Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1541367
20 PCB007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 Today, the heartland is a concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters of advanced technologies, auto- mation, robotics, digital manufacturing, and a grow- ing defense ecosystem with an enterprise value of $10 billion. The supporting technologies have had to advance and that's where Summit shines. From that Rust Belt, we're now becoming the "Silicon Prairie," where smaller features, advanced technol- ogies, and refined processes are driving the whole supply chain forward. The infrastructure of the Summit family and the resources that it brings to Summit Chicago sets us apart from our competition. Having a broad range of technologies and capabilities is increasingly impor- tant in the current business climate, especially with tariffs, the reshoring initiative, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligenc . That's Summit's advantage. Our multi-site manu- facturing infrastructure allows the company to support a wide range of technologies and provide scalable solutions to OEMs. Summit can dedicate capacity, streamline communications, and help customers reduce their costs and complexity asso- ciated with managing multiple suppliers. Deepak's arrival in December 2024 added a new dimension of talent and leadership to Chicago. With Summit's strong reputation and resources, the company continues to attract exceptional profes- sionals and has experienced a significant shift in growth and capability over the past eight months. Deepak, how long has the Chicago plant been part of the Summit family? Deepak Makwana: In 2021, Summit purchased the former Eagle Circuits, now Summit's Chicago facil- ity, initially to add capac- ity and diversity to the port- folio. On the West Coast, most of our operations are focused on aerospace and defense. In Northern California, our Hollister plant is a quick-turn prototype shop. The Chicago facility also added a mid-level production operation. What was your background coming into Summit and this position? Makwana: I grew up in printed circuit boards, join- ing a startup 20 years ago. That particular company is now a fairly large organization and quite well- known. I learned pretty much everything there, and I am proud to have been with them through such a growth trajectory. I've brought all that knowledge with me to Summit, which is a much bigger operation with more to offer and tremendous talent in every single facility. I get to continue learning, not only through the team in Chicago, but also at the six other sites. What kind of product application and technology diversity does the Chicago location specifically offer? Makwana: In Chicago, our core business is quick- turn prototypes and mid-volume production. We are a reliable partner for other Summit sites for capabil- ity and capacity, whether the need is for fl x, rigid- fl x or rigid circuit boards. It certainly opens up the world of HDI and UHDI. What other advantages does having this location in the Midwest offer Summit customers? Veitch: Our Midwest location brings a lot of advan- tages. Logistically, we're right in the middle of the United States, making it very easy to ship product. Obviously, the new infrastructure supports compa- nies that have expanded to the Midwest. We are now a local source for them, providing easier access to our facility and to our engineers. Additionally, being able to produce prototypes and have mid-volume production within the same facil- ity is a tremendous value-add for customers. Makwana: In my opinion, one of our biggest advan- tages is our technical customer support system. Summit has over 100 engineers, ranging from front- end engineers to field engineers. They all support our customer base and support one another as well. What's interesting about multi-site companies like Summit is the way the facilities coordinate and work together. That seems like a tremendous value add to me. How do you accomplish that for the bene- fit of customers and the success of Summit manu- facturing?