Skilled-labor shortages are emerging as a critical obstacle for manufacturing ambitions worldwide, with new warnings from US suppliers and Indian tech leaders underscoring how workforce gaps and import dependence threaten efforts to expand domestic production capacity.

Productronica 2025 drew more than 47,000 visitors and 1,600 exhibitors from 52 countries, marking double-digit growth over the prior edition and highlighting rising momentum in advanced packaging, power electronics and reliable microelectronics.

Penn State researchers developed a low-cost method for producing Wi-Fi-enabled flexible circuits by printing liquid-metal traces onto heat-shrink polymer substrates.

American University of Sharjah researchers unveiled a compact PCB-based radar transceiver that delivers high-resolution detection.

As wearable tech shifts toward smart garments and skin-conforming devices, designers are relying on flexible PCBs to fit advanced sensors and connectivity into curved, low-profile housings.

A new study details the development of a compact Nondispersive Infrared-based capnography device built on low-cost PCB architecture.

PCEA has issued a call for abstracts for PCB West 2026, with submissions due January 23, 2026.

PCB West 2026 will take place Sept. 29–Oct. 2 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, with booth registration now open for returning exhibitors.

Entries for Circuits Assembly's 2026 NPI Awards, recognizing innovations in electronics assembly equipment, material and software, are due Dec. 15.

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.

A report warns that severe skilled-labor shortages could undermine the Trump administration’s push to boost US manufacturing.

Industry leaders at the Bengaluru Tech Summit warned that India still imports roughly 85 percent of its PCB demand, urging accelerated semiconductor and PCB manufacturing scale-up.

A bipartisan House proposal would bar CHIPS Act grant recipients from buying Chinese-made chipmaking equipment.

OpenAI and Foxconn have formed a US-based partnership to jointly design and manufacture AI data-center hardware.

Critical Metals acquired one of the largest G7/EU-origin stockpiles of ultra-high-purity copper powder in a $20M.

A new industry commentary argues that the US will need a deeper cultural shift to achieve true lights-out manufacturing, noting that decades of offshoring, consolidation and diminished skilled-trade pipelines remain major obstacles.

Electronic components makers overall beat expectations but face ongoing geopolitical and regulatory pressures.

TAF Industries plans to launch an $10.8M SMT production lines for UAV electronics in Ukraine.

Variosystems relaunched its redesigned 65,000sq.ft. Southlake, Texas facility as part of a broader push to expand North American EMS capacity.

Marvell plans to expand its India workforce by roughly 15 percent per year and increase local R&D investment.

Kitron will acquire DeltaNordic in a deal valued at about $114M.

Titan Intech will invest about $28M to build an integrated display electronics manufacturing facility.

Nvidia is using Menlo Micro’s high-speed switching technology to accelerate AI chip testing.

The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data that are Correct, Unambiguous and Defensible
PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY

Multi-scale Alignment Detection Transformer for PCB Defect Detection with Enhanced Cross-scale Feature Fusion
Measurement Science and Technology

Electromigration in Eutectic Gold-Tin (80Au20Sn-wt%) Solder Joints
Journal of Electronic Materials

EVENTS

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.