April 2, 2026

Manufacturing PMI rises for sixth straight month Taiwan’s manufacturing PMI expanded for a sixth month at 55.4, though growth slowed as Middle East tensions raised costs and disrupted supply chains. Strong AI-driven demand sustained activity, but rising prices and geopolitical uncertainty weakened business confidence and outlook. Taipei Times

Sponsor AIT ORMET® TLPS for Thermal Conductivity AIT ORMET® TLPS is proven with stress relief for stable long-term metallic thermal conductivity & low thermal interface resistance for high temp >175°C Ormet TLPS

Intel shares jump 9% after buying back Ireland chip fab in sign of renewed strength Intel shares surged 9% after it agreed to repurchase its Fab 34 stake from Apollo Global Management for $14.2 billion, signaling stronger finances and renewed confidence as rising AI demand drives a resurgence in CPU importance. 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

Forget the Hype. Here’s How AI Is Actually Changing How Business is Run Businesses are rapidly expanding AI use beyond basic automation and customer support, leveraging it to transform operations and decision-making. This shift toward advanced decision intelligence is reshaping how companies function, compete, and innovate across industries. Entrepreneur

Sponsor Vapor Phase Profiling Thermal profiling the vapor phase soldering process – especially those with vacuum – is challenging. ECD's M-VP™ sealed barrier can take it. Learn more. ECD

Micron Readies Client Storage for AI Micron Technology is advancing AI-ready computing with its new PCIe Gen5 QLC SSD for desktops and laptops. The company expects growing demand for local AI processing, driven by privacy concerns, as faster storage enables powerful on-device applications. EE Times

How to Cost a Board My boss has asked me to provide a cost matrix so we can quickly quote labor machine time component for the SMT board assembly. Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ 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 MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

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

What Exoskeletons Learned From One Relentless User After a devastating crane accident left architect Robert Woo paralyzed, he rebuilt his life by pioneering exoskeleton technology. As a long-time tester and advocate, Woo helped advance robotic mobility, enabling himself and others with paralysis to walk again. IEEE Spectrum

How Small Electronics Manufacturers Manage Operational Complexity As electronics manufacturing grows more complex, small firms outgrow spreadsheets that fail to track intricate product structures and workflows. Rising risks and inefficiencies push companies to adopt scalable systems that improve control, visibility, and production management without costly implementations. EE Times

Restoration of Lead-Free Bismuth Containing Solder Joints Bismuth (Bi)-containing solder alloys have emerged as prime candidates to replace traditional lead (Pb)-free alloys such as SAC 305 (Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu). Technical Paper

Sponsor SEHO makes production lines smarter Improve your work flow and reduce manufacturing costs with creative ideas and innovative solutions for automation, board handling and material management. SEHO Systems GmbH

Five key questions Apple faces entering its second half-century As Apple marks its 50th anniversary, it faces slowing stock performance, rising AI competition led by Nvidia, and pressure to innovate beyond the iPhone, as Tim Cook steers its next growth phase. CNBC

How to avoid getting faked out by counterfeit car parts Counterfeit auto parts generate over $3 billion annually in the U.S., prompting officials to warn consumers about safety risks. Experts urge buyers to use trusted sellers, verify sources, keep receipts, inspect vehicles, and report suspected fake parts. Detroit Free Press

10 Cloud-based PCB Designing Tools for Remote Work We have categorized together 10 of the best software tools for PCB outlook for electronics engineers – to buy you time while you are working on your projects. Technical Paper

Sponsor Contaminant Removal with Plasma Plasma provides organics removal and other benefits to increase bond strength! Many chamber sizes available, all with a low environmental impact. Learn more. Plasma Etch

Iran threatens Nvidia, Apple and other tech giants with attacks Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatened to target U.S. tech giants like Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and Google, escalating regional tensions and signaling that tech infrastructure is becoming a direct focus in ongoing geopolitical conflicts. CNBC

Apple’s biggest product in its 50-year history surprised the engineers who designed it At a critical turning point, Apple chose to replace its booming iPod by developing the far more complex iPhone. Executives, including Tony Fadell, drove intense innovation and long development cycles, making a bold decision that reshaped the company’s future. CNN

Sponsor Removal/Milling of Underfilled Parts: AVX1000M High precision milling with zero adjacent clearance. Auto laser height measurement of board and component. Learn more. Air-Vac Engineering

Liftoff! NASA astronauts have launched on a historic journey to the moon NASA launched Artemis II, sending four astronauts aboard the SLS rocket and Orion capsule on a 10-day lunar flyby, marking humanity’s first crewed moon mission since 1972 and advancing plans for a sustained lunar presence. NPR

ENIG Nickel Corrosion on Wetting Balance Test Results and Intermetallic Formation This paper attempts to further clarify the effects of nickel corrosion on solder wetting balance test results and the resultant intermetallic formed. Technical Paper

From scrappy startup to tech giant, Apple celebrates its 50th year In Apple: The First 50 Years, David Pogue debunks a famous Steve Jobs iPod anecdote while highlighting Apple’s mythmaking. Despite controversies and cultural impact, the company continues to shape technology, identity, and debate around innovation, influence, and smartphone-era consequences. NPR

Apple at 50: From PC to mobile, AI shift now in focus Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary on April 1, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping personal computing, the internet, and mobile technology. As artificial intelligence rises, the company positions itself to influence the next major wave of innovation. Digitimes

Sponsor Pioneering 3D X-ray Inspection for Flat Assemblies Viscom is setting a new standard for high-precision inline X-ray inspection of printed circuit boards with its iX7059 product line. Learn more. Viscom

A human driver is simply too fallible. Self-driving cars can’t come quickly enough The article warns that allowing impulsive teenage boys to drive powerful vehicles creates dangerous conditions, as inexperience, overconfidence, and poor judgment combine to turn cars into lethal risks on the road, threatening both drivers and the public. The Telegraph