SpaceX is moving forward with an $8M, 80,000-square-foot expansion in Bastrop, Texas. Global semiconductor sales climbed 30 percent(!) year-over-year to a record $75B (!!) in November.

At CES, foldable phone-tablet hybrids, context-aware AI devices and two-legged robot vacuums are among the “best of show” as selected by CNET.

PowerLattice is developing a voltage-regulator chiplet designed to sit directly beneath AI processors, aiming to cut data center power losses by up to 50 percent by moving power conversion closer to the chip and reducing wasted energy from heat and resistance.

A hands-on review found that free AI tools such as Copilot and ChatGPT can be helpful for specific electronics design tasks, like generating battery charge conversion tables and code, but results vary by use case and still require human judgment.

An Apple-1 “Prototype Board #0,” believed to be the earliest known fiberglass Apple-1 prototype used by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, is expected to sell for more than $500,000 at a 50th anniversary auction featuring historic Apple artifacts.

Seica introduces Valid SL in-circuit and functional test system.

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.

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.

SpaceX is moving forward with an $8M, 80,000-square-foot office expansion in Bastrop, Texas, adding to broader investments tied to Starlink production and semiconductor R&D.

Global semiconductor sales climbed 29.8 percent year over year to a record $75.3B in November, with month-to-month growth of 3.5 percent.

Vicor filed patent infringement lawsuits against competitors Luxshare Precision Industry, Delta Electronics, Monolithic Power Systems and Wistron over their creation and sale of power modules and circuit board products.

Thailand advanced its semiconductor ambitions by reviewing a draft National Semiconductor Roadmap 2050, outlining a 25-year plan to shift the country from contract assembly toward “Made-in-Thailand Chips.”

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority welcomed the entry of Canada-based EDAC, which will begin operations in the Philippines in the first half of the year.

Kimball Electronics will hold a ribbon-cutting on February 6, 2026 at its new Indianapolis medical manufacturing facility and announced plans to rebrand as Kimball Solutions later this year.

Kamstrup boosted THT line throughput by 20 percent and reclaimed 6 meters of factory floor space after replacing wave soldering with Nordson’s SELECT Synchro selective soldering system.

Tagarno reported a 62 percent year-over-year increase in US sales in the fourth quarter and 43 percent year-over-year growth in the second half.

American Standard Circuits and Sunstone Circuits have unified under the ASC brand family, introducing a refreshed identity.

Pinnacle Technology Group has rebranded as PTG Electronics, introducing a new name and visual identity.

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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.