Learning With Leo: What Is the Cost of Quality Brought About by Training?
Nolan’s Notes: A Tribute to Iola—and Automation
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Solderability Test Methods, Myths, and Realities
Salt Creek Capital Portfolio Company Acquired Blackfox
December 29, 2023 | Salt Creek CapitalEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Salt Creek Capital is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding, has acquired Blackfox Training Institute. Founded in 1996, Blackfox is a leading provider of IPC training and certification services. Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding is also the owner of EPTAC, an internationally recognized leader in IPC training and certification.
Combining EPTAC and Blackfox under the same ownership creates one the largest IPC training and certification providers in the U.S., with greater access to in-person and online services to customers around the world.
Burak Gokmen, CEO of Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding, stated, “EPTAC is known for its consistency in providing premier training services with the highest-quality instructors in the industry. Blackfox is a natural addition for Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding, as we will be able to leverage both companies’ geographical footprints and industry focuses. Al Dill and the exceptional employees at Blackfox have utilized their deep industry knowledge to build an impressive company, and we are very pleased to add their outstanding team members as part of the combined company.”
Al Dill, former CEO of Blackfox, said, “We are pleased to have joined forces with EPTAC. Our shared values include focusing on developing better IPC training and certification programs for our customers, making this an easy transition. We look forward to promoting our full program line to the industry.”
Tyler Romrell, Vice President of Salt Creek Capital, added, “Burak continues to demonstrate excellence as a leader and executive since partnering with Salt Creek to acquire EPTAC in 2021. We’re excited to continue supporting Burak and his team through the acquisition of Blackfox as well as the Company’s future expansion efforts in the years to come.”
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
12/05/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007It’s been another big week in global business news with positive projections on global economic growth, primarily driven by AI. U.S. labor markets are showing some strain after copious layoff activity, and there’s possibly a slight “correction” in the stock market, with investors apparently concerned about corporate overvaluation. My must-reads are interesting, informative, and important for industry members, particularly in the U.S. These selections range from onshoring high-tech thermal control to the value of training, recognizing interconnect defects, and an important statement from the Global Electronics Association regarding the USMCA.
Learning With Leo: What Is the Cost of Quality Brought About by Training?
12/03/2025 | Leo Lambert -- Column: Learning With LeoIn electronics manufacturing, conversations about training often revolve around one narrow question: What does it cost? Training requires time, materials, instructor fees, and occasionally travel. Under tight budget constraints, it is understandable that organizations scrutinize these expenses. However, this perspective misses a far more important and financially meaningful point: What is the cost of quality brought about by training? Framed differently: What does it cost when training does not occur?
Goaltech: Engineering the Workforce of Tomorrow
11/28/2025 | Alejandra Luna and Noe Rojas, GoaltechIn the global supply chain, technical standards are the common language. But behind every production line lies something even more fundamental: skilled and certified people. That has always been the mission of Goaltech, a Mexican company that for over 15 years has been dedicated to raising the competitiveness of the industry through training, certification, and technological integration.
The Heart of the Electronics Industry Beats in Guanajuato: Salomon Ceballos
11/26/2025 | Lorena Villanueva, Global Electronics Association MexicoTechnological revolutions aren’t only measured in gigabytes, robots, or PCBs. They're also measured in people. In Guanajuato, the most strategic resource being built is not machinery, but talent. At the center of this transformation is Salomón Ceballos, general director of the State Training Institute (IECA). What makes IECA unique isn’t just its facilities, it’s its approach. Unlike most training institutes under the Education Department, IECA is part of Guanajuato’s Ministry of Economy, and that changes everything.
The Purity of Certification
11/19/2025 | Juan Balderrama, Global Electronics Association MexicoThe global context has changed dramatically. The United States has imposed tariffs on China and other countries with the goal of protecting its market and reducing dependence on distant supply chains. This measure has triggered a strategic realignment in manufacturing: Many companies are now seeking to establish operations closer to their main customer.