WASHINGTON, DC -- The Printed Circuit Board Association of America celebrates the introduction of a crucial bill that will pave the way to reshore and restore America’s printed circuit board (PCB) industry.

"The challenge is that PCB production was offshored to heavily subsidized companies in Asia. This leaves American companies competing with countries,”said David Schild, executive director, PCBAA.

Over the past 30 years U.S. share of the world supply of PCBs shrunk from 30 percent to 4 percent because of offshoring. Congress is offering legislative solutions to reverse this trend.

Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Jim Justice (R-WV) introduced S.4569, the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act, to incentivize domestic manufacturing of PCBs. The bill provides a 25% tax credit for the purchase or acquisition of American-made PCBs.

This bill is a companion to H.R. 3597, the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act which also calls for the tax credit and a $3 billion grant program for support of American PCB manufacturers.

“These two bills impact both national and economic security. Every semiconductor needs a PCB to function. The challenge is that PCB production and know how has been offshored to heavily subsidized industries in Asia. This leaves American companies with the impossible task of competing with countries”, said David Schild, Executive Director of PCBAA. “We must reshore and restore this industry to reduce the reliance of other nations at the end of long and vulnerable supply chains.”

The American semiconductor industry is expanding because smart industrial policy has incentivized private investment. This legislation is the natural next step in an American manufacturing renaissance.

LAKE FOREST, CA ― May 2026 ― Semi-Kinetics, a leading provider of electronic manufacturing services, has named Colin Forgy as Manufacturing Manager at its Nampa, Idaho operation, adding a hands-on leader with a track record of improving performance on the production floor.

Forgy comes to Semi-Kinetics from Plexus Corp., where he spent nearly eight years moving through a series of leadership roles. Most recently, he managed a shared service factory, leading efforts to improve equipment utilization, streamline operations, and get more out of existing capacity without sacrificing quality.

Earlier in his time at Plexus, he oversaw defense manufacturing programs and delivered measurable results—pushing on-time delivery from 70% to 90%, cutting scrap down to under 1%, and driving more than $1 million in cost savings. His approach has consistently centered on tightening processes, aligning teams, and making sure the operation runs the way it’s supposed to.

He started his career at Micron Technology, where he worked his way up from the floor into leadership, building a foundation in high-volume manufacturing, team development, and day-to-day execution.

At Semi-Kinetics, Forgy will be responsible for keeping production moving efficiently while the company continues to grow. That includes refining processes, supporting the team on the floor, and making sure customer expectations are met without adding unnecessary complexity.

He holds an MBA from Purdue Global and a bachelor’s degree in business management from University of Phoenix.

For Semi-Kinetics, the move is a practical one: bringing in someone who understands how to run a factory, improve it, and keep it aligned with what customers actually need.

SANTA CLARA, CA ― May 2026 ― Absolute EMS, Inc., a Silicon Valley–based provider of high-technology electronics manufacturing services, has expanded its advanced assembly capabilities with the addition of the SASinno Americas PF-6T high-precision connector press-fitting system. The new equipment introduces a tightly controlled, solder-free connector insertion process that enhances reliability, repeatability, and traceability for complex electronic assemblies.

For Absolute EMS customers, the new capability means improved connector reliability, reduced risk of heat-related board damage, greater process documentation, and more consistent assembly outcomes. The system also shortens installation time while reducing the likelihood of rework caused by improper insertion force or misalignment.

The PF-6T is designed for high-precision connector press-fitting applications and supports demanding products that require stable mechanical and electrical performance. By using press-fit technology to insert fisheye pin connectors directly into printed circuit boards, the system eliminates the thermal shock stress associated with traditional soldering. This approach avoids solder residue and protrusions while delivering reliable contact impedance and strong high-frequency characteristics—benefits that are increasingly important in advanced industrial, automotive, and high-performance electronic applications.

The system operates on a servo-driven, closed-loop control platform that monitors both force and displacement in real time. With positioning precision of ±0.02 mm and pressure accuracy within ±1 percent, the PF-6T provides consistent, documented insertion results across production runs. Real-time pressure and displacement curve monitoring, along with integrated SPC data tracking, gives Absolute EMS and its customers full visibility into the press-fitting process.

The system accommodates PCB sizes up to 580 mm by 900 mm and allows programmable control of insertion position, speed, pressure, and stroke profiles. This flexibility supports rapid product introduction as well as high-mix and scalable production programs.

Founded in 1996, Absolute EMS operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company specializes in controlled, repeatable manufacturing processes designed to support miniaturization, rapid product introduction, and scalable production—helping customers navigate onshoring initiatives and increasingly complex supply chain requirements.

For more information about Absolute EMS, visit www.absolute-ems.com.

May 2026 — VJ Electronix, Inc., the leader in rework technologies and global provider of advanced X-ray inspection and component counting systems, has appointed The Murray Percival Company as its manufacturers’ representative for Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

A third-generation, family-owned business with more than 60 years of experience, The Murray Percival Company is well known throughout the PCB and electronics assembly industry for its technical knowledge and strong customer relationships. The company supports manufacturers with a broad range of assembly equipment, materials, and production solutions, along with a focus on helping customers improve processes and maximize return on investment.

Through this partnership, Murray Percival will represent VJ Electronix’s full line of solutions, including automated rework systems, X-ray inspection platforms, and component counting systems. The goal is simple—provide local support and help manufacturers solve real production challenges with practical, proven technology.

“Bruce Clark and the Murray Percival team bring a deep understanding of the industry and a long track record of supporting customers the right way,” said Don Naugler, General Manager at VJ Electronix. “Their approach aligns well with how we work, and we’re looking forward to building on that in the Midwest.”

Bringing Murray Percival on board gives VJ Electronix a stronger local presence in a region with a solid base of electronics manufacturing, making it easier for customers to access support and expertise when they need it.

VJ Electronix continues to grow its North American rep network to stay closer to customers and respond more quickly.

For more information about VJ Electronix, visit www.vjelectronix.com. For more information about The Murray Percival Company, visit www.murraypercival.com.