Happy’s Tech Talk #50: Start Your Digitalization Strategy With Automation
The Chemical Connection: A Few Things That Still Scare Me
The Right Approach: The Top 5 Scariest Things About AI in PCB Fabrication
This week I’ve been in Rosemont, Illinois, attending SMTA International, pressing my finger more firmly on the pulse of the electronics manufacturing industry. It’s always good to see long-time colleagues and make new connections. The sentiment on the show floor is best described as “disciplined.” There is plenty of work to be done, and the internal systems must adapt to accommodate the demand.
It’s interesting to me that my selection of must-reads also reflects the conversations I’ve found myself having with fellow attendees: financials, market growth, supply chain resilience, and AI. Keep an out for my review next week, as well as the many interviews we conducted with exhibitors this week.
My picks include two columns, two news items, and one article. First, Tom Kastner tells us how the industry heavyweights are doing, while Steve Williams ponders the potentially dark side of AI on the floor, and what to do about it. The Global Electronics Association’s Advanced Electronics Packaging Technology (ADEPT) Council launched a satellite council in Taiwan, and server CPU shipments grew 40%, with ARM entering the mix in a big way. Finally, Dan Thau of Millennium Circuits discusses turning supply chain uncertainty into action.
Punching Out: How Are the Big Boys Doing Now?
Published October 26
In his column, Punching Out, Tom Kastner will periodically review how the larger North America-based public companies in the PCB and EMS industry are doing; that time has come once again. If you’re looking for concise information on the overall performance in the top tier of U.S. fab and assembly, then this column is for you.
Server CPU Shipments to Grow Over 40% in 2027 as Arm Gains Share
Published October 23
Server CPU shipments are projected to increase 31% YoY in 2026. What’s driving the growth? AI, of course. But what are the numbers behind that growth? This TrendForce article explains.
The Supplier’s Job Has Changed: Turning PCB Supply Chain Uncertainty into Action
Published October 26
Columnist Dan Thau opines that what fabs need in a supplier is someone who can tell them what all the recent changes in the supply chain mean for their program, and what they should do about it. Thau believes that's where the role of PCB suppliers is changing, and his argument is well worth a read.
The Right Approach: The Top 5 Scariest Things About AI in PCB Fabrication
Published October 27
Longtime I-Connect007 columnist Steve Williams shares some cautionary points to consider when implementing AI in our factories. This column originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of I-Connect007 Magazine, where Williams shares some valid concerns about AI on the floor, but he doesn’t stop there. Instead, he offers some resolutions. It’s a good read.
Global Electronics Association's ADEPT Council Deepens Taiwan Presence as First Satellite Council Holds Inaugural In-Person Meeting
Published October 23
ADEPT Taiwan held its inaugural in-person meeting on Oct. 23. ADEPT Taiwan is the first satellite council, and will focus on advanced packaging, in particular supporting the packaging needs for AI and high-performance computing. Its planned task areas include component-to-board integration challenges, high layer count and HDI PCBs for AI and HPC applications, and substrate-like PCB technology.
