July 10, 2026

North American PCB Market Gains Momentum with 1.60 Book-to-Bill Ratio in May North American PCB demand stayed strong in May 2026 as AI infrastructure spending pushed the Global Electronics Association's book-to-bill ratio to 1.60. Shipments rose 11.9% year over year, while bookings surged 102.8%, signaling continued industry growth. Global Electronics Association

Sponsor Need Improved Solder Joint Visibility? Solder Peel-A-Wayš Removable Terminal Carriers in place and peel the carrier away for complete solder joint visibility on both sides of the PCB. Watch a video to see it in action. Advanced Interconnections Corp.

Where Does Quantum Computing Stand? Quantum computing continues advancing despite hardware, error-correction and software hurdles. Experts expect specialized systems to emerge before general-purpose machines, with early commercial deployments complementing classical computing in science and industry. Semiconductor Engineering

Salvaging Electronic Components: A Reliable Method for Reducing Electronic Waste and Ensuring Economic Reuse Component salvaging provides a reliable and consistent method of harvesting electronic components, reducing electronic waste, minimizing fabrication of new components, and ensuring economic reuse for automated assembly. Technical Paper

PC Market Runs Low on RAM to Grow: Shipments Decline 4.9% as Memory Crunch Bites, according to IDC IDC reports global PC shipments fell 4.9% to 68.2 million units in Q2 2026 as memory shortages, storage constraints, and geopolitical pressures hit supply. Vendors raised prices, Apple gained share, and larger brands strengthened their market advantage. IDC

Sponsor PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support Mini Micro Stencil, a contract manufacturer focused on PCB rework, has relied on real-time X-ray inspection to verify its precision rework as the industry has evolved over 30 years. Glenbrook Technologies

US Weighs Removing Steering Wheel Requirement for Driverless Cars NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison supports removing steering wheels and brake pedals from fully autonomous vehicles, arguing cars designed for driverless operation don't need manual controls. He backs innovation while maintaining safety oversight for rare failures. CNET

Predicting Mid-Chip Solder Balling Is there a calculation that can be used to predict solder balling? We would like to design our stencil apertures to ensure no mid-chip solder balls. The Assembly Brothers, Jim Hall and Phil Zarrow, discuss design suggestions to prevent solder balling. Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ 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 ■ Salvaging Electronic Components: A Reliable Method for Reducing Electronic Waste and Ensuring Economic Reuse ■ Digital Warehouse Automation in High-Mix PCB Assembly ■ Evaluation of Techniques for Intentional Contamination of PWB Substrates for Quantitative Cleanliness Analyses ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Is your PCB surface finish surviving the wash? Aqueous cleaning can stain or strip ImSn, ImAg & ENIG finishes. Get test data on protecting surface finish integrity post-reflow. ZESTRON Americas

Apple's foldable could arrive on schedule as Foxconn hires temporary workers to ramp up production Foxconn has begun mass production of Apple's first foldable iPhone, rapidly hiring temporary workers at its Shenzhen factory to meet demand. Apple targets up to 10 million units, with an expected September launch and a phased global rollout through late 2026. Digital Trends

Why Founders Need to Treat Credibility as a Growth Strategy AI makes credibility a key growth driver as buyers and investors demand clear positioning and third-party validation. Companies that blur their message face slower sales, confusion and lost momentum, while trusted brands earn chances to prove value. Entrepreneur

Assembly and Reliability of a Novel High Density Dual Row MaxQFP The paper focuses on all aspects of SMT assembly of the MaxQFP. The robustness of the assembly in automotive type board-level thermal cycling will be demonstrated. Technical Paper

Sponsor Corrosion, UV Protection for Power Transmission Moisture, corrosive gas, oxidation & UV blocking prop-erties. FLUOROSEAL® confor-mal coating for electrical contacts & ceramic insulator protection. AI Technology, Inc.

India's iPhone manufacturing receives a boost after tariff cuts on key components India has removed import duties on key smartphone and electronics components until 2029, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing and battery production. The move supports its $500 billion electronics target and could accelerate Apple's expanding iPhone production in India. First Post

New York becomes the first state to ban smart glasses in courtrooms New York will become the first state to ban smart glasses with cameras or microphones in all state courts from July 20. The statewide rule aims to prevent covert recordings, protect jury privacy, and strengthen courtroom security despite growing adoption of wearable AI devices. TechSpot

Enhance the Shock Performance of Ultra-Large BGA Components A study on the rubber standoffs and gaskets. The effectiveness of rubber standoffs and rubber gaskets as shock/vibration mitigation have been evaluated. Technical Paper

Sponsor Reflow Oven and Wave Soldering Machine Maintenance Cleaning Maintenance cleaning is imperative. Investment in a cleaning schedule and chemistry creates reliable processes to extend equipment life. KYZEN

IMF Says India Is Benefiting From Global Supply Chain Shift The IMF said global supply chain diversification is boosting India's manufacturing sector, especially electronics, with exports rising 24% in FY2025-26. It urged India to sustain reforms and strengthen competitiveness to achieve developed nation status by 2047. India New England News

OpenAI's newest AI model is 54% more token efficient on agentic coding, Altman tells CNBC OpenAI launched its GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna AI models, with CEO Sam Altman highlighting 54% better token efficiency for agentic coding and strong competitive performance. The company introduced the models to select partners after completing U.S. government safety reviews. CNBC

Sponsor "Ask the Experts" Program by Circuitnet Do you have a question or process issue in PCB assembly? The Circuitnet "Ask the Expert's" program has over 100 panel members waiting to answer your question. Submit question now. Circuitnet Media LLC

Meta jumps into AI coding market in effort to chase Anthropic and OpenAI Meta has launched Muse Spark 1.1, its most advanced AI model for coding and autonomous agents, expanding public API access with competitive pricing. The update strengthens Meta’s push against OpenAI and Anthropic while advancing its broader proprietary AI strategy. CNBC

Not All Things Are Created Equal - OSP and Cleaning Chemistries To better understand OSP and de-flux interactions, a study of OSP with four different de-flux cleaning chemistries is discussed. Technical Paper

From Prototype to Production: New Guideline Helps Industry Design, Integrate and Scale Reliable E-Textile Systems The Global Electronics Association released a new e-textiles guideline that gives developers a shared framework for design, testing and deployment. The resource helps improve reliability, durability, sustainability and faster commercialization of wearable technologies. Global Electronics Association

Meet SK Hynix, the trillion-dollar South Korean chipmaker debuting on U.S. markets SK Hynix begins trading on Nasdaq, giving U.S. investors direct exposure to the AI-driven memory boom. Strong demand for high-bandwidth memory, major U.S. expansion plans, and long-term supply contracts position the chipmaker for continued growth despite market risks. CNBC

Sponsor What are your economic depaneling needs? Our depaneling machines are high-performance machines for single circuit boards with electronic components. The cutting principles are fast, the best quality. SCHUNK

What AI companies want for the millions they're spending on elections AI political action committees have spent at least $44 million backing 2026 midterm candidates, aiming to shape future federal AI regulation. With more than $200 million raised, the industry is emerging as a powerful force influencing Congress's approach to AI policy. CNBC