May 22, 2026

Counterfeit Electronic Components: Why Quality is so Important Counterfeit electronic components are surging as memory shortages persist and AI enables tougher-to-detect fakes. ERAI reports more incidents in 2024, pushing manufacturers to tighten sourcing controls as bad parts disrupt production and raise costs. Sourceability

Sponsor Gripping Systems from micro assembly to heavy lifting The first industrial-suited grippers from SCHUNK were a milestone. Since then we have brought countless newly and further developments to market. SCHUNK

Scaling the Next Generation of Multi-Die Systems The semiconductor industry is pushing chiplet architectures into production, confronting interconnect, packaging, power, and thermal limits. A new conference highlights multi-die systems, EDA bottlenecks, AI-driven design, advanced packaging, and photonics solutions. 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

Job training for robots: How China is getting machines ready to join the workforce Chinese firms train humanoid robots at specialized centers, teaching them tasks through repeated human-guided motion capture. The initiative aims to advance industrial automation, expand robotics jobs, and position China as global leader in robotic labor markets. CNBC

Sponsor EZ-FLO High Precision Ceramic Dispense Tips The ceramic molding process allows for smaller more precise inner diameters with a glass-like finish, giving you the ultimate control. Learn more. DL Technology

Taiwan is cracking down on AI chip smuggling Taiwanese prosecutors seek detention of three suspects accused of falsifying documents to route restricted Super Micro AI servers with Nvidia chips to China, bypassing US export controls, signaling tougher enforcement over semiconductor supply chains. TechSpot

Feasibility of Plasmonic Circuits Merged with Silicon Integrated Circuits Plasmonic signal transmission via nanoscale plasmonic waveguides is a technique with the potential to increase the information transfer capacity in silicon integrated circuits. Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ 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 ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support ■ How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance ■ A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor ■ RAIG Minimizes Corrosion, Allows Higher Gold on ENEPIG ■ High Reliability Lead-Free Solder Paste with Rosin and Anti-Crack Resin MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Fast PCBs, Fully Assembled Need it fast? Summit delivers quick-turn PCB fabrication and assembly on compressed timelines—no shortcuts, just speed and precision from one source. Summit Interconnect

SpaceX, OpenAI valuations could mean they leapfrog Berkshire Hathaway on first day of trading Slew of tech mega-IPOs including SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic prepare to go public, with traders expecting trillion-dollar debuts that could surpass Berkshire Hathaway's market cap and even challenge Meta and Tesla amid booming prediction-market optimism. CNBC

Trump postpones AI executive order signing: 'I didn't like certain aspects' President Donald Trump postponed a planned executive order signing on AI, saying he disliked certain aspects and feared it could hinder U.S. leadership over China. The order would have enabled pre-evaluation of AI models for security risks. CNBC

The Versatile Preform This paper discusses attributes within the solder families that the preforms are composed of and considerations when considering solder preforms. Technical Paper

Sponsor Is My PCB Wash Concentration in Check Evaluating wash concentration levels through varying testing methods can potentially save process time, reduce overall process costs, and increase cleaning efficacy on PBCs. Read more. KYZEN

11 Mistakes That Are Ruining The Lithium Batteries In Your Devices Lithium-ion batteries power electronics and EVs, but poor charging habits, cheap accessories, and heat exposure quickly degrade performance. Experts urge using certified chargers, smart charging features, and temperature control to extend lifespan and reduce costly replacements. BGR

How to Actually Use AI to Make Your Supply Chain Run Smoothly and Efficiently, According to an AI Architect Businesses across the ecommerce sector are rapidly adopting generative AI to meet rising market demands. Retailers use AI-driven automation to personalize customer experiences, streamline supply chains, boost conversion rates by up to 30%, and cut operational costs by 25%. Entrepreneur

Oxide Alternative Process for High Frequency Bonding Applications This paper highlights the challenges made with conventional Sulphuric-Peroxide based Oxide Replacement bonding enhancement system. Technical Paper

Sponsor Vapor Phase Profiling Thermal profiling the vapor phase soldering process – especially those with vacuum – is challenging. ECD's M-VP™ sealed barrier can take it. Learn more. ECD

Gartner Urges Supply Chain Execs to Adopt Autonomous Business Strategies Gartner urges supply chain leaders to move beyond basic automation and adopt autonomous AI-driven operations to manage global disruptions, as executives highlight AI agents, robotics, and human-AI collaboration reshaping logistics and warehouses. EE Times

The Future of Physical AI Isn't Smarter Robots, It's Smarter Interfaces Wetour Robotics says Physical AI's next breakthrough lies in human-machine interaction, not robot capability. Its Spatial Intent Fusion merges body position, gaze, and gestures in real time to control devices without screens, buttons, or voice. enabling seamless device control. IEEE Spectrum

Sponsor Boost Reballing with EZReball Preforms EZReball reballing preforms provide fast, clean, and accurate reballing of complex BGA packages while eliminating traditional complexities and the need for operator dexterity. BEST Inc

Tesla brings 'Full Self-Driving (Supervised)' to China after years of delays as local EV rivals race ahead Tesla launched its "Full Self-Driving" (Supervised) system in China after years of delays, marking its first confirmed rollout in the market. The move intensifies competition with Chinese EV makers, though Tesla still awaits clarity on broader regulatory approval and consumer availability. CNBC

Common PCB Design Decisions that Cause Manufacturing Problems What are the most common design decisions that can have a negative impact on the PCB assembly manufacture and how could we correct them during the design? The Assembly Brothers, Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall, discuss this scenario and share their suggestions. Board Talk

Samsung Electronics shares rally 6% after union suspends strike following tentative wage deal Samsung Electronics shares surged over 6% after its labor union suspended a planned 18-day strike & reached a tentative wage agreement. Strong Nvidia earnings also boosted semiconductor stocks, easing fears of production disruptions and major economic losses in South Korea. CNBC

What if the direction of a magnet could shape the building blocks of life? Researchers in Israel discovered that magnetic field direction and electron spin can influence how life’s molecules behave and separate isotopes. The findings suggest magnetism may have shaped early chemical processes, molecular handedness, and the origins of life on early Earth. Phys.org

Sponsor Openair-Plasma for Semiconductor Manufacturing Openair-Plasma for semicon-ductor production is an alternative to vacuum plasma. Typical apps are wire bonding, die bonding & pre-molding. Download here. Plasmatreat GmbH

Self-driving car boss admits autonomous vehicles still lack 'common sense' Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after one vehicle drove into Texas floodwater, exposing limits in autonomous driving. AI executives say self-driving systems lack common sense, relying on training data instead of adaptive reasoning in novel situations. Female First