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What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
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From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
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Elephantech Secures Mitsubishi Electric Investment to Boost SustainaCircuits Globally
March 12, 2026 | ElephantechEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Elephantech Inc. announced a strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi Electric will invest JPY 4 billion in Elephantech’s Series F financing. The partnership will accelerate the global adoption of SustainaCircuits, Elephantech’s proprietary sustainable printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing solution, establishing it as an industry standard.
Great Synergy for Industry-Scale Deployment
Leveraging its strength in advanced nanomaterials and inkjet technologies, Elephantech has pioneered SustainaCircuits, a low environmental impact PCB manufacturing solution that significantly reduces copper consumption, process complexity, and production costs compared with conventional alternatives. The company is actively advancing industrial implementation of SustainaCircuits to drive broader market adoption.
In particular, the solution strategically targets general-purpose multilayer PCBs, which account for a substantial share of the approximately JPY 10 trillion global PCB market. In 2024, Elephantech successfully developed inkjet printing equipment and advanced materials (copper nanoink and primer) designed for this segment. Since then, the company has focused on validation and integration activities to introduce the technology into mass production lines at PCB manufacturers’ facilities.
Mitsubishi Electric brings extensive expertise in its Factory Automation Systems business, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products to PCB manufacturers. Recognized for high performance and reliability, the company has maintained a strong global presence across the PCB industry.
The partnership combines Elephantech’s technological advantages with Mitsubishi Electric’s capabilities in industrial equipment development, manufacturing excellence and global customer network. Together, the two companies aim to strengthen mass production capacity and expand sales of SustainaCircuits inkjet equipment now gaining traction among PCB manufacturers, further accelerating the widespread deployment of SustainaCircuits.
Executive Comments
Takayuki Tsuzuki, Executive Officer and Group President, Factory Automation Systems at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, said: “Elephantech’s new manufacturing method is an extremely effective solution that meets the growing need to both lower manufacturing costs and reduce the environmental impact of PCB production. We are confident that combining our longstanding expertise in FA development, manufacturing and sales with Elephantech’s innovative technology will create ideal synergy and deliver added value to our customers.”
Shinya Shimizu, CEO of Elephantech stated: “Driven by our commitment to revolutionize the PCB industry through nanomaterials innovation, we have come to a stage where stable equipment production, smooth delivery to the market and reliable operation at customer sites are the top priorities. Our partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, a leading manufacturing equipment supplier in the PCB industry, provides strong momentum for us to accelerate the global deployment of SustainaCircuits.”
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Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
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Driving Precision: All4-PCB’s Push for Smarter Inspection and Better Boards
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At KYZEN, Cleaning is All About Reliability
04/17/2026 | Real Time with... APEX EXPOJason Schwartz discusses KYZEN's advanced cleaning solutions for PCB assembly with Dan Beaulieu at APEX EXPO 2026. KYZEN has a 35-year legacy in defluxing, innovative real-time process control, and commitment to ensuring electronic reliability. How KYZEN partners with manufacturers through process audits and lab testing to maintain optimal cleaning standards is part of this conversation.
Applications, Challenges, and the Future of Flex–Packaging Integration, Part 2
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Transfer of The ICAPE Group's Liquidity Contract to TPICAP
04/15/2026 | BUSINESS WIREICAPE Group, a global technology distributor of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and custom electronic components, announces the transfer of its liquidity contract to TPICAP.