuite.com/c.406760/site/NSlogin.html) - [About](https://www.epectec.com/about/overview/) - Back - [Company Overview](https://www.epectec.com/about/overview/) - [Our History](https://www.epectec.com/about/our-history/) - [Culture](https://www.epectec.com/about/culture/) - 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[Register](https://secure.epecpcb.com/epec/index2.jsp) [![](https://www.epectec.com/images/InstantPCBQuote-logo.png)](https://www.epectec.com/instantpcbquote/) [Login](https://secure.epecpcb.com/epec/) [Register](https://secure.epecpcb.com/epec/index2.jsp) Register to Quote and Order Your PCBs Fast, Easy & Online, 24/7 - [Home](https://www.epectec.com/) - [Blog](https://blog.epectec.com/) - Zachary Walker Share This Page: [LinkedIn](https://blog.epectec.com/#linkedin) [X](https://blog.epectec.com/#x) [Facebook](https://blog.epectec.com/#facebook) [Email](https://blog.epectec.com/#email) # Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions ![Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog-authors/zachary-walker.jpg "Zachary Walker") ## Zachary Walker As Product Manager of Flex and Rigid-Flex Circuits, Zachary’s main responsibility involves interacting with a customer’s flex and rigid-flex products from start to finish, from initial creation to delivery. He assists customers in their product creation to ensure they can suit the customer’s needs while still being manufacturable, alongside addressing any concerns or issues that may arise during any part of the process. Additionally, Zachary oversees the quoting process for flex and rigid-flex PCBs from the receipt and review of the design to the communication with production for a quote to send back to the customer. Zachary came to Epec with 3 years of experience from the production and planning side of circuit boards. He has familiarity with aspects of production involving engineering and manufacturing. Zachary has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Texas Tech University with minors in chemistry, mathematics, and polymers and materials science. ### Recent Posts --- ## [How Design Choices Impact Price in Flex PCB Manufacturing](https://blog.epectec.com/how-design-choices-impact-price-in-flex-pcb-manufacturing) [![Flexible circuit board designed to be a coil and lay flat](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/flexible-pcb-designed-to-be-coill-and-lay-flat.jpg "Flexible circuit board designed to be a coil and lay flat")](https://blog.epectec.com/how-design-choices-impact-price-in-flex-pcb-manufacturing) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on September 16, 2026 at 9:07 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [Flexible circuits](https://www.epectec.com/flex/) offer advantages that [rigid PCBs](https://www.epectec.com/pcb/) cannot, including improved reliability, reduced weight, and the ability to fit into compact or dynamic applications. However, these benefits often come with manufacturing considerations that can influence the overall cost of the finished circuit. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/how-design-choices-impact-price-in-flex-pcb-manufacturing) --- ## [Material Selection for Flex Circuits in High-Cycle Applications](https://blog.epectec.com/material-selection-for-flex-circuits-in-high-cycle-applications) [![A flex circuit demonstrating a bend that is below the minimum bend radius for the design](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/flex-circuit-demonstrating-minimum-bend-radius.jpg "A flex circuit demonstrating a bend that is below the minimum bend radius for the design")](https://blog.epectec.com/material-selection-for-flex-circuits-in-high-cycle-applications) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on August 11, 2026 at 9:03 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) In [flexible circuits](https://www.epectec.com/flex/), one of the most common usages involves bending the circuit repeatedly. Just as it is in the name, the circuit has to be able to flex, sometimes tens of times, sometimes hundreds or thousands of times over the entire lifespan. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/material-selection-for-flex-circuits-in-high-cycle-applications) --- ## [Rigid-Flex in Space: Designing Circuit Boards to Survive the Elements](https://blog.epectec.com/rigid-flex-in-space-designing-circuit-boards-to-survive-the-elements) [![Rigid-flex PCB designed with shielding](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/rigid-flex-pcb-designed-with-shielding.jpg "Rigid-flex PCB designed with shielding")](https://blog.epectec.com/rigid-flex-in-space-designing-circuit-boards-to-survive-the-elements) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on July 9, 2026 at 8:56 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Space is widely recognized as one of the most unforgiving environments for electronics. Extreme temperatures, radiation exposure, vacuum conditions, and mechanical stress during launch all combine to create a unique set of challenges for printed circuit boards. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/rigid-flex-in-space-designing-circuit-boards-to-survive-the-elements) --- ## [High-Density Flex Circuit Designs: Tips for Success](https://blog.epectec.com/high-density-flex-circuit-designs-tips-for-success) [![Flexible PCB designed with advanced interconnect technologies](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/flexible-pcb-with-advanced-interconnect-technologies.jpg "Flexible PCB designed with advanced interconnect technologies")](https://blog.epectec.com/high-density-flex-circuit-designs-tips-for-success) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on June 17, 2026 at 9:02 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) The first time you hold a finished high-density [flex circuit](https://www.epectec.com/flex/) in your hands, it can feel a little surreal. You know how much circuitry is packed inside, how many tradeoffs were made, and how much risk sat in every design decision. Yet the finished product is thin, light, and deceptively simple. That contrast is what makes high-density flex design so rewarding and so challenging at the same time. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/high-density-flex-circuit-designs-tips-for-success) --- ## [Overcoming Space Constraints in a Flex PCB](https://blog.epectec.com/overcoming-space-constraints-in-a-flex-pcb) [![Flex circuit with complex traces](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/flex-circuit-with-complex-traces.jpg "Flex circuit with complex traces")](https://blog.epectec.com/overcoming-space-constraints-in-a-flex-pcb) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on May 13, 2026 at 8:44 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Just the same as [rigid printed circuit boards](https://www.epectec.com/pcb/) (PCBs), [flex PCBs](https://www.epectec.com/flex/) sometimes encounter issues with space constraints. Devices get smaller, components become more numerous, and weight becomes an increasing concern. And while flex can be used to drop down the weight of a design, that only solves one of those three problems. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/overcoming-space-constraints-in-a-flex-pcb) --- ## [Understanding Adhesives and Stiffeners in Rigid-Flex PCB Designs](https://blog.epectec.com/understanding-adhesives-and-stiffeners-in-rigid-flex-pcb-designs) [![Back side view of rigid-flex PCB with stiffeners and adhesives](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/rigid-flex-pcb-with-stiffeners-and-adhesives.jpg "Back side view of rigid-flex PCB with stiffeners and adhesives")](https://blog.epectec.com/understanding-adhesives-and-stiffeners-in-rigid-flex-pcb-designs) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on April 16, 2026 at 9:04 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Typically, when stiffeners and adhesives are thought of, they are only considered for [flexible PCBs](https://www.epectec.com/flex/) rather than rigid-flex PCBs. In reality, stiffeners can be applied to [rigid-flex designs](https://www.epectec.com/flex/design/) just as they are in flexible circuits. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/understanding-adhesives-and-stiffeners-in-rigid-flex-pcb-designs) --- ## [Designing for Reliability: Avoiding Common Flex PCB Failures](https://blog.epectec.com/designing-for-reliability-avoiding-common-flex-pcb-failures) [![Example of a flex circuit creased after being bent](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/flex-circuit-creased-after-being-bent.jpg "Example of a flex circuit creased after being bent")](https://blog.epectec.com/designing-for-reliability-avoiding-common-flex-pcb-failures) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on March 4, 2026 at 8:56 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) When it comes to [flex and rigid-flex printed circuit boards](https://www.epectec.com/flex/), flex is typically seen as insurmountable compared to rigid. This is primarily due to the two main differences between flex and rigid: the materials and the function, both of which seem to give pause to many designers. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/designing-for-reliability-avoiding-common-flex-pcb-failures) --- ## [Flex vs. Rigid-Flex: Which Is Right for Your Design?](https://blog.epectec.com/flex-vs-rigid-flex-which-is-right-for-your-design) [![Integrated rigid circuit board sections and flexible circuitry design](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/integrated-rigid-flex-pcb-design.jpg "Integrated rigid circuit board sections and flexible circuitry design")](https://blog.epectec.com/flex-vs-rigid-flex-which-is-right-for-your-design) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on February 3, 2026 at 8:58 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) When it comes to modern electronics, space is always at a premium, reliability is paramount, and design decisions can significantly impact product performance. [Flexible circuits (flex) and rigid-flex PCBs](https://www.epectec.com/flex/) often sit at the center of these decisions. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/flex-vs-rigid-flex-which-is-right-for-your-design) --- ## [Failure Modes in Rigid-Flex PCB Applications](https://blog.epectec.com/failure-modes-in-rigid-flex-pcb-applications) [![An example of a bend in a rigid-flex PCB where it is starting to deform and permanently crease](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/bend-in-rigid-flex-pcb-with-permanent-crease.jpg "An example of a bend in a rigid-flex PCB where it is starting to deform and permanently crease")](https://blog.epectec.com/failure-modes-in-rigid-flex-pcb-applications) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on December 11, 2025 at 8:41 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [Rigid-flex PCBs](https://www.epectec.com/flex/) are engineered to eliminate the very failure points introduced by traditional cable and connector assemblies, but they’re not immune to failure themselves. While rigid-flex technology reduces interconnects and improves [signal integrity](https://blog.epectec.com/signal-integrity-challenges-in-high-speed-rigid-flex-pcb-designs?utm_content=340693919&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-656144), it also introduces unique design and handling challenges. When not properly accounted for, these challenges can result in costly production issues, reduced reliability, or premature field failure. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/failure-modes-in-rigid-flex-pcb-applications) --- ## [Mitigating Electromagnetic Interference in Rigid-Flex PCB Layouts](https://blog.epectec.com/mitigating-electromagnetic-interference-in-rigid-flex-pcb-layouts) [![Flexible circuit board with shielding film](https://blog.epectec.com/hubfs/blog/flexible-circuit-board-with-shielding-film.jpg "Flexible circuit board with shielding film")](https://blog.epectec.com/mitigating-electromagnetic-interference-in-rigid-flex-pcb-layouts) Written by [Zachary Walker](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker) Posted on October 9, 2025 at 8:48 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) In industries where failure isn’t an option, such as [aerospace](https://www.epectec.com/flex/industries-market-focus/flex-and-rigid-flex-pcbs-for-itar-applications.html), [medical electronics](https://www.epectec.com/flex/industries-market-focus/flex-rigid-flex-pcbs-medical-applications.html), [industrial automation](https://www.epectec.com/flex/industries-market-focus/industrial-control-applications.html), and [high-speed communication](https://www.epectec.com/flex/industries-market-focus/flex-rigid-flex-pcbs-portable-devices.html), electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a top-tier design concern. When your application relies on signal clarity, controlled impedance, and mechanical flexibility, rigid-flex PCBs offer a unique solution. [Read More](https://blog.epectec.com/mitigating-electromagnetic-interference-in-rigid-flex-pcb-layouts) [All posts](https://blog.epectec.com/all) | [Next](https://blog.epectec.com/author/zachary-walker/page/2) --- ### Recent Posts --- ### Posts by Topic - [Printed Circuit Boards (161)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/printed-circuit-boards) - [Product Design (138)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/product-design) - [Battery Packs (121)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/battery-packs) - [Cable Assemblies (102)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/cable-assemblies) - [Flex & Rigid-Flex PCB's (95)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/flex-rigid-flex-pcbs) - [Electronics Industry (61)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/electronics-industry) - [User Interfaces (55)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/user-interfaces) - [Quality Solutions (33)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/quality-solutions) - [Flexible Heaters (30)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/flexible-heaters) - [Events, Training, and Support (9)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/events-training-and-support) - [RF Products (7)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/rf-products) - [CNC Machining (3)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/cnc-machining) - [Fans & Motors (1)](https://blog.epectec.com/topic/fans-motors) See All --- --- ### Need Help with A Project? 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