Oct 29, 2026 Excess Electronic Components Could be Someone Else's Supply AI-driven demand is tightening component supplies, extending lead times and raising prices. Analysts urge procurement teams to tap surplus inventory from cancelled orders, revised forecasts & obsolete designs to secure parts & ease shortages across electronics manufacturing. Sourceability

Sponsor Optically Clear Nanosilica Filled Epoxy Master Bond EP4NS-80 is a low viscosity epoxy for bonding and sealing that possesses excellent dimensional stability, low CTE and minimal shrinkage upon curing. Master Bond

Intel Wants a Quantum Business, Classiq Could Help Build One Intel plans to acquire Classiq to bring its quantum computing research to market, combining quantum hardware, control electronics and software with enterprise algorithm design. The deal positions Intel to pursue commercial opportunities across diverse quantum platforms. EE Times

Evaluation of Techniques for Intentional Contamination of PWB Substrates for Quantitative Cleanliness Analyses Intentional contamination of PWBs offers a practical and controlled approach for evaluating cleanliness analysis techniques and for developing meaningful and effective cleanliness guidelines. Technical Paper

North American EMS Orders Climb Despite Lower September Shipments The Global Electronics Association reports a 1.68 EMS book-to-bill ratio for September 2026, as bookings rose 41.7% year over year while shipments fell 10.8%. Year-to-date bookings climbed 19.3%, signaling strong demand and longer lead times. Global Electronics Association

Sponsor 3 Ways to Increase Plasma Uniformity Process temperature is the most important parameter in the plasma process. Process temperature has primary control over etch rate and has a secondary effect on etch uniformity. Read more. Plasma Etch

Samsung Electronics shares slid despite record profit in the third-quarter Samsung Electronics reported record fourth-quarter-like performance for a fourth consecutive quarter, driven by booming AI memory demand, with semiconductor profits surging. Shares fell 4.13% as investors questioned valuation and the company's growing reliance on memory chips. CNBC

Is Baking Required After Water Cleaning? Do circuit board assemblies need to be baked after routine aqueous cleaning? If so, how long and at what temperature? Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ 5 Major Challenges in Image Sensor Packaging and How to Solve Them ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ Oxide Reduction for Reliable Electronics Manufacturing ■ UHDI Fabrication for IC Substrates: SAP and mSAP Processes ■ Flux-Free, Reliable, Efficient: Soldering with Formic Acid ■ Redesigning Material Logistics for High-Mix EMS Production ■ Unlocking Academic-Industry Synergy: A Collaborative Model for Hands-On Electronics Manufacturing Education ■ Viscosity Does Not Equal Rheology: What Solder Paste Measurements Really Tell You MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Professional BGA Component Reballing Need to restore a BGA component? Our controlled reballing process includes solder ball removal, precision reballing, custom fixtures, and rigorous inspection for reliable results. Circuit Technology Center

Hands-on with Apple's first touchscreen laptop: Touch is totally optional Apple unveiled its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models, pairing tandem OLED displays, Dynamic Island and illuminated logos with optional touch controls. The macOS laptops retain keyboards and trackpads, targeting creators and professionals seeking better display quality. CNBC

Gartner Predicts 30% of Employees Replaced by AI Will Be Rehired by 2029 if Organizations Don’t Overhaul Workforce Planning Gartner reports that only 19% of organizations plan workforces effectively around AI and business goals. Its new framework prioritizes enterprise strategy before workforce decisions, helping leaders align talent and technology to improve revenue and cost performance. Gartner

Computed Tomography on Electronic Components The combination of improved computers, detectors, and new software has allowed the addition of a fourth dimension to a computed tomography data set. Technical Paper

Sponsor Highly Thermally & Electrically Conductive TLPS via Filing Paste New filing highlights advanced sintered metal paste enabling faster installation, superior heat dissipation, higher conductivity, and reliable thermal drain performance without long processing cycles. Ormet TLPS

Systems Thinking Is Vital in the Age of AI AI is reshaping engineering by helping professionals explore designs, analyze research, and test solutions. Engineers must combine AI capabilities with human judgment, specialist expertise, systems thinking, and adaptability to ensure safe, and practical, responsible outcomes. IEEE Spectrum

Gartner says only 3% of organizations are getting AI cost savings from productivity, yet 85% plan to spend more Gartner reports only 3% of organizations exceed AI cost-saving targets through productivity gains, despite widespread executive optimism. With 38% overspending and 85% planning increased investment, businesses must clarify AI goals and redirect saved employee time. TechSpot

Is Cleaning Critical to POP Assemblies? Paper addresses the cleanliness level of package-on-package assemblies including underneath package-on-package components. Technical Paper

Sponsor 5 Major Challenges in Image Sensor Packaging and How to Solve Them Filter glass sealing, CTE mismatch, fine-pitch processing, warpage control, and outgassing – learn about AEC-Q100-compliant adhesives for automotive image sensor packaging. DELO Industrial Adhesives

iPhone Duo vs. Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Which Foldable Is Right For You? Apple's iPhone Duo emphasizes widescreen entertainment, compact design and refined software, while Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold delivers camera versatility and multitasking. Both cost about $1,900 but target different preferences in the growing foldable-phone market. BGR

Metal-free magnetic sensor can be safely implanted for wireless monitoring Researchers have developed a biocompatible, metal-free magnet that enables wireless heart monitoring through implanted sensors. Tested in pigs, the biodegradable patch accurately measured cardiac function before gradually breaking down into nontoxic molecules. Phys.org

Sponsor AEC Grade-0 and MSL Level-1 Conductive Paste & Film Adhesives 240° Tg and ultra-high thermal stability for AEC Grade-0 applications. Proven rapid and snap curing die-attach paste for ultimate productivity. AI Technology, Inc.

Google alters its cloud playbook, enlisting partners to sell more AI chips Google is expanding its AI chip business by partnering with Oracle to offer TPUs externally, challenging Nvidia's dominance. Strong demand from Anthropic and OpenAI could boost revenue, although lower margins and infrastructure demands pose challenges for future growth. CNBC

Stereo Vision Based Automated Solder Ball Height Detection An automatic, stereo vision based, in-line ball height inspection method is presented. This includes an imaging setup with a computer vision algorithm. Technical Paper

New growth drivers, policy push raise industrial profits China's industrial profits rose 15.5% to 6.03 trillion yuan in the first three quarters of 2026, driven by booming electronics and high-tech manufacturing. Officials urged stronger domestic demand & continued technological upgrades to sustain growth & address sectoral weaknesses. China Daily

Electronics, high-tech manufacturing drive double-digit growth in China's industrial profits China's major industrial firms increased profits 15.5% to 6.03 trillion yuan in the first nine months of 2026, driven by booming electronics and high-tech manufacturing, as surging AI and data center demand accelerated industrial growth. China Daily

Sponsor Dedicated Tool for Process Development Advanced plating capability at Uyemura Tech Center: Process Development, UBM, pilot production. ENIG, ENEPIG, EPIG/EPAG, RAIG immersion gold; all substrates. On-site analysis. Uyemura

Your Samsung TV Could Allegedly Use Other Bluetooth Devices To Listen To You - Here's How Samsung smart TVs may share users' device activity with third parties, according to a security analyst. Many consumers unknowingly accept tracking terms by skipping lengthy agreements, raising privacy concerns about how technology companies collect and use personal data. BGR