TOKYO ---OKI will launch Comprehensive Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) for AI server equipment on March 25, 2026. These comprehensive services will cover all processes, from the design and production of large-size multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs) incorporating OKI’s proprietary high heat dissipation technology supporting high-speed high-capacity data transmission, to component procurement, PCB component mounting, system assembly, testing, and reworking. Targeting AI server equipment manufacturers, OKI aims for sales of JPY 1 billion in FY2026.

As generative AI continues to advance at an accelerating pace, dealing with the ever-expanding volume of information and securing sufficient computing resources have become critical challenges. The computing resources required for generative AI training and inference are several hundred times greater than for conventional cloud-based services. This has led to surging demand for AI servers that feature densely mounted AI semiconductors designed for AI data centers, including graphics processing units (GPUs) and high-bandwidth memory (HBM).

AI server equipment production lines face multiple challenges, including achieving high component placement accuracy; managing warping and interference caused by differences in thermal expansion between PCBs and components during high-temperature heating; countermeasures for the heat generated by large numbers of AI semiconductors in operation; detecting solder defects inside contact points that cannot be identified by AOI (Note 1); and handling growing numbers of inspection items. Other challenges involve expanded traceability requirements and the growing difficulty of rework (Note 2) after mounting large and costly AI semiconductors, which have led to lower production yields, greater failure costs due to defective product disposal, and longer production lead times.

Through these new services, OKI will provide high-density mounting technology for large-size multi-layer PCBs for AI semiconductors, cultivated through the manufacturing of semiconductor testing equipment and information and communications infrastructure equipment requiring high-speed, high-capacity data transmission, as well as simulation and manufacturing technologies for multi-layer PCBs incorporating its proprietary PCB technology with embedded copper coin for high heat dissipation. In addition, OKI will draw on its high-speed X-ray solder inspection technology, technology to automate functional testing, and its high-mix low-volume production technology and skills for high-quality, high-reliability products to achieve high yields and shorter production lead times for AI server equipment.

On conventional production lines, reworking can be difficult if semiconductor defects are discovered after board mounting. This is especially true for expensive, long-lead-time components featuring fine-pitch elements and high-density mounting. OKI relies on a reworking line that combines proprietary jigs and handwork by OKI EMS’s skilled technicians with advanced soldering techniques to provide short-lead-time reworking, even for AI semiconductors with over 10,000 pins. This allows customers to expect improved yields, reduced failure costs, shorter delivery times, and further improvements in management efficiency.

ATLANTA, GA – Coming off a very successful 2025 Executive Conference, ECIA is pleased to announce the Core Committee that will join the leadership team in planning for the 2026 Executive Conference, scheduled to take place October 19-21, 2026, at the Westin O’Hare Hotel.

The following ECIA members will plan this year’s conference:

1. Zach DeVillers – Chair - Brainard-Nielsen Marketing
2. Paul Spain – Co-Chair – PUI Audio
3. Heather Fulara – Co-Chair Sponsorship - DigiKey
4. Tobi Cornell – Co-Chair Sponsorship - Kruvand Associates
5. Juergen Wenzel – Co-chair Speaker Vetting - Dialight
6. Michael McCaig – Co-chair Speaker Vetting - Luscombe Engineering
7. Bob Garcia - QuadRep Ferrari Technologies
8. Julie Fajardo – TDK-Lambda Americas
9. Pam Berigan – Sager Electronics
10. Robert Derringer – Crouzet North America
11. Sean Sorteberg - DigiKey

“In a world defined by constant change, clarity is our greatest gift,” commented Zach DeVillers, President

Brainard-Nielsen Marketing, Inc. and this year’s Conference Chair. “I am sincerely thankful to the 2026 Conference Core Committee for delivering focus, purpose, and excellence to every step of this journey. The dedication and hard work they continue to invest in the months ahead will make this conference truly exceptional.”

“The Executive Conference is the premier event for industry executives,” noted Stephanie Tierney, ECIA’s Director of Marketing Communications and Member Engagement. “In 2025, we moved the conference to the Westin O’Hare Hotel to accommodate increasing attendance. The conference continues to grow thanks to the hard work from the volunteers. I look forward to working with the committee to deliver an agenda and program for 2026 that builds on the momentum that we have started,” she added.

Manassas, VA – March 24, 2026: ZESTRON, the global leader in high-precision cleaning solutions for the electronics manufacturing industry, is pleased to announce that Arbell Electronics has been named the recipient of its Annual Distributor Award. The award was presented on March 18, 2026, during the APEX EXPO in Anaheim, California, honoring Arbell Electronics’s exceptional performance and the strength of a partnership that has consistently delivered outstanding results year after year.

ZESTRON established this annual award to recognize distributor partners who exemplify good partnership, commercial excellence, and a deep alignment with ZESTRON’s mission to deliver world-class cleaning solutions to the electronics manufacturing market. Arbell Electronics was selected for its remarkable track record of consistent, sustained growth and its reliable, long term partnership.

“Arbell exemplifies what a true long-term partnership looks like,” said John Neiderman, Director of North America Sales at ZESTRON. “Year after year, they have delivered consistent growth, earned the trust of customers, and championed ZESTRON’s solutions with integrity and expertise. This award is our way of recognizing a partner who genuinely raises the bar for what distributor excellence means.”

Since the beginning of their collaboration, Arbell Electronics has proven to be a dependable and growth-oriented partner, continuously expanding ZESTRON’s market presence in Canada and ensuring customers receive the highest level of technical support and service. ZESTRON looks forward to building on this successful foundation as both organizations pursue further growth in the years ahead.

Baltimore, MD – March 2026 – The Test Connection Inc. (TTCI), a trusted provider of electronic test and manufacturing solutions for more than 45 years, has added the Prime TruVision™ X-ray and computed tomography (CT) inspection system from Creative Electron to its engineering and analysis services. The system allows TTCI to examine the internal structure of electronic assemblies with high-resolution imaging, supporting more detailed failure analysis and process investigation for its customers.

The Prime TruVision platform combines imaging software with a mechanically stable inspection platform designed for precision motion and repeatable results. The system supports 2D X-ray imaging, laminographic analysis, and full 3D CT scanning, allowing engineers to view internal structures such as solder joints, plated through holes, vias, and component connections without destructive cross-sectioning.

Using the system’s imaging and reconstruction tools, TTCI engineers can evaluate voiding levels, inspect BGAs and QFNs, detect barrel cracks in plated through holes, and investigate structural defects that may affect long-term reliability. These capabilities allow engineers to analyze internal features of assemblies and identify manufacturing issues during failure analysis.

“At The Test Connection, Inc., we continuously invest in technologies that strengthen the value we bring to our customers,” said Bert Horner, President of The Test Connection, Inc. “The Prime TruVision system from Creative Electron combines powerful imaging software with exceptionally stable hardware, allowing our team to deliver advanced X-ray and CT inspection services that complement our electrical test capabilities. This investment supports our mission to help manufacturers improve quality, reliability, and root-cause analysis across their products.”

The X-ray and CT capability complements TTCI’s electrical test engineering services, which include flying probe test, in-circuit test (ICT), boundary scan, and functional test development. Combining electrical validation with internal structural inspection allows TTCI engineers to investigate both electrical and physical causes of product issues within a single engineering workflow.

“TTCI’s investment in our TruView Prime X-ray system strengthens their ability to perform deeper and faster failure analysis on complex electronic assemblies,” said Bill Cardoso. “With higher resolution and rapid inspection capability, their engineers can pinpoint root causes more quickly and deliver more reliable insights to their customers.”

“Creative Electron’s Prime TruVision platform brings together powerful imaging software and robust hardware stability, giving our team a highly capable tool for advanced X-ray and CT inspection,” Horner added. “By integrating this technology into our services, The Test Connection is expanding beyond traditional electrical test into deeper structural analysis of electronic assemblies. We see a strong growth pathway both within the CCA and PCB industries and in emerging sectors where non-destructive inspection plays a critical role in reliability and quality.”

The system will be used across a range of applications including failure analysis, process validation, counterfeit component investigation, and reliability studies for high-performance electronics. Industries supported by TTCI include aerospace, defense, medical devices, and other high-reliability sectors where internal inspection is often required.

The Test Connection, Inc. will highlight its expanded inspection and test services at IPC APEX EXPO 2026, booth #3522.

To learn more about TTCI’s test services, visit www.ttci.com.