PCB UPdate logo
facebook      twitter      linkedin      linkedin     
April 3rd, 2026
News and Resources for PCB Design, Fab and Assembly Professionals Subscribe •  Advertise •  PCD&F •  Circuits Assembly •  Tell A Friend
THE LEAD

Intel is moving to regain full control of its Ireland fab with a $14.2B buyback. Researchers push electronics in a new direction with bioengineered circuits that mimic human brain connectivity.

TECH NEWS

It’s been about a decade since the conclusion of the DARPA Robotics Challenge, and many in the industry believe humanoid robots are about to have a transformative moment.

Researchers developed a bioengineered neural circuit platform that mimics human brain wiring, enabling controlled study of complex neuron networks.

Researchers explore solution-based assembly methods for 2D nanosheets to create bulk-like crystal structures, improving performance in large-area electronics.

Researchers develop soft, biodegradable electronics capable of long-range wireless monitoring of deep-tissue physiological signals, advancing implantable sensing technologies.

PCB East 2026 exhibition floor is sold out, with more than 85 exhibitors and expanded participation including AMD, Cadence/EMA, Indium, Lattice and Parmi.

PCEA is offering free technical sessions and a keynote at PCB East 2026, covering AI, UHDI, simulation and PCB design best practices.

Karen Burnham highlights key EMC challenges in PCB design and emphasizes integrating EMC early in high-speed layouts ahead of PCB East 2026 on the PCB Chat podcast.

CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY announced the winners of the 2026 New Product Introduction (NPI) Awards, recognizing leading electronics assembly equipment, materials and software introduced over the past year.

Francisco Aguilar, CEO of Bounce Imaging, will keynote PCB East 2026, sharing how a prototype 360-degree tactical camera evolved into a mission-critical tool through iterative design and EMS collaboration.

PCB Detroit will return to Wayne State University June 15-16 with technical sessions covering ESD, EMI, RF design, thin copper impacts, thermal management, signal integrity and AI-driven PCB workflows, alongside a tabletop exhibition and networking events.

PCEA will debut the PCB Management Forum at PCB East on April 28, focusing on AI adoption, material shortages and workforce challenges.

CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY has opened registration for the 2026 Service Excellence Awards, inviting EMS providers and industry suppliers to benchmark customer service performance through direct customer feedback ahead of the April 31 deadline.

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.

BOARD BUYING
The Phantom Menace of PCB Purchasing: How to Avoid 'Ghost Manufacturing'
You’ve done your homework. You evaluated a new PCB supplier in China, negotiated a great piece price and placed your order. Weeks later, the boards arrive at your dock. They pass incoming inspection, hit the assembly line and everything seems fine.

GREG PAPANDREW

Greg Papandrew





















BUSINESS NEWS

Intel will buy back a 49 percent stake in its Ireland Fab 34 joint venture for $14.B, regaining full control of the facility.

Memory spiked first, CPUs followed. Now PCBs could be the next victim of the AI boom.

Beijing plans to direct industry funding toward its emerging space computing sector, supporting early-stage development.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics raises FC-BGA substrate prices as AI and HPC demand continues to outpace supply.

VS Industry reported a net loss of RM29.6M for the second quarter ended Jan. 31, down from its net profit of RM15.4M a year ago.

C-Hawk expands Southeast Asia manufacturing with new facilities in Malaysia and Vietnam.

Sharp, Japan Radio and SKY Perfect JSAT are collaborating on a defense-backed project to develop multi-orbit satellite communications systems

MacDermid Alpha installs cyanide-free ENIG process at Shenzhen Moker.

SEMI appoints Mary Bischoping senior director of public policy and advocacy.

BEST PRACTICES
Beyond DRC: Constraint-Driven Design as an Ongoing Relationship
n the relentless pursuit of innovation, the world of PCB design often spotlights the heroics of schematic capture and layout. We meticulously route traces, place components, and then, with a sigh of relief, hit the “run DRC” button.

STEPHEN V. CHAVEZ

Stephen V. Chavez






















TECHNICAL ARTICLES

Consider Manufacturing Complexity When PCB Designs Have Tight Hole-to-Trace Spacing
PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY


Mechanochemically Activatable Liquid Metal Powders for Sustainable, Reconfigurable, and Versatile Electronics
Advanced Functional Materials


Reconfigurable Superconducting Quantum Circuits Enabled by Micro-Scale Liquid-Metal Interconnects
Quantum Physics


EVENTS

Apr. 28-May 1: PCB East 2026Worcester, MA
May 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12: Certified Printed Circuit Design Training, Online
May 26-29: IEEE Electronic Components and Technology ConferenceOrlando, FL
June 2-4: Fac Tec China 2026Shanghai, China
June 9-10: EIPC Summer Conference, Lithuania
June 9-11: ZIW Americas 2026Dallas, TX
June 15-16: PCB Detroit 2026Detroit, MI
June 24-26: Vietnam Intcomm 2026 & Electronic Vietnam 2026Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Sept. 29-Oct. 2: PCB West 2026Santa Clara, CA
Feb. 17-19, 2027: Nepcon JapanTokyo, Japan


 

BOOK-TO-BILLS/MARKET TRENDS
             Dec. Trend
EMS 1.24 Up
Semiconductors         25.6% Up
PCBs 1.18 Up
Component Sales Sentiment 120.1 Down
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