Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1546383
70 SMT007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2026 The global laminate industry has entered a period of structural change unlike anything seen in recent decades. Explosive investment in AI infra- structure, including AI servers, advanced network- ing, optical communications, and data centers, is driving demand for laminate materials at a pace the supply chain cannot match. The warning signs have been building for months. Extended lead times, repeated price increases, customer stockpiling, raw material allocation, and major capacity expansion announcements all point to an industry increasingly under strain. How prepared are individual companies to respond to these changes? Experience from previous supply chain disrup- tions has shown that resilience cannot be created once a crisis begins. Alternative materials, qualified suppliers, strategic inventory, and long-term part- nerships all require time to establish. Compounding today's challenge are less visible pressures that extend beyond material shortages. As production capacity shifts toward higher-value PREPARING FOR A New Laminate Supply Reality BY M A R K G O O DW I N , V E N T EC A RT I C L E