CHARLOTTE, NC – Family-owned electronics assemblies manufacturing company expands to support economic development and growth of the electronics industry and bolster the local economy. “This move is a strategic decision and vision for the future allows us to better serve our customers in the electronics manufacturing industry and expand our reach in the US and global market,” said Ketul Gondha, President/CEO.

The new facility at 10100 Sardis Crossing Drive Charlotte, NC, 28270 consolidates their two existing facilities with 37,000+ square feet of production space designed for adaptability, plus seven acres of land for future expansion. American Circuits, Inc. can shift production sequences, reallocate resources, and utilize increased capacity to service customers in Health Tech, Military, Transportation, Energy and a multitude of other industries. American Circuits, Inc. is ISO 9001 Certified and ITAR Registered.

American Circuits, Inc. is a leading electronics assemblies manufacturing company supplying critical electronic products, service portfolio includes Printed Circuit Boards (PCB), PCB Reverse Engineering, unmatched Electro-Mechanical Assembly Services, Kitting Service, Testing and Design services wire harness and cable assembly. A manufacturer of parts, and supplier of engineering services to over 200 companies in end-markets including healthcare, defense, manufacturing, energy, transportation and logistics, financial services, food and agriculture, water and wastewater treatment, and public works, among others.

NEW YORK – This week saw two major announcements in the US air taxi sector. Joby Aviation raised another $500M from prior-backer and partner Toyota and Beta Technologies unveiled Monday a new passenger-carrying vehicle. While still in its nascent stages, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) taxi market presents a compelling longer-term investment opportunity, particularly in the US and Korea. Driven by eVTOL tech advancements, a growing need for efficient urban transport solutions, and supportive government initiatives, the market looks to be poised for lift off.

Market Growth and Drivers

The global air taxi market is projected to experience significant growth, with estimates ranging from $4.04 billion at a CAGR of 23% to USD 8 billion by 2030-32. North America dominated the global market in 2023 with 30%+, due to technological innovation, investment, and favorable regulations. Key growth factors include:

• Advancements in high-energy-density batteries and efficient electric propulsion have extended flight ranges, and increased safety and reliability.
• Air taxis offer a potential solution to traffic Congestion in major cities by utilizing airspace, providing faster and more efficient point-to-point travel.
• The FAA is actively working on regulatory and certification processes and air traffic management systems for low-altitude urban airspace.
• An Influx of capital from VCs, tech giants, and established aerospace manufacturers is driving innovation and accelerating commercialization.

Key Players and Strategies

California startup Joby Aviation is a leading market contender backed by a substantial investment from Toyota now $894M. Its focus is now on obtaining FAA Type 2 Certification for commercial ops and scaling up production with Toyota's support. Joby acquired Uber’s air taxi moonshot Elevate in 2020 in a deal that saw Uber invest $75M, and it aims to make trips as affordable as an Uber Black.

LA’s Archer Aviation is another key US player. Its strategy centers around leveraging existing infrastructure like unused airports and helipads to minimize initial investment. Its data-driven approach to vertiport location selection, using customer data from partners like Southwest and United Airlines, ensures high demand and efficient routing and offers seamless integration with existing airline networks. Archer also has a partnership with automaker Stellantis, and aims to serve LA’s SoFi Stadium for major sport events like the 2026 World Cup, and the 2028 Olympics.

Vermont’s Beta Technologies has raised $860M+ from investors like Amazon. Its core strategy is to sell aircraft and infrastructure to defense, cargo, and medical logistics companies with existing UPS and U.S. Air Force deals. Beta is also expanding into air taxis by adapting its existing eVTOL aircraft. Its cargo focus and partnerships with potential customers like Blade give it a potential advantage.

Market Challenges

While the air taxi industry holds promise, challenges include:

• A lengthy and stringent Certification and Safety process.
• Development of supporting infrastructure like vertiports, charging stations, and maintenance facilities through public/private sector collaboration.
• Solving financial viability to move from R&D/testing to commercialization will require substantial investment and strong demand, which isn’t yet certain.

Investment Landscape and Opportunities

So how realistic is the investment opportunity?

• High Upside Potential with the industry still in its early stages.
• Cutting-edge Tech Proxy. The sector is driven by rapid tech advancements in battery tech, autonomous flight, and AI, so offers good exposure to these.
• The growing number of strategic partnerships between startups, aerospace & tech companies, and airlines gives the sector a degree of credibility and inevitability.
• Government Support through funding, regulatory initiatives, and pilot programs also gives it credibility.

Korea: Another Promising Market

With its focus on technological innovation and urban mobility solutions, South Korea is emerging as a significant player in the air taxi market. The Korean government's support through regulatory initiatives and pilot projects, coupled with investments in infrastructure development, creates a favorable environment. Archer has strategic partnerships with local ride-sharing player Kakao Mobility to integrate into its mobile app. Supernal, a Hyundai subsidiary, is also developing an eVTOL aircraft, targeting commercial passenger flights by 2028.

Conclusion

While challenges remain, the market's high growth potential, tech advancements, industry interest and increasing traction offer significant opportunities for investors. As the industry matures, investors who identify and back the right flying horses could reap substantial rewards. Air taxi companies like Archer and Joby are incurring deep R&D and logistics losses, per SEC filings, and this will only increase as they scale up so they likely won’t be profitable any time soon. This looks like another long- to mid-term play in the current environment unless the government intervenes.

HARRISBURG, PA – Cumberland Electronics Strategic Supply Solutions (CE3S), your strategic sourcing, professional solutions and distribution partner, is pleased to announce the expansion of its Tool and Production Supply offerings. With a focus on being a true "one-stop shop," CE3S delivers a wide range of tools and products designed to support every step of the production process, ensuring efficiency and reliability for its customers.

CE3S offers an extensive selection of products, from soldering tools and ESD protection to precision hand tools and adhesives, sourced from trusted brands across the industry. These solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of electronics manufacturers, streamlining the sourcing process and enhancing production capabilities.

“At CE3S, we understand the importance of having the right tools for the job, especially in the fast-paced world of electronics manufacturing,” said Jeremy Wagner, President at CE3S. “Our goal is to provide everything our customers need in one place, from clamping and holding tools to workstation accessories. By offering high-quality products from top brands, we help manufacturers maintain smooth operations and improve productivity.”

Key offerings in the CE3S Tool and Production Supply line include:

• Clamping & Holding Tools
• Precision Hand Tools & Tweezers
• Cutting Tools and Blades
• Packaging & Protective Materials
• Dispensing Tools & Applicators
• Ergonomic Tools & Anti-Fatigue Products
• Epoxies & Adhesives
• Tapes & Dicing Tapes
• Labeling & Identification Solutions
• Tool Organizers & Storage Racks
• Workstation Accessories

Whether companies require specialized adhesives, precision cutting tools, or ergonomic equipment to improve worker comfort, CE3S provides a reliable, all-encompassing solution that meets the needs of electronics manufacturers. With a dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, CE3S continues to be a trusted partner, delivering essential tools that drive efficiency and success.

For more information on CE3S Tool and Production Supply offerings, visit www.ce3s.com or contact sales@ce3s.com 

NEW YORK – Global technology intelligence firm ABI Research recently completed its 2024 Manufacturers' Technology Adoption & Attitudes Survey, a comprehensive survey of 461 manufacturing decision-makers across the United States, Malaysia, and Germany to uncover real-world attitudes, adoption trends, and valuable insights that reflect the current technological landscape within the manufacturing industry. When asked which criteria were most important when evaluating a new solution or vendor, 64% of respondents ranked a robust onboarding process with training, resources, and post-sales follow-up as the most critical.

"Improving quality and productivity levels are key objectives for survey respondents. However, an overriding concern is how to deploy the technologies to achieve those objectives. Manufacturers require assurance that they will receive adequate support and training resources to quickly adapt, along with ongoing follow-up from the vendor," explains Michael Larner, Distinguished Analyst at ABI Research.

Vendors often prioritize outlining potential investment outcomes to provide evidence of return on investment. Benefits will take longer to accrue if users cannot fully understand and properly utilize the solution. To avoid this, the vendor or their partners must be present during the initial launch, provide training resources that enable users to map the solution to their workflows, and adhere to a strict follow-up plan with the customer. These measures will require investment in the post-sales process, emphasizing partners' education so that they effectively represent the vendor in onboarding processes.

The survey further revealed that recruiting and retaining staff is challenging for manufacturers. The lack of skills underscores the concerns not only regarding deploying technologies but also fully grasping the opportunities that digital technologies offer. "Hand holding by the vendor will be required when manufacturers are devising Proofs of Concept (PoCs), evaluating suppliers, and implementing solutions at their facilities," Larner concludes.

These findings are from ABI Research's Industrial and Manufacturing Survey 1H 2024: What Are Respondents Looking for from Vendors? report. This report is part of the company's Industrial & Manufacturing Technologies research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.