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SEPTEMBER 2025 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 53 down your materials but expect longer lead times and higher costs. However, for most commercial high-speed work, those constraints aren't neces- sary. Letting fabricators choose equivalent materi- als while still meeting your electrical requirements keeps your project moving. Conclusion: Let Them Bake the Cake PCB design isn't about controlling every last grain of flour; it's about delivering performance. Trust your fabricator (your pastry chef), to use what they have locally, as long as the end result meets your specs. The real goal? A board that performs as expected, built on time, and within budget. So, the next time you're tempted to call out TA RG E T C O N D I T I O N every last prepreg and dielectric, take a step back. You're not baking from Grandma's sacred recipe; you're working with global manufacturing partners. Let them bake the cake, because keeping your order simple will get it on your dessert tray or your assembly line almost tout de suite. DESIGN007 Kelly Dack, CIT, CID+, provides DFx-centered PCB design and manufacturing liaison expertise for a dynamic EMS provider in the Pacific North- west while also serving as an IPC design certification instructor (CID) for EPTAC. To read past columns, click here. Elite Material Company (EMC)-Taiwan announced that it has made a commitment to invest $80 million in the Arlon EMD factory in Rancho Cucamonga, California, that it acquired at the end of 2020. In addition to the investments al- ready made in a new operat- ing system, lami- nation press and other hardware upgrades, EMC will install two new prepreg treaters, automation hardware, chemical mixing equipment and further upgrades to this facility. This significant investment marks more than just an expansion in equipment—it is a bold step forward in supporting American industry, enhancing cus- tomer value, and preparing for the future. Impor- tantly, this is another big move by a Taiwan based company to invest in North America. Albert Tung, CEO & chairman of EMC said, "This investment will enhance our existing portfolio of products to be manufactured in North America with an eye on responsiveness to this market as well as mitigating risk and capacity surge. The treaters that are being installed at this facility are the latest in treating technology, with precision automation, greater throughput capacity, and enhanced qual- ity control, ensuring we continue to meet the ever- growing demands of our customers with superior consistency and speed." This is a long-term investment that reinforces EMC Corporation's commitment and dedication to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and a future built on the strongest possible founda- tion. The targeted operation date for this expansion is late 2026 in California. EMC is also investing in the growth strategy of an- other U.S. subsidiary, Technica USA, a national dis- tributor of equipment, equipment services, and con- sumables in the PCB fabrication, PCB assembly, substrate and semiconductor packaging industries across North America. Both Arlon EMD and Technica USA are proud members of the PCBAA, an organization that advo- cates for increased federal investment and incen- tives for domestic manufacturing of printed circuit boards and substrates within the U.S. microelec- tronics ecosystems. (Source: EMC) EMC-Taiwan Announces Further Investment in North America