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MARCH 2025 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 53 • 2003: Pendleton, South Carolina, plant closed down • 2005: Wipperfürth, Germany, plant closed down. Aerward, the factory was sold to two different companies for unclad laminate business over the next nine years, and finally closed its doors forever • 2017: Singapore FR-4 plant closed down • 2018: Chandler, Arizona, FR-4 fac- tory sold to Rogers Corp., and stayed in operation until 2019 • 2020: Nippon Denkai acquired the Oak Mitsui copper foil plant in Cam- den, South Carolina • 2024: In December, Nippon Denkai announced closure of that copper foil plant in Camden is article shows that a business empire can get built, however, the stock market is decisive with regard to future develop- ments of a corporation. Everything can end within a short period of time. What became of me at Taconic? I stayed with its Advanced Dielectric Division until it was sold to AGC of Japan in mid- 2019. In those years, I moved from direc- tor of European sales to general manager of European operations to become VP of global sales. I stayed with AGC until my retirement in Spring 2023. In April 2023, I set up my own management consulting company in Shenzhen. A big thank you goes to several for- mer colleagues who fact-checked this article. PCB007 References 1. "Sayonara to the Last Standing Copper Foil Plant in North America," by Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007, Dec. 17, 2024. Manfred Huschka is CEO and senior consul- tant at Manfred Huschka Management Con- sulting (Shenzhen) Ltd. by Prashant Patel To get a clear look at the fu- ture, we must take a glimpse at the past. The North Ameri- can printed circuit board (PCB) industry has transformed dra- matically over the years. Once a powerhouse of global man- ufacturing, it now stands at a crossroads, driven by chal- lenges, innovation, and the relentless pace of technolog- ical change. Understanding the history, evolution, and fu- ture of the North American PCB market is essential to ap- preciating its role in the global electronics ecosystem. The North American PCB industry traces its roots to the mid-20th century when the United States was the epicenter of global electronics manufacturing. Military and aerospace applications, telecommunications, and early computing technologies drove the demand for PCB production. Companies like IBM and HP spear- headed innovation, and the region's strong industrial base enabled rapid technological advancements. Throughout this golden era, North America led the world in PCB innovation and production. Proximity to research hubs, skilled labor, and robust infrastruc- ture made it a global leader. However, as globalization gained traction in the late 20th century, North American dominance began to wane, with production shifting to regions offering lower labor and manufacturing costs. Continue reading the column here. Facing the Future The Evolution of the North American PCB Industry