Samsung and others noted tightening memory supply and surging AI-driven demand are pushing component costs higher across the electronics industry, while EMS and bare board sales remain in growth mode.

A major electronics retailer in Tokyo’s Akihabara district publicly appealed for customers to sell back old PCs, highlighting severe shortages of gaming and consumer hardware amid a continuing supply crunch.

Researchers demonstrated an AI-driven sorting and refining process that recovers 98.2 percent of tantalum from PCB e-waste and produces >99.8 percent pure tantalum pentoxide.

Vishay introduces VT171P and VT172U transmissive sensors.

Sono-Tek debuts SelectaFlux 3 and flux monitoring enhancements.

Inovaxe introduces InoHD ultra-high-density smart storage system.

Omron launches P6K relay socket for G6K series.

PCEA reports that PCB East 2026 exhibition space is more than 80% booked and on track to sell out, with the event moving to the DCU Center in Worcester for its April 28–May 1 conference and April 29 exhibition.

Entries for Circuits Assembly's 2026 NPI Awards, recognizing innovations in electronics assembly equipment, material and software, are due Jan. 9.

PCB West 2026 booth sales are now open to all exhibitors, with more than 60 percent of the floor already reserved following early access for returning companies.

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.

Samsung warned that tightening memory chip supply and surging high-bandwidth memory demand tied to AI data centers are driving costs higher, forcing electronics makers to consider price increases across devices as shortages ripple through the supply chain.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company is not ruling out introducing Blackwell and Rubin AI chips in China over time, noting that newer products could become available if US export restrictions evolve beyond the recently approved H200.

So what’s there to know about Peter DeSantis, the executive now guiding Amazon’s most ambitious technology bets?

Voltatron acquired 100% of EMS firm Komitec Electronics.

The electronics component industry’s December sales sentiment index climbed to 134.0, beating expectations by nearly 33 points.

India’s top five electronics producers are planning to chase more acquisitions in 2026.

North American PCB demand remained in expansion territory in November as bookings continued to outpace shipments, keeping the book-to-bill ratio at 1.12.

North American EMS activity cooled in November, but a book-to-bill ratio at 1.17 pointed to continued underlying demand stability.

Hanza will acquire BMK Group in a transaction valued at about $193M, expanding its European EMS footprint and completing its Hanza 2025 strategy.

The global DRAM market is experiencing a rare price spike. Tight supply, rapid AI expansion, and expectation-driven buying have pushed memory prices higher since the second half of 2025.

Dynamic Electronics said it will double its investment in its Thailand PCB plant.

Thailand has set out a national strategy to expand its semiconductor industry, focusing on power semiconductors, sensors, photonics, discrete devices and analog chips, as part of a long-term plan to build a complete value chain.

Orbit International announced consolidated bookings for the month of December were approximately $3.4M.

Benchmark named Josh Hollin as senior vice president and chief technology officer, succeeding Jan Janick, who will retire this month.

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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.