Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1538540
58 PCB007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2025 That was not an unreasonable request, and I agreed to go down for a week of training. This was not unusual, and we covered it in the price of the equipment. When I informed the management, our sales manager slammed his fist on the desk and said, "That (expletive) bought his line from (a competitor)." My friend had taken the drawings generated during his time with us to a competi- tor who offered to build the line for 30% less than our quote. This was not necessarily illegal, but it was certainly unethical. He was not happy when I informed him I would still come, but he would have to pay travel expenses and an hourly fee. I never heard from him again, and three years later, he went bankrupt and disappeared from the scene. The wisdom we learned from this was to charge a fee for any visit or development project that T H E C H E M I CA L C O N N ECT I O N exceeded a simple visit and sample runs, to be subtracted from the price if an equipment pur- chase resulted from the work. I'm happy to say that the vast majority of our customers would never do anything like this, but it only takes one. I was going to give some examples of wisdom gained but not acted upon, but there is not enough space left in this column to do the subject justice. Perhaps I will get them in later so I can air some pet peeves and other injustices. PCB007 Don Ball is a process engineer at Chemcut. To read past columns or contact Ball, click here. In today's connected world, no company—nor coun- try—can go it alone when it comes to electronics manufacturing. As Tom Yang of CEE PCB points out, collaboration isn't just helpful, it's essential. Chinese PCB fabricators are already a critical part of that equation, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Yang, who speaks from deep industry experience, reminds us that China's PCB manufacturers aren't just "holding on" in a changing global landscape, they're leading in many respects. From ultra HDI and RF/microwave to embedded components and IC substrates, these companies are pushing technol- ogy boundaries in areas where demand is growing fast, like EVs, 5G, and IoT. But it's not just about tech, it's about scale and reliability. Need 10 prototype boards? No problem. Need 10,000 next week? Still no problem. Chinese fabricators are built to flex, with vertically integrat- ed operations and the infrastructure to ramp quick- ly without sacrificing quality or lead time. Yang also highlights the breadth of their capabili- ties, everything from simple prototypes to complex, multi-layer builds using exotic materials. If you can design it, a good Chinese shop can probably build it faster and often more affordably than you think. What's especially compelling is the spirit of inno- vation happening behind factory doors. From smart automation and AI-driven process control to green chemistry and closed-loop recycling, these manu- facturers aren't standing still. They're evolving, qui- etly but effectively. In the end, Yang's message is clear: Chinese PCB fabricators offer value without compromise. They're more than suppliers, they're partners. In a glob- al supply chain that's constantly shifting, those are the kinds of relationships that matter most. Read Tom's column here. Global Citizenship: Chinese PCB Fabricators Will Remain an Important Part of the Supply Chain