PCB UPdate logo
facebook      twitter      linkedin      linkedin     
June 17th, 2026
News and Resources for PCB Design, Fab and Assembly Professionals Subscribe •  Advertise •  PCD&F •  Circuits Assembly •  Tell A Friend
THE LEAD

Principal Minerals, the company behind Camden Copper, has purchased Isola. A budding defense and aerospace company thinks it has the answer to faster PCB production.

TECH NEWS

Voyager Technologies says its 140,000-sq. ft. facility in Long Beach is building circuit boards for spacecraft and defense systems in a matter of weeks using agentic AI and robots for assistance.

A new Rockwell Automation and Center for Automotive Research white paper found manufacturers are expanding AI and automation into electronics assembly, quality inspection, maintenance and logistics to improve productivity and manage increasing production complexity.

Amtech introduces Rapid NPI and RapidRFQ services.

TM Soldering Solutions introduces EmberX selective soldering control software.

Magnalytix expands objective evidence in box testing kits.

Göpel Electronic introduces multi line sssist 11XX series.

PCEA will host a webinar on flex and rigid-flex circuit design June 24 featuring Dave Lackey covering manufacturability, materials, tooling and fabrication considerations.

PCEA issued a call for abstracts for PCB East 2027, seeking technical presentations on PCB design, fabrication, assembly, test, packaging and additive manufacturing ahead of the April event in Worcester.

Registration is open for PCB West 2026, which will feature more than 120 hours of PCB design and assembly training this September in Santa Clara.

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.

ROI
AI Boom Sparks PCB Materials Warning
I have some good news, and some bad news. (Spoiler alert: This should be a wake-up call to all companies that produce materials and supplies that go into printed circuit boards.)

PETER BIGELOW

Peter Bigelow





















BUSINESS NEWS

Principal Mineral announced the acquisition of Isola Group, its latest move to consolidate the global strategic materials supply chain.

A bipartisan Senate bill would extend CHIPS Act manufacturing tax credits to future semiconductor fabrication facilities in space, aiming to support US competitiveness in emerging microgravity chip production technologies.

A Cambodian government study identified semiconductors as a future strategic industry, highlighting Thailand's experience as evidence that building a PCB manufacturing base is an important first step.

Semiconductor and electronics manufacturing companies across Asia gained ground following signs of easing geopolitical tensions.

AT&S plans to expand AI substrate production capacity at its Kulim, Malaysia, campus.

Schmid Group booked more than $30M in orders since mid-May, driven by AI infrastructure and optical module manufacturing investments.

Nano Dimension has entered into a nonbinding term sheet for a proposed merger with Infinite Epigenetics, an AI-powered preventive health and diagnostics company.

CE3S partnered with SpecialTeam to expand support for cleanroom and medical device manufacturers.

Matric Group installed a Panasonic NPM-GH placement platform.

Benchmark Electronics has expanded its manufacturing partnership with Ouster to produce lidar sensors.

Inter-Company installed a Yamaha SMT production line.

Automated Production Equipment expanded manufacturing capacity for PCB eyelets and funnellets, increasing output to millions of units.

Fuji America appointed Jonathan Wol senior director of sales and applications.

FLEXPERTS
IPC-6013F Updates Flexible Circuit Requirements for HDI, Backdrilling and ENIG Defaults
In anticipation of revision F of IPC-6013 being released, this is a great time to highlight some of the biggest changes that impact manufacturers and end-users.

NICK KOOP

Nick Koop






















TECHNICAL ARTICLES

Reflow AI – Before There was Artificial Intelligence
PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY


On-Demand Additive Nanomanufacturing of Electronics in Microgravity: Towards In-Space Manufacturing of Electronics and Functional Devices
NPJ Advanced Manufacturing


Stretchable Neuromorphic Electronics for Future Human-Integrated Intelligence
International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing


EVENTS

June 24-26: Vietnam Intcomm 2026 & Electronic Vietnam 2026Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25, Oct. 9: Certified Printed Circuit Design Training Online
Sept. 28-Oct. 2: Certified Printed Circuit Design Training Santa Clara, CA
Sept. 29-Oct. 2: PCB West 2026Santa Clara, CA
Oct. 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13: Certified Printed Circuit Design Training Online
Feb. 17-19, 2027: Nepcon Japan Tokyo


 

BOOK-TO-BILLS/MARKET TRENDS
             April Trend
EMS 1.36 Up
Semiconductors         79% Up
PCBs 1.24 Up
Component Sales Sentiment 149 Up
Changes are year-over-year.    

Brought to you by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association
PCEA logo
ABOUT

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.


Subscribe •  Advertise •  PCD&F •  Circuits Assembly •  Tell A Friend •  About     twitter  linkedin  linkedin

ISSN 1555-7936, Copyright© 2026 Printed Circuit Engineering Association®, PO Box 237 Portsmouth, NH 03802. All rights reserved.
This newsletter contains copyrighted material that cannot be reproduced without permission. Printed Circuit Engineering Association® Privacy Policy