APRIL 2025 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 97
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Electroninks, a prominent player in particle-free conductive inks,
recently announced an exciting new range of metal-complex
inks for ultra high density interconnect (UHDI) technology. At the
SMTA UHDI Symposium in January, Mike Vinson, COO of Elec-
troninks, gave a presentation on this line of MOD inks, which
are versatile and suitable for a range of applications that require
ultra-dense, miniaturized, and high-frequency technology.
Electroninks' MOD and iSAP Game Changers
Punching Out: Fewer Than 150 PCB
Shops Remain in North America
According to GP Ventures' database, the number of
printed circuit board manufacturing companies in North
America (including Canada), is now below 150. In 2020,
it was around 200, and in 2022, it was 170. These figures
do not include companies that only import or assemble
boards. Please note that we are counting PCB companies
and not facilities, so TTM Technologies counts as one,
Summit as one, AdvancedPCB as one, etc. The total
number of facilities is probably higher by around 30.
In recent months, financial markets have grappled with
various conflicting signals, trying to reconcile strong
economic performance with persistent uncertainties.
While the U.S. economy appears robust and recession
risks over the next 12 months have diminished signif-
icantly, several factors continue to drive an uncertain
outlook. One key development of this uncertainty has
been the behavior of the "term premium."
The Rising Term Premium: A Closer Look
at the Implications of a Decade-high Surge
Not much has been pub-
lished about palladium as
a final finish, but it's experi-
encing a renaissance as a
liquid metal for metallization
of copper in ultra HDI and as
a final finish. It was very pop-
ular in the 1970s because of
its corrosion resistance, as
the only other final finishes
were tin-lead reflow, Ni/Au,
OSP, or immersion tin. Pal-
ladium was very popular
with the automotive indus-
try then and Photocircuits of
Glenn Cove, New York, was
a major supplier of boards.
Observations on
Palladium as a Final
Surface Finish
Chris Mitchell, vice president of
Global Government Relations for
IPC, discusses IPC's concerns about
tariffs on copper and their impact on
U.S. electronics manufacturing. He
emphasizes the complexity of sup-
ply chains and the need for policy-
makers to understand their effects.
Access to critical components is vital
for revitalizing manufacturing, while
trade relationships with Canada and
Mexico are crucial for a strong North
American base. Future relations with
China highlight the importance of
trust in supply chains.
Real Time
with... IPC
APEX EXPO
2025: Tariffs
and Supply
Chains in U.S. Electronics
Manufacturing
As a field application engineer for a major Chi-
nese PCB company, I see firsthand the chal-
lenges and, more excitingly, the trends shap-
ing our industry. Talking to engineers, designers,
and procurement teams worldwide, one thing
is clear: PCBs have come a long way, but we're
barely scratching the surface of what's possible. Here are 10
trends I believe will define our industry over the next decade.
Global PCB Connections: A Field Engineer's
Perspective on the Top 10 Trends to Watch
