AI’s long fingers extended further in January, as component makers’ sales outlook reached its highest point in more than four years. Can next-gen LEDs shrink to sub-100 nm sizes? 

In January, a startup named Polar Light Technologies unveiled prototype blue LEDs less than 500nm across. This raises a tempting question: How far can LEDs shrink?

CECOM (US Army Communications-Electronics Command) is linking its new microelectronics mission at Tobyhanna to early postwar Signal Corps innovations that helped establish modern PCB manufacturing.

Inspectis launches HD-124-WUV dual white & UV ring light.

Henkel” power bank releases Loctite Stycast UV 7998 conformal coating.

Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering will begin construction this spring on a $15 million laboratory, including an inline production PCB assembly line.

Scott Bright discusses Cadstrom IO’s new platform for catching errors the ERC flow misses with Andy Shaughnessy and Mike Buetow on the PCB Chat podcast.

Registration is now open for PCB East 2026, the electronics industry’s East Coast conference and exhibition.

PCB East 2026’s exhibition hall is more than 95 percent sold out, reflecting strong exhibitor demand ahead of the April event in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Looking for networking opportunities? Join the PCEA Discord server, bringing together engineers and designers from around the world on a private channel for discussing technical questions and career opportunities.

Component makers reported increased optimism over future demand, with the ECIA index rising in January to 138.0, the highest level in 4.5 years.

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has begun site preparation for a new 250,000-sq. ft. electronics manufacturing facility on its Schwartz Campus in Moscow, ID.

Celestica reported strong fourth-quarter results and unveiled a fully funded $1B capital expansion.

Taiwan’s flex board exports in January rose 59 percent year-over-year.

Taiwan's rigid PCB exports in January jumped 39 percent from a year ago.

Meiko lifted full-year revenue guidance 5.4 percent to $1.6B.

Foxconn has denied a media report regarding its fiscal 2026 revenue target, pushing back on claims about its financial outlook and reiterating that any official guidance will be disclosed through formal channels.

NITI Aayog is urging India to move beyond assembly-led electronics manufacturing toward higher-value activities such as PCB design, semiconductor assembly and testing and power electronics.

Microsoft has formalized a major outsourcing agreement with Foxconn to build Xbox Series consoles in Vietnam.

ASMPT expanded its sales representative agreement with Smartsol to six US states.

AdvancedPCB has installed a MASS VCP-5000 vacuum via filling system at its Santa Clara, CA, facility.

Absolute EMS has appointed Mark Sika as president.

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PCB Update is a digital newsletter for PCB design, fabrication and assembly professionals, brought to you by Printed Circuit Engineering Association™. E-mail industry press releases or links to the editors of CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY or PCD&F: pr@pcea.net.