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From the first cold call to finally receiving that first purchase order, the July PCB007 Magazine breaks down some critical parts of the sales stack. To up your sales game, read on!
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From the drilled hole to registration across multiple sequential lamination cycles, to the quality of your copper plating, via reliability in an HDI world is becoming an ever-greater challenge. This month we look at “The Hole Truth,” from creating the “perfect” via to how you can assure via quality and reliability, the first time, every time.
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For bare PCB board fabrication, defect reduction is a critical aspect of a company's bottom line profitability. In this issue, we examine how imaging, etching, and plating processes can provide information and insight into reducing defects and increasing yields.
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Tariff Uncertainty Weighs on Display Demand, Pricing, and the Supply of AMOLED Materials,
April 9, 2025 | TrendForceEstimated reading time: 1 minute
TrendForce reports that the U.S. began implementing reciprocal tariffs on April 9th, based largely on trade deficits. Consequently, Asia—particularly Southeast Asia, a key hub for the consumer electronics supply chain—has been significantly impacted. The display industry now faces potential tariffs on optical films and AMOLED organic light-emitting materials, which may drive up material costs. Meanwhile, end-user demand could weaken, and prices for finished products may rise.
While LCD panel production and related component manufacturing remain concentrated in Asia, most key components are produced in China for local supply. Display-related semiconductor components are also primarily made in Asia and are not directly exported to the U.S., meaning that LCD panels and related components are unlikely to be immediately affected by the ongoing tariff conflict.
However, China has announced retaliatory tariffs of 34% on certain U.S. imports, which may impact American suppliers of optical films and AMOLED organic materials. Some U.S.-based suppliers, in an effort to maintain their technological advantage, have opted not to set up production sites in China and instead ship products directly for use by Chinese panel makers. With higher tariffs now in place, these suppliers face significantly increased costs, which may affect their competitiveness and deter Chinese panel makers from using U.S.-sourced materials.
TrendForce warns that the U.S. tariff policy could dampen demand across a wide range of end-user products. A general increase in tariffs could trigger inflation and weaken consumer confidence. Consumers may reduce spending on electronics such as TVs and notebooks due to their limited disposable income. While a rebound in commercial IT demand was expected this year, uncertainty around economic policy may prompt businesses to rein in IT spending and delay purchases, slowing any recovery in the enterprise segment.
The outlook remains uncertain regarding the long-term implementation of these tariffs or the possibility of easing tensions. In the short term, consumer electronics brands are postponing shipments from production hubs in China and Southeast Asia. Brands and OEMs with facilities in Mexico are exploring ways to better utilize that capacity to gain a production cost advantage and mitigate tariff pressure.
If no policy changes are made, and considering most brands currently hold around three months of U.S.-bound inventory, end-product prices may begin rising as early as the second half of 2025 to offset increased tariff-related costs.
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China’s Rare Earth Exports to the US Surge 660% following Trade Agreement
07/23/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamRare earth element exports from China to the U.S. rose by 660% monthly, according to information released by Beijing’s General Administration of Customs, MSN reported.
The Chemical Connection: Sales Organization from a Capital Equipment Perspective
07/22/2025 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionThe sales organization for a capital equipment supplier to the PCB industry tends to differ slightly from a supplier that manufactures and sells circuit boards to their customers. After all, our sales depend on the printed circuit board manufacturer’s sales. If business falls off, you tend to delay or reconsider the need for new or upgraded capital equipment, and then our sales fall off. If your sales go up and you need to increase capacity or replace old equipment, our sales also trend upwards.
Maybank Becomes First Southeast Asian Bank to Grant Sustainability-Linked Loan to Austria’s AT&S
07/14/2025 | AT&SMaybank announced it is granting a Sustainability-Linked Loan (SLL) amounting to USD150 million to Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Malaysia (AT&S Malaysia).
Happy’s Tech Talk #40: Factors in PTH Reliability—Hole Voids
07/09/2025 | Happy Holden -- Column: Happy’s Tech TalkWhen we consider via reliability, the major contributing factors are typically processing deviations. These can be subtle and not always visible. One particularly insightful column was by Mike Carano, “Causes of Plating Voids, Pre-electroless Copper,” where he outlined some of the possible causes of hole defects for both plated through-hole (PTH) and blind vias.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/27/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007While news outside our industry keeps our attention occupied, the big news inside the industry is the rechristening of IPC as the Global Electronics Association. My must-reads begins with Marcy LaRont’s exclusive and informative interview with Dr. John Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. For designers, have we finally reached the point in time where autorouters will fulfill their potential?