Designers Notebook: Implementing Strategic Planning Principles for PCB Design
Flexible Thinking: Beyond DFM—PCB Design and Manufacturing as a Cooperative Effort
TLT Manufacturing, part of the Teltonika group, is assembling something Europe hasn’t seen in decades: a fully integrated electronics manufacturing hub in Vilnius, Lithuania. Last September, TLT officially opened High-Tech Hill, its new technology campus, simultaneously launching four facilities: two EMS plants, a large greenfield PCB fabrication plant, and a plastic injection molding operation. This move brings design, tooling, production, and full manufacturing services under one roof.
The PCB facility stands out in particular because it is the first greenfield PCB plant to open in Europe in more than 20 years, a notable achievement given the region’s stringent environmental and sustainability requirements.
I connected with TLT Manufacturing at both SMTAI and productronica in 2025 and finally had the opportunity to sit down with Vytautas Illgunas, chief commercial officer, to learn more about this impressive new European PCB facility.
Marcy LaRont: Vytautus, it is really good to talk with you in person. TLT has built the first PCB shop in Europe in over 20 years. That is a very big undertaking and accomplishment. What led TLT Manufacturing to that decision?
Vytautas Illgunas: As chief commercial officer at TLT PCB, my mission is to bring PCB manufacturing back to Europe, particularly for sectors that depend on secure and resilient supply chains, including defense, industrial automation, communications, and critical infrastructure.
Europe produces just 1.9% of the world's PCB supply. Europe needs PCB capacity and, frankly, nobody was building it. Over the past 20 years, Europe has been steadily losing PCB manufacturing capability, even for critical infrastructure products, such as defense and aerospace. Today, Europe imports most of its printed circuit boards, which creates real risks, both for our customers and for Europe's technological independence.
Our customers also want a reliable European PCB source with faster lead times and strong quality. ESG requirements do make it more challenging to build a factory in Europe, but with modern automation, we can meet those standards and reporting requirements.
To continue reading this interview, which originally appeared in the January 2026 edition of I-Connect007 Magazine, click here.
