INEMI Publishes New Roadmaps for Laminates, Board Assembly

MORRISVILLE, NC – The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (INEMI) has released updated roadmaps addressing key challenges and technology advancements in board assembly, complex integrated systems and laminates. The updates reflect growing demands across industries such as high-performance computing, 5G/6G communications, autonomous vehicles, medical electronics and aerospace.

The PCB Roadmap now includes a new section on laminates, detailing future requirements and technology gaps, led by Tarja Rapala (EIPC) and Joe Beers (Gold Circuit Electronics).

The Board Assembly Roadmap, led by Jasbir Bath (Bath Consultancy LLC) and Paul Wang (MiTAC), highlights developments in SMT materials, rework, CPU sockets and press-fit connectors.

Doosan Begins Flex Laminate Production at New Plant in Korea

SEOUL – Doosan Corp. in June launched mass production at its new flexible copper-clad laminate (FCCL) plant in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, targeting the fast-growing foldable smartphone and wearable device segments. The facility, completed last September, reached full-scale operations in May.

The new production line complements Doosan’s ongoing copper-clad laminate business, which supports AI accelerators for customers like Nvidia. With quality tests underway for AI chips from Marvell and Amazon, Doosan is expected to secure additional CCL contracts later this year.

Under CEO Yoo Seung-woo, appointed earlier this year, the company is investing 96 billion won ($71 million) through 2027 to expand its CCL production lines.

Benchmark Expands in Guadalajara with New Manufacturing Facility

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO – Benchmark Electronics has opened a 321,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility here, boosting its regional footprint by 50% to better serve the medical, industrial, advanced computing and communications sectors.

The facility, located in the Parque Industrial San Jorge, is designed to enhance efficiency, support highly regulated industries, and scale production for new and existing customers. Benchmark sees its expansion as a reflection of its commitment to regional growth, job creation and innovation in high-tech manufacturing.

“Our new facility in Guadalajara is the cornerstone of our investment in Mexico and supports our global growth strategy. This new facility increases our capabilities in the region with an optimized space to serve complex and highly regulated industries,” said Jeff Benck, president and CEO, Benchmark. “With over 300,000 square feet of manufacturing capability, this expansion will allow us to scale with new and existing customers who have come to us for our world-class product realization services provided by a specialty EMS partner who understands how to support this class of products.”

Jabil Announces $500M US Manufacturing Investment

PETERSBURG, FL – Jabil in June revealed plans to invest $500 million over the next several years to expand its manufacturing footprint in the Southeast US, supporting the growing needs of cloud and AI data center infrastructure customers.

The investment will fund large-scale manufacturing capabilities, capital equipment and workforce development, with operations expected to begin by mid-2026 at a site currently in final selection.

“This expansion ensures the hardware powering AI innovation is built domestically, supporting both economic priorities and national security,” said Matt Crowley, executive vice president, Global Business Units.

Teltonika to Triple Production Capacity with 4 New Manufacturing Sites

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA – Teltonika is set to launch four new manufacturing sites by the end of the year, the company said in June. The electronics manufacturing services company currently operates facilities in Vilnius and Molėtai, and the new factories are expected to triple Teltonika’s manufacturing output to 30 million from 10 million units annually.

Trial PCB production is scheduled to begin this summer, with full operations expected by year-end.

Teltonika president Marius Derenčius emphasized that the expansion will enhance product quality and reduce reliance on external suppliers. The new facilities also include dedicated lines for specialized defense-related electronics.

NCAB Finalizes Acquisition of B&B Leiterplattenservice in Germany

MITTWEIDA, GERMANY – NCAB Group has completed its acquisition of B&B Leiterplattenservice, following the initial agreement signed on April 23. The deal closed on June 3, integrating the German PCB supplier into NCAB’s expanding European operations.

NCAB paid $12.5 million, with a potential earnout of up to $2.6 million, and expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings this year.

B&B Leiterplattenservice, founded in 1996, reported net sales of approximately $14 million in 2024. The company employs 25 people, with 20 based in Mittweida, Germany, and five in China. Its customer base primarily includes clients in the industrial and power sectors within Germany, with some sales extending into Italy. B&B sources PCBs predominantly from China and a European partner.

Scanfil Acquires Majority Stake in ADCO Circuits

SIEVI, FINLAND – Scanfil is acquiring 80% of US-based ADCO Circuits, a move aimed at strengthening its position in the Americas and the aerospace & defense sector, according to a company announcement released Jun. 10.

The deal puts the enterprise value of ADCO at $25 million, with Scanfil expected to pay $15.5 million (EUR 13.6 million) for the 80% stake. ADCO’s production facility is excluded from the transaction.

ADCO had 2024 sales of about $40 million (EUR 30.6 million), EBIT of $4 million and EBIT margin of 11.4%.

Amtech Launches US Tax Credit Petition

TROY, MI – The CEO of Amtech Electrocircuits, a provider of electronics manufacturing solutions, has initiated a petition urging policymakers to implement a 10% tax credit for OEMs sourcing from US electronics manufacturers. The initiative aims to bolster domestic manufacturing, enhance national security, and stimulate technological innovation by incentivizing OEMs to prioritize US-based suppliers.

“Our manufacturing industry is the backbone of the American economy, providing quality jobs and driving technological advancements,” said Jay Patel, CEO, Amtech Electrocircuits. “However, unfair trade practices and overseas competition have led to a decline in our industry. By introducing a 10% tax credit for OEMs that source from US companies, we can revitalize domestic manufacturing, safeguard jobs and strengthen our national security.”

The petition highlights the challenges faced by US electronics manufacturers, including financial burdens imposed by unfair trade practices, and proposes the tax credit as a solution to incentivize domestic sourcing. By encouraging OEMs to partner with US suppliers, the policy aims to create a more resilient and secure supply chain for critical technologies.

Mycronic Unit Acquires Surfx Technologies

STOCKHOLM – Mycronic announced on Jun. 3 that its Global Technologies division has acquired Surfx Technologies, a US-based provider of atmospheric plasma solutions used in advanced electronics manufacturing.

Mycronic previously held a 7.5% minority stake in Surfx, acquired in 2020. The company currently employs 34 people across the US and Taiwan, with projected net sales between $25 million and $30 million.

“Surfx has a unique plasma cleaning solution that is gaining traction in 3-D semiconductor die stacking, which is one of the critical enabling technologies behind the AI revolution,” said Magnus Marthinsson, senior vice president, Mycronic Global Technologies. “With this acquisition, Mycronic invests in leading manufacturing equipment for the semiconductor industry.”

GBM Expands AI Product Line with Lincstech Acquisition

TAIPEI – Global Brands Manufacture (GBM), a PCB and EMS subsidiary of Walsin Technology, has finalized its acquisition of Lincstech, a Tokyo-based PCB fabricator, from Polaris Capital Group.

The move enhances GBM’s PCB capabilities in AI servers and semiconductor applications and expands its production in Singapore and Malaysia.

GBM chairman Yu-Heng Chiao highlighted that the deal positions GBM to diversify into more stable high-tech markets, reducing reliance on price competition with Chinese manufacturers. The company plans upgrades to the Loyang facility in Singapore, focusing on efficiency and AI server product sophistication, as Singapore benefits from favorable US trade ties.

CTA Study Quantifies Tariffs Hit to Consumers’ Wallets

US-imposed tariffs on 10 key consumer technology product imports purchased onshore will reduce American consumers’ purchasing power by $123 billion, the Consumer Technology Association said in a new report.

The report, conducted by the Trade Partnership Worldwide, looked at the potential impact of President Trump’s campaign promises regarding tariffs. The effect, the firm found, is significant price increases for US consumers.

For example, the average retail price increases include:

• Smartphones – 31%
• Monitors – 32%
• Laptops and tablets – 34%
• Video game consoles – 69%.

(more)

Developing Organizational Culture for Troubleshooting

Are you consistently solving problems and adding value?
by Patrick Valentine, Ph.D.

For an organization to improve, its culture must embrace change. Determining and measuring organizational culture presents challenges since it can often be ambiguous and difficult to quantify. Organizational culture is a shared belief system consisting of an organization’s philosophy, traditions, shared expectations, work ethics and values that hold it together.

Both leadership and management are crucial for success. Leadership and management have specific individual responsibilities and shared organizational commonalities (Figure 1). Leadership’s focus is on innovation, influencing the organization’s direction through methods such as visionary leadership, rethinking, reengineering and change management. Management’s focus is on operational excellence. Conversely, management does this by influencing the motion of human resources by meeting short-term goals, improving reliability and efficiency, mitigating risk and promoting continuous improvement.

Breaking the Six Sigma Wall with Causal AI

How Siemens lowered its PCB assembly defect rate through linked data analysis.
by Erik Schwulera

The introduction of causal AI has opened a new chapter in PCB production. As part of a proof-of-concept project, the Siemens Motion Control plant in Erlangen, Germany, successfully reduced the error rate in PCB production to below the demanding Six Sigma wall. This achievement demonstrates how holistic data analysis and AI-supported root cause analysis can optimize production standards (Figure 1). As a pioneer of digital transformation, Siemens leverages causal AI to revolutionize production processes. By seamlessly linking and analyzing all data across the entire value chain, they achieve a new level of transparency and efficiency. The result: optimal product quality, cost savings, accelerated processes and a decisive competitive advantage.

What is Causal AI?

Causal AI offers an innovative approach to AI that focuses on discovering cause-and-effect relationships in complex data. Unlike predictive methods that only forecast what will happen, causal AI explains why certain events occur. This enables manufacturers to identify patterns in data and gain deeper insights into their processes. As a result, they can optimize production, reduce downtime, improve product quality and increase efficiency.

When Do You Need Nitrogen in Reflow?

Hint: A good process might be enough.
by Gayle Towell

Nitrogen in reflow soldering is often seen as a performance enhancer – offering improved wetting, shinier joints and fewer defects. It’s not always necessary, however. While nitrogen can deliver real process benefits, it also adds cost, complexity and infrastructure requirements. In many cases, good materials and proper process control are enough to deliver reliable results in air. So, when does nitrogen actually make a difference? And when is it just added overhead?

Oxidation is a major concern during reflow. As solder paste moves through soak and peak, exposed metal surfaces – on both PCB pads and component leads – can oxidize, impacting wetting, increasing voiding and degrading joint quality. Introducing nitrogen in reflow reduces oxygen in the oven atmosphere, typically to below 1000ppm. This slows oxidation during critical profile stages, particularly at peak. The result can be better wetting, fewer voids and cleaner joints – especially with low-activity no-clean fluxes.

Nitrogen can also be essential when working with very fine solder powders, such as Type 6 or smaller, which have more surface area and are more prone to oxidation. Even Type 5 may benefit from an inert atmosphere, depending on flux chemistry and process requirements.

The Importance of Test Probing in PCB Manufacturing

What you don’t test can hurt you.
by Akber Roy

One of the most important steps in printed circuit board production is testing. If PCBs aren’t tested, errors and defects missed during the manufacturing process could eventually lead to malfunctions and product failures in the field. After a PCB board is manufactured and assembled, it is tested to ensure no shorts or opens are in the PCB circuitry. All components must be verified for the correct values per the design, proper orientation, and be free of faults (or dead). Inspecting the solder quality of through-hole (PTH) connector leads, large surface-mount technology (SMT) ICs and the balls of a ball grid array (BGA) package can be difficult with standard inspection tools and methods. These verification processes are highly challenging and require a full understanding of the design scope of ECAD tools and the mechanical capabilities of the testing equipment.

Many inspection procedures and tests ensure the integrity of the manufactured PCB. These include the following methods and technologies:

• Automated optical inspection (AOI)
• X-ray inspection (2-D/3-D)

The Hidden Potential of Excess and Obsolete Component Inventory

Recouping value from excess stock.
by Liam Kilmister

If manufacturers understood the true value and opportunity of their excess and obsolete (E&O) electronic component stock, they would take a much more proactive approach to ensure this surplus inventory is not written off and sent to landfill.

In reality, E&O inventory is not an operational inconvenience but a financial opportunity and sustainable responsibility. Provided E&O stock is brand new, unused and in the original manufacturer’s packaging, manufacturers can likely redistribute the parts on the secondary market to another manufacturer for use. This not only recoups value for the redistributing company, but also promotes a circular economy, extending the lifetime value of the materials inside.

Generally, an electronics manufacturer sits on about 10% of its annual revenue in the value of E&O inventory. This stock may be a combination of obsolete parts, active excess (components only recently labeled as surplus to immediate production requirements) and everything in between.

Cleaning

“Comparison of Mask R-CNN and YOLOv8-seg for Improved Monitoring of the PCB Surface during Laser Cleaning”

Authors: Lu Qiao, Markus Veltrup and Bernd Mayer 

Abstract: Potting compounds and coatings protect electronic components in harsh environments, requiring careful removal for recycling or repair. This study introduces the innovative use of YOLOv8-seg and Mask R-CNN to enhance the precision and efficiency of the laser cleaning process for PCBs (printed circuit boards). These models are utilized for two primary tasks: real-time segmentation for laser cleaning guidance and post-cleaning surface quality assessment. Real-time segmentation adapts cleaning strategies based on PCB surface states such as “bare Cu,” “complete removal,” “incomplete removal,” etc. Quality assessment ensures high-quality, damage-free surfaces post-cleaning. Both models were trained on an augmented dataset to improve robustness. In the initial test dataset, YOLOv8-seg, known for its speed, achieved a mAP50 (seg) of 82.8% at 3.98 FPS, proving suitable for time-sensitive laser cleaning processes due to its speed and precision. Mask R-CNN (ResNet-50) reached a mAP50 (seg) of 84.097% at 1.52 FPS, fulfilling real-time requirements with high precision. Although their visualization segmentation results on the initial test dataset vary, both models successfully address the previously mentioned tasks. When tested on a new dataset with unseen patterns it was shown that YOLOv8-seg excels at generalizing to new patterns while Mask R-CNN performs less effectively. This study confirms YOLOv8-seg’s effectiveness in real-time PCB monitoring during laser cleaning, boosting automation and efficiency in PCB recycling. (Scientific Reports, May 2025, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-02131-7)