SAN JOSE -- Flex announced fiscal fourth quarter revenues rose 9.2% over a year ago, boosting the EMS firm to a record year.

ANAHEIM, CA – Summit Interconnect today announced the acquisition of printed circuit board fabricator Royal Circuit Solutions and its assembly affiliate Advanced Assembly for an undisclosed sum.

HAMBURG, GERMANY -- Yxlon International is rebranding as Comet Yxlon, the manufacturer of x-ray and CT inspection systems announced this week.

WASHINGTON — Worldwide sales of semiconductors totaled $151.7 billion during the first quarter, up 23% over 2021 but 0.5% less than the December period.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works reported first quarter revenue at its Test & Measurement and Electronics unit was up 8% year-over-year.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – May 3, 2022 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today announced Anaya Vardya and Doug Dixon have joined its board of directors.

BANGKOK – Fabrinet reported fiscal third quarter revenue of $564.4 million, up 17.8% year-over-year.

DRESDEN GERMANY – Cicor Group completed its acquisition of SMT Elektronik, according to reports.

SAN JOSE – Sanmina Corp. reported fiscal second quarter net sales were $1.9 billion, an increase of 12.5% year-over-year.

BURSA, MALAYSIA – Cnergenz expects to raise RM58 million (US$13.3 million) from its upcoming initial public offering here, according to reports.

HAWTHORNE, CA – OSI Systems reported fiscal third quarter revenues of $290.5 million, an increase of 2.4% year-over-year.

And we’re back!

After a (too long) break, PCEA meetups have restarted with a bang, with two local chapter meetings, plus the first national event in PCEA history.

Professional development was the focus of both chapter meetings. This can be looked at two ways: one in terms of technology advancements and the other tied to learning the basics of placement and routing.

The pandemic is driving change, not just to the way we work, but what we work on. Per John Watson of Altium, who spoke at both meetings, “Advancements in technology are partially a result of the pandemic.” The industry “forced us into redoing the way we do things.”

As reported by PCEA chief content officer Chelsey Drysdale, Watson says designs for IoT, drones and nanotechnology, among others, were “science fiction” just a decade ago. Today, they are commonplace, and others (additive manufacturing?) are right behind them.

Yet, while today’s designs are typified by higher frequencies, smaller boards, and bigger, heavier stackups, the industry is losing experience. A survey shared by Watson suggests more than half of designers plan to retire in the next 12 months.