Crowded halls at Productronica set the scene, but the real action is the shift from isolated specialties to a connected electronics ecosystem. I sit down with Mike Buetow, President of PCEA (Printed Circuit Engineering Association and Publisher of Circuits Assembly to talk about the throughline from PCB design to fabrication to assembly—and what it takes to build a workforce ready to carry that vision. From a 40-hour, practitioner-built PCB design curriculum to university partnerships a...

A Nordic acquisition with outsized impact: I sit down with Kitron Group President and CEO Peter Nilsson to unpack why bringing DeltaNordic into the Kitron family is more than a geographic play. It unlocks entrenched capability in electrical cabinets and control boards for combat vehicles and naval platforms, backed by fresh orders and the kind of incumbency that turns programs into multi-year revenue. We connect the dots between tier-one defense relationships, predictable volumes, and a growt...

The floor at Productronica hummed with a cautious optimism: after nearly two years of headwinds, signs of a turn are appearing in Europe. I sat down with Koh Young’s Michael Zahn and Joel Scutchfield to compare notes across Europe, the US, and Mexico—where industrial electronics, defense, smart home, and heating systems are on the rise while automotive remains subdued. What stood out wasn’t just where orders are coming from, but who is moving first: midsize EMS firms and privately owned manuf...

Deals change the game only when they change what you can do for customers. That's the heartbeat of our conversation as we break down InCap’s planned acquisition of Lacon Group, a Germany-based EMS and ODM player with sites across Bavaria, northern Germany, and Romania. In this conversation with InCap CEO Otto Pukk, I dive into why Germany’s the cornerstone of European EMS, how local engineering talent shifts the work from build-to-print toward design collaboration, and why this move is about ...

A bustling Global Electronics Association booth at Productronica sets the stage for a candid conversation with Chief Global Officer Sanjay Huprikar about what real global collaboration looks like when it’s working. We trace a clear arc: India’s surge through training and engagement, China’s evolution from certification powerhouse to standards initiator, and Europe’s EMS leaders discovering that a neutral room can turn competitors into co-problem-solvers. The throughline is practical and power...

Productronica 2025 sets the stage for this novel leadership story: how a business major found purpose in the SMT and EMS industry, learned the language of machines and yields, and stepped into the COO role. I sat down with Koh Young Europe COO Solin Ahmed to unpack what it really takes to lead in a technical market without an engineering degree—fluency, curiosity, and the discipline to connect factory realities with customer expectations. Guided by a 49-year SMT veteran, Solin shows how ment...

Europe’s EMS market isn’t just busy—it’s redrawing the map in real time. We sit down at Productronica 2025 to unpack how a slow Q1 turned into a full-throttle M&A sprint, and why the leaderboard is changing faster than most expected. From targeted buys that unlock Spain, France, North Africa, and Switzerland to bold moves in aerospace and defense, the story isn’t growth for growth’s sake—it’s about building resilient portfolios that win on proximity, margin, and capability. We dig into C...

In this episode of EMS & The Economist with Global Electronics Association Shawn DuBravac, we start with the longest U.S. government shutdown on record and how it choked off official data when leaders needed it most. With unemployment figures stale and signals flashing mixed, we turned to industry metrics: book‑to‑bill ratios that look balanced, backlogs that finally eased, and a defense sector still pulling hard, especially in Europe. From there, we dive into the AI surge. Yes, the inve...

Sitting down at FermionX with Managing Director Will Patrick, we explore how a third-generation MD took a family electronics manufacturer from tribal knowledge to a data-first operation that customers can see, trust, and scale with. We start with the lineage—granddad’s silkscreen craft evolving to PCBs, then assembly—and why honoring that service and customer focussed ethic made the transformation stick. Then we lift the hood on the digital rebuild: a modern MES for full traceability, powerf...

How does a manufacturing company double in size with limited workforce availability? What role will AI play in the future of electronics manufacturing? Nicole Russo from Microboard provides powerful insights into these questions and more during our conversation at APEX 2025. Looking to establish their second manufacturing site, potentially in the western United States, Microboard stands at an exciting crossroads. Having already doubled their business over the past six years, they're strategi...

Amid the bustling energy of APEX 2025, there's a sense that electronics manufacturing is at a pivotal point. Despite swirling uncertainties about politics, trade, and economic conditions, some companies aren't waiting for perfect clarity—some are moving forward with confidence and purpose. Reshoring momentum is real. "It's a directive, a mandate for certain customers, certain manufacturers, to get out of China," the panel notes. This shift particularly benefits America's mid-tier EMS compani...

When production becomes the North Star of manufacturing leadership, everything changes. Oscar, who has evolved from engineering manager to leader of engineering and production at ALL Circuits, reveals the shift in mindset that's transformed their Guadalajara facility. His refreshingly practical approach centers on making production results the focal point for every department—from quality to efficiency to personnel. This conversation delves into one of manufacturing's most persistent ch...

The electronics industry has reached a pivotal moment of transformation, and leading the charge is a familiar organization with a brand new identity. In this revealing conversation, John Mitchell, President and CEO, announces the rebrand of IPC as the Global Electronics Association – a name that finally captures the true essence of the organization. "The name literally represents who we are and what we've been doing for some time," Mitchell explains, addressing how the former acronym – while ...

Mexico's electronics has always been one of the main events at APEX, but this year they are doubling down! I explore the journey of IPC Mexico and their first-ever dedicated pavilion at Apex after 25 years of Mexican participation at the show. Lorena Villanueva, the dynamic leader of IPC Mexico, reveals their groundbreaking "three-helix" strategy that's reshaping their position in the Mexican electronics landscape. By forging deep partnerships between state governments (including aeros...

The landscape of European manufacturing is undergoing a profound transformation, caught between geopolitical tensions, shifting economic priorities, and technological disruption. Harald Eppinger of Koh Young offers a candid assessment of where Europe stands and what's needed to revitalize its industrial leadership. "We are competitive in technology, we have the right people in charge," Eppinger asserts, highlighting that Europe's challenges stem not from capability but from hesitation. This ...

Amid global economic uncertainty and shifting trade policies, how do manufacturing companies navigate choppy waters? Otto Pukk, President & CEO of InCap joins us to reveal the advantages of a decentralized leadership approach during turbulent times. "There is always some crisis and always some turbulence," Otto reflects with refreshing pragmatism. Rather than centralizing control, InCap has thrived by empowering local management teams across their global facilities. "We have excellent ma...

As the landscape of electronics manufacturing undergoes rapid transformation, industry leaders are grappling with how to navigate uncertainty while capitalizing on emerging opportunities. At APEX 2025, Allison Budvarson, COO and co-founder of Out of the Box Manufacturing offered a open and honest look at these dynamics, revealing how her company maintains its core focus amid shifting market conditions. The conversation tackles one of the most significant trends affecting American manufacturi...

Europe's defense industrial base stands at a critical inflection point. Military experts warn we have just three to five years to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities before facing potentially devastating security challenges. I talked about these trends and the European response with Kitron Group's President and CEO, Peter Nilsson and Managing Director of Kitron AS, Hans Petter Thomassen, who participated in the “Implementation Dialogue on EU Defence” with Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, h...

Lou Hughes, President and CEO of IMI, brings us inside the evolving world of global electronics manufacturing where uncertainty has become the only certainty. From his perspective leading a major EMS provider through turbulent times, Hughes shares candid insights about how companies are adapting to constant disruption. The conversation opens with a frank assessment of tariff uncertainties and their paralyzing effect on customer decision-making. "I think our customers are totally frustrated by...

In this compelling conversation, Sanjay Huprikar shares insights into his expanded role overseeing IPC's global strategy across Europe, India, Southeast Asia, the US, and Canada. As the newly appointed Chief Global Officer for an association serving a $3 trillion global industry, Huprikar offers a unique perspective on how trade associations must evolve to serve increasingly complex, multinational member companies. Key Discussion Points: The New Global Paradigm: How IPC is redefining "global"...