January 23, 2026

VIEWPOINT 2026: John Vickers, A.R.T. Master IPC Trainer, Advanced Rework Technology (A.R.T.) Sustainable electronics manufacturing is often discussed in terms of materials and emissions, but in practice it begins with disciplined processes and proven technical competence. The most tangible sustainability gains come from getting assemblies right first time and from ensuring that any necessary ... Advanced Rework Technology (A.R.T.)

Sponsor Discover the power of vAI ProVision from Viscom Create and optimize 3D AOI and AXI programs in minutes. vAI ProVision boosts inspection depth, quality, and speed. Viscom develops & produces premium inspection systems. Viscom SE

TikTok forms U.S. joint venture, names Adam Presser CEO President Trump and TikTok announced a U.S. joint venture to keep the app operating under American leadership. Adam Presser will lead as CEO, Oracle will host TikTok's algorithm domestically, and ByteDance retains 19.9%, securing national security safeguards. CNBC

High Reliability Lead-Free Solder Paste with Rosin and Anti-Crack Resin As electronics are increasingly used in automotive and other high reliability applications, ensuring durability is critical. This paper explores a 'crack-free' flux paste designed to inhibit cracking in harsh environments while meeting stringent surface insulation resistance and ... Technical Paper

What Does It Mean When A USB Port Is Colorless? USB port colors often indicate their technology and data speeds, but many lack standardization. Some ports are colorless, including USB-C, supporting either slow or fast connections. Symbols beside ports reliably show their capabilities, overriding color conventions. BGR

Sponsor PCB Lines Built to Your Specs Limited space? No problem. Manncorp tailors SMT lines to your space, budget, and volume. View example layouts with dimensions and get your perfect line today. Manncorp Inc.

Intel stock plunges 13% on soft guidance, concerns about chip production Intel beat Wall Street expectations with fourth-quarter earnings but warned of soft first-quarter guidance due to supply constraints. CEO Lip-Bu Tan emphasized improving production yields, while strong AI-driven data center chip sales bolstered optimism for future growth. CNBC

Improved Flux Reliability of Lead-Free Solder Alloy Solder Paste This paper covers a type of 'crack free' flux paste designed to inhibit cracking under extreme environments. Includes electro-chemical migration tests dew ... Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support ■ How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance ■ A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor ■ RAIG Minimizes Corrosion, Allows Higher Gold on ENEPIG ■ High Reliability Lead-Free Solder Paste with Rosin and Anti-Crack Resin ■ Understanding Solder Dross: Causes and Control Strategies ■ Optimizing BGA Rework: Challenges, Techniques and Quality Control ■ Maintenance: The Basics of Cleaning Series Part 4 MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Optimizing BGA Rework: Challenges, Techniques and Quality Control The complexity of BGA packages introduces challenges during rework requiring innovative methods and inspection practices to ensure performance and reliability. Read more. BEST Inc.

Dispatch from Davos: hot air, big egos and cold flexes An unusually warm Davos set the stage for elite spectacle, as Donald Trump delivered a rambling, grievance-filled address while drawing rapt attention. Meanwhile, discussions on humans working alongside AI highlighted quieter, more substantive debates beneath the status signaling. MIT Technology Review

Another report shows most companies aren't making more money from AI PwC and Deloitte surveys find most CEOs still see little financial payoff from AI. While companies keep investing and expanding employee access, AI mainly boosts efficiency today, with few organizations reporting revenue growth or meaningful cost reductions. TechSpot

Soft Intelligence Epidermal Communication Platform A Path to A Wearable Future Wearable electronics will need to be stretchable to a considerable degree which in turn will require an adjusted production strategy for the commercial manufacturing of the products. Technical Paper

Sponsor Dedicated Tool for Process Development Advanced plating capability at Uyemura Tech Center: Process Development, UBM, pilot production. ENIG, ENEPIG, EPIG/EPAG, RAIG immersion gold; all substrates. On-site analysis. Uyemura

Say Goodbye To Generic Results: Here Comes The Personalized Google Search Google is adding optional "Personal Intelligence" to Search's AI Mode, letting Gemini use data from apps like Gmail and Photos to deliver deeply personalized results. The feature launches experimentally for paid U.S. users, raising productivity—and privacy—questions. BGR

GM to move production of China-built Buick SUV to U.S. plant General Motors will shift production of its next-generation Buick compact SUV for U.S. sales from China to its Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas starting in 2028, boosting domestic manufacturing as trade tensions rise and adding to recent multibillion-dollar U.S. investments. CNBC

Hand Soldering Reliability What are the differences in reliability for SMT machine placement followed by reflow vs. hand placement followed by hand soldering in surface mount? Board Talk

Sponsor Inline Automatic X-Ray Inspection: TruView™ Verus TruView™ Verus is a high-resolution inline AXI system offering advanced 2D, 2.5D, and 3D imaging to detect defects in electronic assemblies with exceptional accuracy and speed. Creative Electron

How to Compute With Electron Waves Amid AI's soaring power demands, researchers are exploring plasmon-based computing that uses existing CMOS materials. IEEE Fellow Hector De Los Santos and collaborators have now demonstrated a key device, showing how one plasmon can control another. IEEE Spectrum

Electronics exports surpass $107 billion in 2025 Computers and electronics dominated Việt Nam's exports, generating US$107.75 billion last year, up 48.4 percent year on year, and driving over half of export growth, as demand from the US and China pushed exports to a record US$44 billion. Vietnam News

Sponsor High power atmospheric plasma system Our 1000 Atmospheric Plasma System is available with PC or PLC control for lab or high speed production use with the same high powered systems. Remove contaminants and increase bond strength! Plasma Etch

Apple is reportedly working on an AI pin roughly the size of an AirTag Apple is reportedly developing an AirTag-sized AI pin with cameras, microphones, and wireless charging, betting it can succeed where rivals failed. Still early, the privacy-sensitive wearable could launch in 2027, or be scrapped, with Apple eyeing mass production. TechSpot

Effect of Assembly Pitch and Distance on Solder Joint Thermal Cycling Life Cycles-to-failure versus Distance to Neutral Point (DNP) data for SnPb and lead-free assemblies under Accelerated Thermal Cycling (ATC) conditions are observed. Technical Paper

Electronics Industry 2026: Early Signs of Optimism In 2025, the electronics industry saw explosive AI growth, strong U.S. performance, and China's export dominance, while Europe struggled. Security, defense spending, and edge AI offer new opportunities, setting the stage for cautious yet accelerating industry growth in 2026. EE Times

Nvidia overtakes Apple as TSMC's largest customer Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said surging demand for artificial intelligence computing has vaulted Nvidia past Apple to become Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's largest customer, underscoring how the AI boom is reshaping chip supply chains and industry power dynamics. Digitimes

Sponsor Circuitnet Advertising Delivers Results! Introduce your technology, new products or services in our daily e-mail newsletter & website to see how a digital advertising campaign can deliver results. Reach over 200,000 professionals. Circuitnet LLC

GlobalWafers' Texas plant holds six-phase expansion potential GlobalWafers chairwoman Doris Hsu said on Jan. 21, 2026, that easing inflation and selective central bank policy shifts are supporting moderate global economic growth, even as geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties continue to weigh on markets. Digitimes