The Marketing Minute: A Brand Visibility Playbook—Get Seen, Heard, and Remembered
American Made Advocacy: Supporting the Entire PCB Ecosystem—Materials to OEMs
Marcy's Musings: The Hole Truth—Via Integrity in an HDI World
electronica 2016 Impressions
November 17, 2016 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Germany’s third-largest city, and capital of the southeastern state of Bavaria, Munich was once more host to electronica, which can justifiably claim to be the world’s leading trade fair for electronic components, systems and applications. With more than 2,500 exhibitors filling 13 halls of the Messe München exhibition centre, and attracting more than 70,000 visitors, more than half of whom from over 80 countries world-wide, this year’s event was almost overwhelming in size and content. Definitely the place to be to meet the whole electronics industry value chain from designer to OEM, to see the components, systems and applications that will enable next-generation developments, and to form trading relationships and partnerships.
Cold and damp outside with an occasional sprinkling of snow, breathtakingly hot in the halls and with many miles to walk (I am reliably informed that we clocked over 30 during the four days of the show, wearing our least uncomfortable shoes), our focus as the I-Connect007 team was to talk with designers and software vendors, PCB fabricators and material suppliers, EMS companies, technology innovators, trade association representatives and anyone interesting we happened to meet on the way. For all the miles we walked, we saw but a fraction of what was on display. To our relief, the universal international language was English and we could communicate constructively with everyone we visited.
The electronica 2016 show was an extremely busy show all round, and one which indicated conclusively that Europe has a leading role in the design of innovative new products, particularly in automotive, medical and industrial electronics. As manufacture scales up, the trend is for these products, having originated in Europe, to migrate to Asia for larger series production. There was a preponderance of PCB manufacturers and EMS providers in Hall B4—some large German companies, some smaller specialists from elsewhere in Europe, and many major Asian suppliers.
It was interesting to hear the opinions of Michael Weinhold, technical director of EIPC, the European electronics association: “You will see European PCB fabricators here with their products, and companies from Asia making the same products. In many cases, they are not in competition because most of the professional and profitable European PCB fabricators have partners in Asia. This is not a competition anymore; this is a partnership.”
Slide Show from this event Part 1:
Page 1 of 2
Share on:
Suggested Items
IPC Update on the Latest U.S.– China Trade Announcement
06/18/2025 | IPCOn June 12, the Trump Administration announced an agreement to implement the framework of the trade deal with China reached earlier in May. Reports indicate the following high-level terms: A 55% combined tariff on imports from China, 10% “reciprocal” tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 20% IEEPA-based fentanyl tariffs, and Existing Section 301 tariffs, which in many cases are 25%.
New Method to Blend Functions for Soft Electronics
06/18/2025 | ACN NewswireSoft electronics are an exciting and innovative class of technology that brings together bendable, stretchable semiconducting materials for applications in areas ranging from fashion to healthcare.
SEMI FlexTech Solicits Proposals for Advancing the Future of Flexible Hybrid Electronics
06/18/2025 | SEMIFlexTech, a SEMI Technology Community, today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to advance flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) technologies, including the development of advanced materials and additive processing.
STI Celebrates Travis Wease’s 10 Years of Dedicated Service
06/17/2025 | STI Electronics, Inc.STI Electronics, Inc., a full-service organization providing training services, training materials, analytical/failure analysis, prototyping, and contract electronic manufacturing, proudly celebrated the 10-year work anniversary of Travis Wease, Master Instructor and valued team member.
Altus Enhances Through-Hole Inspection at Kentec Electronics
06/17/2025 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading distributor of capital equipment for the electronics manufacturing industry, has partnered with Kentec Electronics Ltd., a UK-based OEM of life safety control panels, to deliver a new standard in through-hole inspection using Magic-ray Technology's advanced AOI solutions.