July 29, 2026

PCB Industry Momentum Continues with 12% Shipment Growth and Strong Book-to-Bill Global Electronics Association reports North American PCB demand remains strong, with June bookings up 31.5% year over year and shipments rising 12%. The book-to-bill ratio hit 1.49, extending eight months above parity and signaling industry growth. Global Electronics Association

Sponsor Achieve Reliable BGA Rework with Expert Reballing Methods BGA reballing requires precision, process control, and proven techniques. Manufacturers improve rework quality and maximize BGA reliability with proven reballing practices. Circuit Technology Center

MIT's new lidar chip could give self-driving cars a wider view MIT researchers developed a silicon-photonics lidar chip that removes moving parts and cuts antenna interference. The design expands field of view, reduces noise, and boosts beam quality, enabling smaller sensors for autonomous vehicles and mapping. Science Daily

PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support Mini Micro Stencil, a contract manufacturer focused on PCB rework, has relied on real-time X-ray inspection to verify its precision rework as the industry has evolved over 30 years. Technical Paper

Apple touches $5 trillion market cap for first time Apple briefly became the first company to reach a $5 trillion market value, driven by a strong share rally. Investors rewarded its disciplined AI spending, while new leasing plans and product price increases boosted confidence despite rising memory costs. CNBC

Sponsor Viscom at SMTA Michigan & Ohio Join Viscom at SMTA Michigan (8/18/26) and Ohio (8/20/26) to discover the latest advancements in AOI and AXI inspection technology, including our powerful AI solutions. Viscom SE

Waymo robotaxis crashed 68% less often than human drivers in independent safety study An independent IIHS analysis found Waymo's robotaxis logged 68% fewer police-reportable crashes per mile than human drivers across 50 million autonomous miles. Researchers cautioned that operating conditions, and limited deployment areas influence the safety comparison. TechSpot

Non-Contact Measurement of Conformal Coating Thickness This study aims to highlight the application of chromatic confocal microscopy (CCM), an optical technique used to characterize 2D/3D surfaces. In this work, conformal coating wet and dry thicknesses were measured using CCM and traditional methods. FR4 boards with varied color solder masks and components were created for realistic use cases. Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ Flux-Free, Reliable, Efficient: Soldering with Formic Acid ■ Redesigning Material Logistics for High-Mix EMS Production ■ Unlocking Academic-Industry Synergy: A Collaborative Model for Hands-On Electronics Manufacturing Education ■ Viscosity Does Not Equal Rheology: What Solder Paste Measurements Really Tell You ■ Salvaging Electronic Components: A Reliable Method for Reducing Electronic Waste and Ensuring Economic Reuse ■ Digital Warehouse Automation in High-Mix PCB Assembly ■ Evaluation of Techniques for Intentional Contamination of PWB Substrates for Quantitative Cleanliness Analyses ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Counterfeit Components Identified With X-ray Inspection Automated component sourcing and procurement platform relies on real-time X-ray inspection to remove counterfeit components from supply chain. Glenbrook Technologies

Robot Finger Feels in Color European researchers created a colour-changing robotic skin that maps pressure, strain and details in real time. The high-resolution sensor mimics human touch, enabling robots to detect textures and shapes instantly without pressure pixels or delays. IEEE Spectrum

Big manufacturing push: How India is aiming to future proof its supply chains from global conflicts India is launching a manufacturing push to cut import reliance, strengthen supply chains and become global hub. Firms are building inventories, speeding imports and expanding warehouses to counter disruptions from US-Iran tensions and a weaker rupee. The Times of India

Solder Paste: Fundamental Material Property / SMT Performance Aggressive form factors, reducing pitch, thinner packages, and larger die to package ratios are leading to higher package warpage during SMT reflow. Technical Paper

Sponsor High Precision Component Milling Automatic Removal of Electronic Components including Residual Solder on Heat Sensitive Assemblies. Air-Vac Engineering

Why NIST Researchers Spent 10 Years Measuring Gravity After a decade-long study, NIST physicists measured the gravitational constant at 6.67387 × 10⁻¹¹, slightly below the accepted value. The findings highlight persistent inconsistencies in measuring gravity, leaving scientists without a clear explanation for long-standing discrepancies. IEEE Spectrum

Apple plans to lease iPhones for $17.99 a month through partnership with Klarna Apple will launch Apple Upgrade, a Klarna-backed leasing programme offering iPhones from $17.99 per month for up to two years. The move aims to ease higher device prices, encourage faster upgrades, and compete more directly with carrier financing and instalment plans. CNBC

D-PAK Voiding: A Study to Determine the Origins of D-PAK Voiding This study looks at an analysis of why a D-PAK exhibits more voiding than other types of BTCs. Voiding results based on an analysis of several process variables. Technical Paper

Sponsor Is your PCB surface finish surviving the wash? Aqueous cleaning can stain or strip ImSn, ImAg & ENIG finishes. Get test data on protecting surface finish integrity post-reflow. ZESTRON Americas

Sam Altman says AI won't shorten the workweek because humans secretly enjoy being busy OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says AI will not deliver widespread 4-hour workweeks because people continually seek new goals, competition and purpose. While countries testing four-day weeks report higher productivity and lower stress, shorter working hours remain far from mainstream. TechSpot

Gartner Predicts AI Agents Will Outnumber Sellers 10 to 1 by 2028, Yet Fewer Than 40% of Sellers Will Say Agents Improved Productivity Gartner predicts AI agents will outnumber salespeople tenfold by 2028, but fewer than 40% of sellers will report productivity gains. The firm says organizations must strengthen data, automation and workflows to unlock AI’s full sales potential and improve return on investment. Gartner

Sponsor TIM1 for EV Battery Thermal Management AIT's thermal adhesives, grease-gels, & gum-pads offer proven thermal dissipation for a balance of strength, rework ability, & recyclability of EV battery packs. AI Technology, Inc.

The World's Smallest QR Code Could Be A Gamechanger For Data Storage - Here's Why Researchers at Vienna University of Technology and Cerabyte earned a Guinness World Record by creating the world's smallest QR code. The microscopic breakthrough could enable ultra-dense data storage and help meet rising AI-driven memory demands. BGR

What is Considered Acceptable PCB Rework and Repair? An operator attempted to repair three damaged conductors using bus wire overcoated with epoxy. Do you consider this repair acceptable? Board Talk

Power Electronics Market Entering New Growth Phase Power electronics demand accelerates as EVs boost silicon carbide adoption and AI data centres expand gallium nitride opportunities. Yole Group forecasts over 7% annual growth through 2031, led by China's EV sector and efficient power investments. EE Times

Profits in China's electronics industry increased by nearly 97% in the first half of the year China's electronics industry posted strong first-half 2026 profit growth, fueled by AI and computing demand. Integrated circuits and electronic materials led gains, but officials warned weak demand, price volatility and cash-flow pressures persist. LaoDong

Sponsor Is My PCB Wash Concentration in Check Evaluating wash concentration levels through varying testing methods can potentially save process time, reduce overall process costs, and increase cleaning efficacy on PBCs. Read more. KYZEN

How AI Agents Are Changing the Way We Learn AI is transforming lifelong learning by acting as a personalised tutor that adapts lessons, builds study plans and guides progress. Beyond answering questions, agentic AI helps learners develop skills effectively, while businesses increasingly use it as a trusted thought partner. Entrepreneur