Fresh PCB Concepts: Key Considerations for Reliability, Performance, and Compliance in PCBs
Elementary Mr. Watson: Navigating RF—A Glide Path Approach to Design Success
Designers Notebook: Layer Stackup Planning for RF Circuit Boards
Voices of the Industry: Alpha Circuit
May 6, 2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Business Always Finds a Way
Prashant Patel, founder and president of Alpha Circuit, takes a pragmatic approach to doing business: “Commerce always wins out,” he says. How will potential tariffs and shifts in the economy affect PCB manufacturing? Prashant offers sound advice.
Marcy LaRont: Prshant, what is the “state of the state” of your business?
Prashant Patel: Our business is going quite well. As we get our new Tech Center in Schaumburg going, we are starting to fill it with high-end business. We are hearing from many new customers who are pleased with our Tech Center because it can handle their product today and in the future. Many new customers are bringing their latest technology to us, which is gratifying since we have made a huge investment in that facility. We still have the Elmhurst facility for our more standard technology.
Overall, things are good. I am no expert on the rest of the industry, but from what I hear from my counterparts, everyone seems to be getting busy.
LaRont: With a new administration in Washington, what are you most concerned about? How does it weigh into your strategy for the next few years?
Patel: Business is business, and politicians are politicians. In the end, commerce always wins out. People, companies, and countries want to do business with each other. We need to do business with each other, and we always find a way.
If you are talking about the tariffs, I am not too concerned about that since we all have to pay them in one way or another. If there are tariffs on laminates, for example, all PCB shops are paying them, so it is still an equal playing field. My personal philosophy is to run my own race and stay in my lane. I care about what I can do something about, like my own company.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the April 2025 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
The Government Circuit: Trump’s Trade War Disrupts the Electronics Ecosystem
05/06/2025 | Chris Mitchell -- Column: The Government CircuitThere is certainly no shortage of work to be done in the IPC Government Relations department, as the U.S. waged a tariff campaign on practically every industrial country in the world and several countries embarked on high-tech initiatives with a mix of approaches to the crucial foundations of electronics manufacturing. Indeed, the breadth and speed of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign continues to be a serious challenge for our industry.
TV Brands May Pass U.S. Tariff Costs to Consumers; 2025 Shipments Expected to Drop 0.7%
04/30/2025 | TrendForceTrendForce’s latest research indicates that U.S. reciprocal tariffs are likely to drive TV brands to pass rising costs onto consumers through higher retail prices in the second half of 2025, further weakening consumer spending momentum.
Choosing the Right Strategic Path
04/29/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineTom Yang, CEO of CEE PCB, discusses the current economic challenges, noting reduced purchasing power post-pandemic. He highlights the growing demand for HDI in consumer electronics due to AI growth. Tom also expresses concerns about tariffs under the new U.S. administration, prompting CEE to diversify production locations, including new plants in Southeast Asia. He emphasizes the need for PCB manufacturers to adapt strategically amidst rising costs and fierce competition, particularly for mid-sized shops facing unique challenges in the industry.
Mycronic Posts Interim Report January-March 2025
04/25/2025 | MycronicMycronic announced its interim report for the period of January to March 2025, revealing a strong performance in the first quarter. The company reported significant increases in order intake and net sales, alongside a healthy EBIT margin.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
04/18/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineIt’s been a busy week in our industry. Never a dull moment! If you’ve been paying attention to our tariff tumult with China and its effect on the stock market, especially if your company does a lot of business with China, you might be tempted to call in a Xanax refill about now. But hang tight. This is still early in the first quarter. This brouhaha serves to underscore our need to manufacture critical laminates and components in the U.S. In this week’s must-reads, we have a potpourri of articles covering tariffs, the next generation of HDI, the three-year anniversary of IPC Mexico, a novel green technology, and emerging design trends.