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How does a European PCB manufacturer navigate the competitive manufacturing landscape in Europe? By participating in standards development committee meetings, testifying before the European Commission on industry issues, and sponsoring hand-soldering competitions in the region.
Group ACB, based in France and Belgium, focuses on high-reliability applications. The 37-year-old company is also active in the Global Electronics Association, giving credit for helping ACB to raise awareness of electronics manufacturing in Europe.
“In fact, our largest PCB plant is in Belgium,” says Joachim Verhegge, plant director. “It is convenient that we are close to Brussels because the decision-making happens in Brussels.”
Kevin Tastets, group sales director, agrees. “In the U.S., you have the CHIPS Act, and we have set up the same thing in Europe with the European Chips Act,” he says. “The Association is very active in this, and since we are a key player in the supply chain in Europe, this is a critical issue for us. We advocate for the industry by telling the European Commission that we need a supply chain in Europe, we need some players, and some independent supply for critical projects. During COVID-19, for example, when we had a shortage of respirators, the politicians discovered what happens when you depend on another continent.”
Advocacy at the EU Level: Making PCBs Visible in Brussels
PCB fabricators have learned they needed to raise a common voice for Europe, “because we are not too organized on a national level,” Kevin says. “For example, there is the French Association, the Italian Association, the German Association, and the UK— even if they are not part of the European Union they are still part of the European continent—and the Global Electronics Association can have a voice to speak for all the countries.”
Continue reading this article in the Fall 2025 issue of Community Magazine.
