The Global Electronics Association Is Future Forward

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Suggested Items

Cyberattack via Ransomware at Major EMS Provider Foxconn

05/15/2026 | I-Connect007 Editorial Team
A recent cyberattack targeting Foxconn has once again exposed the growing vulnerability of global manufacturing and electronics supply chains to ransomware operations. According to CyberScoop, the attack disrupted operations at several of Foxconn’s North American facilities, temporarily forcing some production activities into manual workarounds while systems were restored.

Punching Out: How Are the Big Boys in Electronics Doing?

05/12/2026 | Tom Kastner -- Column: Punching Out!
Let’s see what the public companies are up to in the PCB and EMS industries. In North America, there are only a couple of publicly traded PCB companies: TTM Technologies and Firan Technology Group. On the EMS side, there are a few more: Flex, Jabil, Celestica, Sanmina,, Benchmark, Fabrinet, Kimball Electronics, Plexus Corp, Nortech Systems, and Key Tronic Corp. From an M&A standpoint, these public companies have been fairly quiet in the past five years. FTG completed two deals in 2022 (IMI and Holaday), Flex had three deals, Jabil had five deals, and Sanmina had one deal.

I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

05/08/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007
This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.

Connect the Dots: Designing for the Future of Manufacturing Reality—Surface Finish

05/07/2026 | Matt Stevenson -- Column: Connect the Dots
When designing the complex boards that many electronic devices require to operate, designers should consider manufacturability at every step. This is my last article focused on designing for the always-evolving manufacturing reality. Choosing the right surface finish has always been important. If you are creating intricate designs with a wide variety of components, like for an ultra-high density interconnect (UHDI) board, surface finish is a critical last step.

Trouble in Your Tank: In Complex Systems, Design Rules Aren’t Optional

05/06/2026 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your Tank
There is no question that the electronics industry, especially in circuit board design and fabrication, advanced packaging, and innovation throughout the value chain, has seen a significant transformation, whether it be in materials, system architecture, HDI and ultra HDI, semiconductors, or chiplets. AI and high-performance computing (HPC) are driving change across several fronts, including material properties, assembly techniques (think hybrid bonding), and power management.