PEACHTREE CITY, GA – SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY is accepting entries for its 2026 New Product Introduction Awards for electronics assembly equipment, materials and software suppliers.

Colloquially referred to as the Engineer’s Choice Awards – a nod to the background and independence of the judges – the 19th annual NPI Awards recognize the leading new products for electronics assembly during the past 12 months. Recipients are selected by an independent panel of practicing industry engineers and are presented by CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY.

The 2025 winners included:

• DELO Industrial Adhesives — Adhesives
• SMartSol Technologies — Automation Tools
• Indium Corporation —Cored Wire
• ITW EAE — Cleaning Equipment
• KYZEN — Cleaning Materials
• INOVAXE — Component Storage
• Axxon-Mycronic — Dispensing Equipment
• Inspectis AB — First Article Inspection
• DuPont — Laminates
• Kurtz Ersa, Inc. — Rework and Repair Tools
• Intraratio Corporation — Software - Management
• Arch Systems — Software - Process Control
• Weller Tools GmbH — Soldering - Hand Tools
• BTU International — Soldering -Reflow
• Apollo Seiko — Soldering - Selective
• ITW EAE - Soldering — Wave
• Indium Corporation — Soldering Materials
• ViTrox - Test and Inspection -AOI
• Test Research, Inc. (TRI) — Test and Inspection -AXI
• Test Research, Inc. (TRI) —Test and Inspection - ICT
• Nordson Test & Inspection — Test and Inspection - SPI

How It Works

Entrants must submit a single registration form for each product and category entered. All entries must include a 250- to 1,000-word statement describing the product in the following terms:

• Creativity and innovation
• Compatibility with existing technology
• Cost-effectiveness
• Design
• Expected reliability
• Flexibility
• Expected maintainability/reparability
• Performance
• User-friendliness
• Speed/throughput.

Evaluations will be based on the above list.

The entry fee is $500 per product. The deadline for entries Dec. 19, 2025.

To be eligible, entries must have been introduced to market (any region) no earlier than Jan. 1, 2025.

Categories

Equipment: automation tools (conveyors, feeders, etc.); bonders; cleaning equipment; component placement - high-speed; component placement - multifunction; component placement - accessory technologies; component storage; device programming; dispensing equipment; labeling equipment; process control tools; rework and repair tools; screen/stencil printing; screen/stencil printing peripherals/consumables; soldering - reflow (convection); soldering – wave; soldering – selective; selective soldering tools and accessories; soldering – alternative (vapor phase, hot bar, laser, etc.); soldering – hand tools; test and inspection – AOI; test and inspection – AXI; test and inspection – ICT; test and inspection – SPI; test and inspection – functional test; first article inspection; curing ovens (for non-solder materials); ESD

Materials: adhesives; cleaning materials; coatings/encapsulants; underfills; thermal interface materials; flux; soldering materials (paste, bar, wire, core, etc.); cored wire

Software: process control; production; management (ERP, MRP, etc.)

Training Materials

Process Innovation (assemblers only)

For more information and to register, visit https://pcea.net/npi-award.

About Printed Circuit Engineering Association, Inc.®

Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)® (pcea.net) is a nonprofit association that promotes printed circuit engineering as a profession and encourages, facilitates, and promotes the exchange of information and integration of new design concepts through communications, seminars, workshops, and professional certification through a network of local and regional PCEA-affiliated groups. PCEA serves the global PCB community through print, digital and online products, as well as live and virtual events. PCEA publishes PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB (pcdandf.com) and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY (circuitsassembly.com), as well as the PCB UPdate (pcbupdate.com) e-newsletter. PCEA also produces the PRINTED CIRCUIT UNIVERSITY (printedcircuituniversity.com) online training platform, and trade shows and conferences, including PCB East (pcbeast.com), PCB Detroit (pcea.net/pcb-detroit) PCB West (pcbwest.com), PCB2Day workshop series, and PCEA Training (pceatraining.net), the industry leading training and certification program.

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