PENANG, MALAYSIA – Escatec has opened a new production facility in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, to meet an increasing demand for nearshoring production in Europe.

KULIM, MALAYSIA – Rapid Manufacturing has announced a new facility here to serve in the aerospace, telecommunication, medical, semiconductor, automotive, and industrial automation sectors, as well as house a regional center to set up a center of excellence.

TAIPEI – Foxconn's overall sales in May rose by 5% in from April's totals because of shipment growth in smart consumer electronics devices, but the NT$450.73 billion ($14.68 billion) earned for the month marked a 9.45% decrease from May 2022.

When it comes to the monthly editorial content in PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY, we typically don't do "themes."

So it's a matter of randomness and luck that we have not one, not two, but three pieces this month related to electronics thermal management and cooling. Fitting, too, being the month of June is, for the Western Hemisphere at least, on average the warmest of the year to date.

But June is also the month of the most significant trade show in the bare board fabrication industry: The JPCA Show in Tokyo. Regrettably, few Westerners will attend. It's too bad.

We are seeing significant interest at all levels – technical, management, and even political – at beefing up domestic printed circuit board capabilities. In particular, the West is attempting to make up for decades of failed progress with new investments in IC substrate production.