August 5, 2026

What Robotics Companies Think About the U.S. Foreign Robot Ban The FCC expanded its Covered List to ban imports of new foreign-made advanced robots and certain solar inverters, citing cybersecurity and national security risks. The move targets Chinese technology, reshapes global robotics supply chains & sparks mixed reactions across the industry. IEEE Spectrum

Sponsor Boost Reballing with EZReball Preforms EZReball reballing preforms provide fast, clean, and accurate reballing of complex BGA packages while eliminating traditional complexities and the need for operator dexterity. BEST Inc

Inside Europe's Push for Electronics Resilience: Five Questions with... Alison James Europe's electronics industry is shifting toward regional manufacturing as geopolitics boosts defence demand and AI infrastructure needs. The EU's Chips Act 2.0 aims to expand PCB, EMS, packaging and data center capabilities, strengthening autonomy. Global Electronics Association

Evaluation of Techniques for Intentional Contamination of PWB Substrates for Quantitative Cleanliness Analyses Intentional contamination of PWBs offers a practical and controlled approach for evaluating cleanliness analysis techniques and for developing meaningful and effective cleanliness guidelines. Technical Paper

Texas hits pause on 1,800 data center projects to scrutinize power and water demands Texas has paused approvals for new grid-connected data centers while regulators audit pending applications. Governor Greg Abbott ordered stricter disclosure requirements on power, water and ownership, delaying hundreds of projects as Texas prioritizes grid reliability, community impacts. TechSpot

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

China draws up safety rules for autonomous vehicles China has introduced new safety rules for autonomous vehicles, effective July 1, 2027, requiring deactivation overrides, driver-readiness monitoring & clear disclosure of system limitations. The regulations aim to match human driving safety and strengthen oversight following fatal crashes. TechXplore

Safeguarding Electrical Components with Nano-coating Technology This study validates the use of plasma-deposited nano-coating layers in protecting against environments that pose significant challenges to electronics. 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 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

Customer Experience Is a Different Game Now. Most Companies Are Still Playing the Old One. Companies are redefining customer experience from a cost center into a strategic growth driver. Instead of focusing only on efficiency, leading CX teams now prioritize customer value, stronger relationships and business impact, reshaping how organizations measure success. Entrepreneur

At colleges, the AI boom means everyone wants to dabble in computer science Colleges are rapidly expanding AI education beyond computer science as employers increasingly value AI literacy across professions. Universities now offer AI minors, certificates and required coursework, helping students from diverse fields build practical skills. Taipei Times

ENEPIG - How the Process Characteristics Influence the Layer Performance This paper will focus on the comparison of pure Pd and PdP deposits and the interaction with the gold electrolyte type in use. Technical Paper

Sponsor iX7059 Series by Viscom: Inline X-ray Inspection Power High-performance Inline X-ray Inspection Systems for complex electronics, semiconductors, and power modules up to 200 kg. Seamless integration, AI-powered accuracy, and maximum reliability for every application. Viscom

AI offers 'lifeline' for emerging economies, World Bank says The World Bank says AI can help developing nations compress a century of progress into a decade by closing power, connectivity and skills gaps. It urges rapid investment, warning that delays will widen inequality and forfeit major economic opportunities. Taipei Times

Could India's smartphone manufacturing growth open new space for co-op with China? India is considering extended tax exemptions to attract foreign investment in smartphone manufacturing, reinforcing its ambition to become a global electronics hub. Sustained growth will depend on open policies, diversified partnerships & stronger integration with global supply chains. Global Times

Can High Particle Concentrations Impact PCB Assembly? At our SMT facility we currently control ambient temperature, relative humidity and particle count. Is particle count a good parameter to control? The Assembly Brothers, Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall, discuss this question. Board Talk

Sponsor Reimagined EOS/ESD Symposium 2026 Experience the enhanced EOS/ESD Symposium with expanded learning, collaboration, and industry connections. Join experts exploring challenges and solutions in EOS/ESD control. September 28-30. EOS/ESD Association

How the 'Baby iPhone' and an Apple supplier leak explain China's recent supply chain moves A cyberattack on Tata Electronics has fueled Chinese propaganda against Apple's India manufacturing push, but experts say the leaked iPhone 18 Pro materials are insufficient to replicate the device, making the breach unlikely to derail Apple's supply chain diversification. CNBC

Apple says more ex-employees may have taken confidential data to OpenAI Apple escalated its trade secrets lawsuit by seeking a preliminary injunction to halt OpenAI's AI device development, alleging former employees misused confidential information. OpenAI denied the claims, calling the request baseless and saying it neither has nor seeks Apple's trade secrets. TechCrunch

Sponsor Need Improved Solder Joint Visibility? Solder Peel-A-Wayš Removable Terminal Carriers in place and peel the carrier away for complete solder joint visibility on both sides of the PCB. Watch a video to see it in action. Advanced Interconnections Corp.

Microsoft wants Apple to bring seamless copy and paste between Windows PCs and iPhones Apple may enable seamless copy-and-paste between iPhones and Windows PCs after Microsoft requested interoperability under the EU's Digital Markets Act. The feature could arrive no earlier than 2028, remain limited to Europe, and require significant development effort. TechSpot

Utilizing an Alternative Solder Paste to Improve the PCB Assembly Process Results from an investigation that studied and characterized a novel lead-free solder paste as compared to traditional solder materials will be presented. Technical Paper

Walden Robotics Partners With Toyota on Practical Humanoids Walden Robotics launched with $300 million in funding after a decade of research, prioritising practical commercial deployment over humanoid hype. Instead of legs, its wheeled robot targets real-world applications, focusing on safety, efficiency and immediate customer value. IEEE Spectrum

Protecting Military AI Agents From Cyberthreats Experts recommend protecting military AI agents with adversarial training, zero-trust security, data, and continuous testing. They support layered governance with norms, policies, and oversight to counter cyberthreats while maintaining human control. EE Times

Sponsor Reliable drying of UV materials Rehm Thermal Systems launches the RDS UV dryer to meet faster hardening demands, enabling efficient, eco-friendly UV coating for electronics and various industries. Rehm Thermal Systems

Who Owns Nokia? Nokia has transformed from a mobile phone giant into a telecommunications technology leader, building 5G and 6G networks while licensing essential patents. HMD Global now markets Nokia-branded feature phones, with Foxconn manufacturing them under a licensing agreement. BGR