Oct 27, 2026 North American PCB Orders Surge as September Shipments Fall 6.4% YOY The North American PCB book-to-bill ratio reached 1.77 in September as bookings surged 229.4% year over year. Despite strong demand, shipments fell 6.4%, while material shortages pressured costs and lead times across the supply chain. Global Electronics Association

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Teardown reveals three theories for why iPhone Duo's screens keep cracking iFixit identified three possible design flaws behind the iPhone Duo’s cracked screens, including hinge malfunctions, misaligned rails and structural stress. Despite dust intrusion concerns, the foldable earned a provisional repairability score of 5/10. TechSpot

The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross This paper examines the risks and hidden costs of in-house solder dross recycling, highlighting contamination, compliance, quality, safety, and economic challenges that often outweigh perceived savings. Technical Paper

AI is a double-edged sword Researchers used AI to uncover decade-old PHP vulnerabilities that triggered millions of hacking attempts within hours. The critical flaws expose websites to remote attacks, prompting urgent patches and renewed concerns about AI accelerating both cybersecurity defenses and cybercrime. Taipei Times

Sponsor iX7059 SMT Edition: Next-Gen 3D X-ray Experience high-precision inline 3D X-ray inspection by Viscom with AI-powered defect detection, exceptional image quality, and reliable performance for complex SMT assemblies. Viscom SE

Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride Play Growing Role in Electronics Design, Manufacturing and Supply-Chain Strategy The Global Electronics Association and Accuris examine how SiC and GaN power devices are reshaping electronics design, manufacturing and sourcing. Their research highlights technology selection, board requirements, reliability and supply-chain planning as adoption grows. Global Electronics Association

Do Vacuum Packed PCBs Need Baking? Do we need to bake PCBs that are vacuum packed? Can additional baking cause other problems? 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 Training for Certified IPC Specialists BEST's 7711 Training Rework Kit is designed for certification/re-certification of Certified IPC Specialists (CIS) so employees can be tested for speed, accuracy and quality. BEST Inc

Musk says US$40bn chips debt closed; talks continue Elon Musk said SpaceX secured $40 billion in GPU debt financing, though pricing discussions remain ongoing. Rising investor concerns over AI spending and profitability threaten neocloud companies, while SpaceX leverages Starlink and launch revenues to strengthen its position. Taipei Times

A Foxconn Insider Says Apple Relaxed Its Quality Standards to Keep the Foldable in Supply Apple reportedly lowered quality-inspection standards to meet demand for its first foldable iPhone, increasing defective-screen risks. Foxconn has replaced affected materials, while production targets remain unchanged. Experts suspect hinge mechanisms may cause cracks. Trending on Weibo

High and Matched Refractive Index Liquid Adhesives for Optical Device High and matched refractive index liquid adhesives are required in several electronics devices, where the liquid adhesives are in the optical pathway. Technical Paper

Sponsor Need Improved Solder Joint Visibility? Solder Peel-A-Way® 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.

Microsoft offers voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees as AI leads to efficiency push Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 employees across four countries as rising AI infrastructure costs pressure spending. The initiative aims to improve capital efficiency, reshape its workforce, and prioritize talent for future AI-driven growth. CNBC

Meta plans $95 billion stock offering to fuel AI spending despite growing bubble fears Meta plans to raise $95 billion to fund its AI infrastructure expansion and superintelligence ambitions. The company launched $35 billion in offerings and plans further share sales as spending rises amid concerns about an AI investment bubble. TechSpot

The Effects of Solder Powder Size on Solder Paste Performance The size of the solder powder affects the performance of the solder paste in other ways. Shelf life, stencil life, reflow performance, voiding behavior, and reactivity / stability are all affected by solder powder size. Testing was conducted to measure each of these solders paste performance attributes for solder powders in both water-soluble and no clean solder pastes. Technical Paper

Sponsor Electronic Assembly Cleaning Basics Monitoring & effectively controlling chemistry concentration when cleaning electronic assemblies is crucial for maintaining optimal cleanliness results & preventing costly consequences. KYZEN

The AI Arms Race Nobody Talks About — and the Question Every Entrepreneur Should Be Asking Data discussions often focus on privacy, overlooking the deeper issue of autonomy. Companies collect extensive personal information, but individuals rarely question who benefits most. The article argues that data ownership and control deserve greater attention. Entrepreneur

Data Centers May Have A Frustrating Effect On Your Power Bills Rising AI data center demand is increasing electricity consumption & potentially raising household bills as utilities expand power infrastructure. Studies project significant price increases, while companies like Microsoft & Google pledge to cover costs, though implementation is uncertain. BGR

Sponsor Micro Dispensing Technology Leader DL Technology LLC develops customized dispensing needles and valves for the electronics assembly, industrial assembly, semiconductor packaging and medical industries. DL Technology

Anthropic's IPO plans: 900% revenue retention, but $80 billion in first-half losses Anthropic filed to list on Nasdaq under ticker ANT, advancing toward a major IPO as Claude and its AI coding tools drive growth. However, intensifying competition, safety controversies, and investor concerns over AI spending create significant challenges. CNBC

Results with Benchtop PCB Cleaning This paper examines the role variables play in aerosol cleaning and offers guidelines to improve an aerosol cleaning process. Technical Paper

The AI Packaging Challenge: 5 Reasons Panels Are Gaining Momentum Panel-level packaging could meet AI's demand for denser chip packages by boosting material utilization, production efficiency, and scalability. It enables advanced integration of processors, memory, and interconnects while offering an alternative to traditional wafer manufacturing. EE Times

Framing the Shift to 48V Automakers are adopting 48V electrical systems to reduce wiring weight, improve efficiency and support advanced vehicle technologies. Standardized connectors and zonal architectures simplify assembly, enhance safety, enable automation and prepare vehicles for software-defined mobility. EE Times

Sponsor Fastest 3D AOI in the Market Experience the latest, fastest AOI on the market: the TR7700QH SII, an Ultra-High-Speed 3D AOI capable of up to 80 cm²/sec. Smart Factory Ready solution. Test Research, Inc.

Electronics production growth accelerates on AI demand AI infrastructure demand boosted electronics production in Taiwan and other manufacturing hubs in 2026, but soaring memory prices strained supply chains as global PC and smartphone shipments plunged despite positive industry growth forecasts. EE News Europe