Siemens Acquires Aster Technologies to Expand PCB Test Engineering Capabilities

PLANO, TX – Siemens has acquired Aster Technologies, a provider of printed circuit board assembly test verification and engineering software, expanding its capabilities in design for test and manufacturing readiness for complex electronic systems. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition brings Aster’s shift-left DfT and test coverage analysis into Siemens’ Xpedition and Valor software portfolios, part of the Siemens Xcelerator platform. The integration is intended to help electronics manufacturers identify test coverage gaps earlier in the PCB design process.

By combining Aster’s test engineering tools with Siemens’ existing design for manufacturing capabilities in Valor and PCB design workflows in Xpedition, Siemens aims to strengthen the digital connection between PCB design, assembly and test.

Siemens said the move addresses increasing test challenges driven by higher electronics complexity, including advanced automotive systems, 5G integration and denser PCB assemblies.End of article content 

Unitech PCB Establishes First Thailand Manufacturing Base in Thailand

BANGKOK – Unitech PCB has opened its first manufacturing facility in Thailand, establishing a new production base at the S Ang Thong Industrial Estate.

The facility spans approximately 8.4 hectares and will support production of HDI printed circuit boards for export markets. The site is intended to serve as a regional manufacturing hub as Thailand continues to expand its role in the global PCB supply chain.

Thailand is currently the largest PCB manufacturing base in ASEAN and ranks fifth globally, supported by established electronics infrastructure, an experienced workforce, and export-oriented industrial policies. The addition of Unitech’s facility increases regional capacity for advanced PCB fabrication as manufacturers continue to diversify production across Southeast Asia.End of article content 

Defu Abandons Circuit Foil Luxembourg Deal

WILTZ, LUXEMBOURG – Chinese copper-foil manufacturer Jiujiang Defu Technology has abandoned its planned acquisition of Circuit Foil Luxembourg after Luxembourg authorities imposed conditions that would have prevented Defu from obtaining operational control of the company.

The transaction, announced in July and valued at approximately $190 million, was subject to foreign investment screening due to Circuit Foil Luxembourg’s strategic role in Europe’s electronics supply chain. Defu said regulators would only approve a minority ownership structure, with limited voting rights and no authority over management decisions.

According to Defu, the imposed conditions also restricted influence over corporate governance, intellectual property, trade secrets, and other sensitive operational areas, fundamentally altering the scope of the deal. As a result, the company opted to terminate the agreement.

The acquisition was reviewed under Luxembourg and European Union foreign investment regulations. Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Economy confirmed that it issued a conditional authorization on Jan. 8, but declined to disclose further details, citing confidentiality requirements related to critical industries.

Following the termination, Defu said it plans to refocus its expansion efforts within China. The company announced its intention to pursue a 51% stake in Huiru Technology, a domestic producer of electrolytic copper foil with annual capacity of approximately 20,000 tons. Transaction pricing will be determined following completion of due diligence.End of article content 

Zhen Ding Technology to Launch Thailand JV, Add to PCB Fab Capacity

BANGKOK – Zhen Ding Technology plans to expand its printed circuit board manufacturing presence in Thailand through a joint venture with Saha Pattana Interholding following government approval of more than $2 billion in new PCB fabrication investments.

According to Thai authorities, the approved projects will add PCB fabrication capacity tied to Zhen Ding’s existing Thailand campus, which began operations last fall. The new investment is expected to support large-scale production expansion as global PCB manufacturers continue to diversify manufacturing footprints in Southeast Asia.

Zhen Ding Technology is partnering with Saha Pattana Interholding, a publicly traded Thai investor and industrial park developer, on the project. The specific location of the new facilities was not disclosed.

The Thai government said the investment is expected to create approximately 5,600 jobs.End of article content 

Hanza to Acquire EMS Provider BMK Group

GERMANY – Hanza in January completed its previously announced acquisition of BMK Group in a share-for-share transaction, expanding its European EMS footprint and adding scale in complex, high-reliability electronics manufacturing.

The transaction values BMK at approximately $193 million, based on Hanza’s share price at signing. Under the agreement, BMK’s three founders are expected to own about 27% of the combined company following completion.

The joint company has annual revenues of about SEK 10 billion ($1.05 billion) and 5,000 employees.

BMK is a European electronics manufacturing services provider focused on high-reliability and complex electronics, with operations in Germany, Israel, the Czech Republic, and China. The company was expected to generate revenue of approximately SEK 3.3 billion ($350 million) in 2025, with an operating margin of about 7.3%. Its services include engineering, prototyping, industrialization, manufacturing, testing and lifecycle support for industrial, medical and defense customers.

The acquisition significantly increases Hanza’s presence in Germany, which is expected to become the group’s largest operating cluster.End of article content 

Voltatron Acquires Komitec

FÜRTH, GERMANY – Voltatron AG has acquired 100% of Komitec Electronics, expanding its electronics manufacturing services capabilities and adding capacity as part of its acquisition-led growth strategy. The transaction closed on Jan. 1.

The merged company will have 2026 revenue in the range of €47 million to €51 million ($55 million to $60 million) and an adjusted EBITDA margin between 7% and 10%.

Voltatron said the acquisition extends its value chain by adding electronics research and development capabilities alongside medium- and large-scale production capacity for electronic assemblies, devices, and systems. The deal also broadens the company’s customer base and more than doubles available production space, increasing operational flexibility and redundancy.

The transaction includes a cash component as well as the issuance of new shares through a capital increase against contribution in kind. As part of the agreement, Komitec managing director Jochen Schmitt-Ruenhorst will remain in his role and become a long-term shareholder in Voltatron to support continuity and integration.End of article content 

Foxconn Acquires Belkin and Subsidiary Brands for $866M

TAIPEI – Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited (FIT), an affiliate of Foxconn, has agreed to acquire Belkin International for $866 million. The deal brings Belkin and its subsidiary brands, Linksys, Wemo and Phyn, under FIT’s ownership.

The acquisition represents the first major move by FIT into operating established consumer brands, following a history focused on manufacturing and interconnect solutions. While the agreement has been signed, the transaction remains subject to approval by the US Committee on Foreign Investment, a process that has drawn heightened scrutiny following the US government’s prior intervention in high-profile semiconductor and technology mergers.

Belkin founder and CEO Chet Pipkin will continue to lead the company, which will operate as a subsidiary of FIT following the transaction. “This move will accelerate our vision of delivering technology that makes the lives of people around the world better, more convenient and more fulfilling,” Pipkin said. He added that the transaction provides access to additional manufacturing resources and capital to support operational efficiency and future investment.End of article content 

Inventec Commits $136M to Expand Thailand Footprint

TAIPEI – Inventec plans to invest approximately $136 million to expand production capacity at its Thailand operations, reflecting accelerating demand from US customers shifting notebook manufacturing from China.

The investment will fund a combination of plant renovations, equipment upgrades, and the construction of a new factory and supporting infrastructure. Roughly $54 million is allocated for facility improvements and equipment, while about $82 million will be used to build the new production site.

The Thailand expansion is designed to support both notebook and server manufacturing. Demand from US clients has increasingly driven notebook production outside China, prompting higher utilization at both leased and company-owned facilities in Thailand.

While China remains the largest manufacturing base, Thailand now represents a low double-digit share of total notebook shipments, signaling a growing role in the company’s global supply chain diversification strategy.

In the artificial intelligence server segment, most production continues to be based in Taiwan. A US manufacturing facility in Texas is scheduled to begin operations by the end of the first quarter, with mass production expected in the second quarter, positioning the company closer to North American customers.End of article content 

Mycronic Acquires German PCB Test Probe Supplier ETZ

STOCKHOLM – Mycronic’s Global Technologies division has acquired ETZ, a German manufacturer of test probes used in electrical testing of bare printed circuit boards.

ETZ supplies the majority of test probes used by the PCB test business line within Global Technologies, making probe development and production a core strategic capability. The company employs 34 staff and operates its manufacturing facility in Seesen, Germany.

In 2025, ETZ reported net sales of about $4.3 million, with roughly 85% of revenue generated from sales to Mycronic. Prior to the transaction, Mycronic held a 15% ownership stake in ETZ.

Following the acquisition, ETZ will be fully integrated into the PCB test business line within Global Technologies.End of article content