Press Releases
SAN JOSE, Calif., December 2025 – Naprotek, a leader in technology solutions driving digital transformation, announced the appointment of Tim Filteau as its new Chief Executive Officer. This strategic leadership transition underscores the company’s commitment to blending proven expertise with bold innovation to shape the future of technology.
Tim Filteau brings a distinguished track record of executive leadership, guiding organizations through periods of growth, transformation, and market expansion. His career spans decades of experience in technology, operations, and strategic development, making him uniquely positioned to lead Naprotek into its next chapter.
“Tim embodies the perfect balance of seasoned experience and forward-thinking vision,” said Chris Springer, Board Chair. “His leadership will accelerate Naprotek’s mission to deliver cutting-edge solutions while maintaining the trust and reliability our customers expect.”
As CEO, Filteau will focus on expanding Naprotek’ s innovation pipeline, strengthening customer partnerships, and driving sustainable growth across global markets. His appointment signals a new era for the company, one where experience meets innovation to unlock transformative opportunities for businesses worldwide.
Naprotek is also advancing a bold vision for electronics manufacturing services (EMS) within its product portfolio. While individual offerings may be evaluated alongside industry competitors, collectively they represent a truly unique and differentiated solution. This vision positions Naprotek not merely as a vendor, but as a strategic partner, committed to building long-term relationships and remaining the foundation of customers’ success strategies.
As part of this vision, SemiGen’s RF microwave assembly services, thin film, and semiconductor products further distinguish their portfolio. SemiGen’s specialized expertise enhances Naprotek’s EMS capabilities, delivering advanced solutions that stand apart in the marketplace. By integrating SemiGen’s precision manufacturing and innovation-driven approach, Naprotek strengthens its ability to provide customers with cutting-edge technologies while reinforcing its role as a trusted strategic partner.
“I am grateful to lead Naprotek through this next chapter of change,” said Tim Filteau. “By driving innovation and leveraging our deep industry experience, we are committed to helping our customers thrive in a rapidly evolving RF and digital landscape.”
Scanfil and Valmet have agreed to deepen their partnership into new locations and products, supporting Valmet’s regional presence and growth through several new products and product families.
“We at Valmet have very high standards for our partners and value strategic alliances. We have a long-standing relationship with Scanfil who understand our business needs. After launching our new strategy, Lead the Way, we began a careful assessment of potential partners to support us in achieving our ambitious growth targets,” clarifies Heikki Huida, Valmet’s Category Manager of EMS. “Scanfil was selected thanks to their excellent geographic reach in our strategic growth regions of APAC and the USA, quality manufacturing, reliable delivery, and ‘can do’ service attitude.”
Most of the new joint projects are materializing during the fourth quarter of 2025 and all projects are expected to be in place during the second half of 2026.
“Our partnership model supports Valmet’s renewed strategy and the agreements will bring new business to many Scanfil sites, especially to Atlanta in the USA and Johor Bahru in Malaysia,” adds Scanfil’s Global Account Manager, Juuso Boman.
Both Scanfil and Valmet have achieved an EcoVadis Gold rating, highlighting the companies’ commitment to high standards and ambitious business objectives. Scanfil has been Valmet’s trusted manufacturing partner for over 20 years.
San Diego — December 2025 — KIC, the leader in smart thermal process technologies for electronics manufacturing, announced today that its global headquarters will relocate to a new, expanded facility in San Diego. The updated space gives the company room to expand its operations and continue supporting customers with the same level of responsiveness they’re used to.
Effective December 15, 2025, KIC’s new global headquarters address will be:
Embedded Designs, Inc., dba KIC
10865 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92127
USA
The new facility offers a modern workspace designed to better support engineering, customer service, and operational teams, as well as provide room for future expansion. Despite the relocation, customers can expect a seamless transition. All bank account information, points of contact, emails, and phone numbers will remain the same before, during, and after the move.
“As our product portfolio and customer base continue to grow, this new location allows us to scale efficiently while keeping our focus squarely on the service, responsiveness, and innovation our customers rely on,” said Miles Moreau, General Manager at KIC. “We’re excited about what this new space makes possible for KIC’s next chapter.”
Customers and partners are encouraged to update their records with the new address. For questions regarding the transition, KIC’s team is available through all existing communication channels.
KIC has built its reputation on pairing advanced sensor hardware with intuitive, data-driven software that helps manufacturers control, monitor, and optimize their thermal processes with confidence. The new San Diego facility will expand the company’s engineering, testing, and customer-support capabilities, allowing KIC to build and calibrate equipment more efficiently, accelerate product development, and provide quicker turnaround on service and technical assistance. For customers, the added space and upgraded infrastructure mean faster response times, improved availability of KIC’s profiling and monitoring solutions, and a stronger foundation for continued innovation.
To learn more about KIC, visit https://kicthermal.com.
OSAKA, JAPAN — December 2025 — Nihon Superior Co. Ltd., an advanced joining material supplier, sadly announces the loss of Keith Howell, a highly respected industry professional and longtime company team member, who passed away peacefully at his home in Osage Beach, Missouri on December 1, following a courageous 15-month battle with cancer. He was 68.
Born on June 7, 1957, in East St. Louis, Illinois, Keith built a career distinguished by technical credibility, integrity, and a commitment to long-term industry partnerships. Over decades in electronics manufacturing, he became known as a trusted advisor to OEMs, EMS providers, and engineering teams seeking reliable, high-performance materials for demanding applications.
Keith spent almost 20 years with Nihon Superior Co., Ltd. During his time at the company, he worked closely with customers across North America, supporting manufacturing teams in aerospace, defense, automotive, industrial, and other mission-critical electronics markets.
Respected for both his technical knowledge and his consultative approach, Keith helped manufacturers navigate increasingly complex assembly challenges, from reliability requirements and process optimization to material selection for next-generation electronics. He was widely recognized for his ability to translate technical performance into practical manufacturing value, while building relationships based on trust, transparency, and mutual respect.
“Keith was the kind of person who customers relied on not just for products, but for insight,” said Tetsuro Nishimura, President. “He listened first, understood the problem, and then worked collaboratively to find the right solution.”
Beyond his direct contributions, Keith exemplified the values that strengthen industry supplier-customer relationships: consistency, honesty, accountability, and a long-term view of success. His work ethic left a lasting impression on the companies and customers he served.
Outside of his professional life, Keith was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He shared 44 years of marriage with his wife, Cindy Howell, and was deeply proud of his children, Julie (and her husband Kyle Sellers) and Erik Howell, as well as his granddaughters, Mary and Holly Sellers.
Keith is also survived by his parents and siblings.
A visitation and celebration of life were held on December 6, at The Sanctuary Brewery in Osage Beach, where family, friends, and industry colleagues gathered to honor his life and legacy.
In keeping with Keith’s commitment to service and community, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in his name to Habitat for Humanity, reflecting his belief in building strong foundations, both in manufacturing and in life.
Keith’s legacy within the electronics manufacturing industry is defined by the professionalism, integrity, and humanity he brought to every relationship. He will be deeply missed by colleagues across the industry who valued his counsel, friendship, and good example.
RICHMOND, VA - December 12, 2025 – Mobius Materials, the safe spot market for semiconductors, has closed a $3M Series Seed financing round in order to bring liquidity, quality control and price transparency to the secondary semiconductor market. Mobius’ Series Seed round was led by Spero Ventures, an early stage VC fund focused on purpose led companies. Additional investors include Outsiders Fund and RefashionD Ventures. The funds raised will make a significant investment in the platform which connects buyers and sellers, build out the Mobius leadership team and ultimately position the company for fast track growth to reach new customers and global markets.
Mobius is solving a $25B problem that is only getting worse as tariffs and geopolitics make semiconductors one of the most volatile industries in the world. Despite more than $600B of chips sold annually, there is nowhere for manufacturers to trade chips besides rigid direct, distributor purchasing or a massive gray market. As forecasts change or tariff volatility hits, manufacturers are either left with large stocks of excess chips or shortages of critical ones. Mobius is used by hundreds of contract manufacturers and OEMs to directly buy and sell excess electronic parts quickly, safely and at market prices.
For Mobius’ Founder and CEO, Margaret Upshur, the mission is not just economic, it’s environmental. A former supply chain executive at an electronics OEM, Upshur was dismayed to have to throw away hundreds of thousands of dollars of new chips that were no longer used in their products, all of which could have been sold.
“We’re building the first stock market for semiconductors so companies can finally buy and sell components the way they should: transparently, safely, and at true market prices,” says Upshur. “This raise and our partnership with Spero will help us scale our marketplace so supply-chain teams can achieve real liquidity in an industry that’s been stuck with rigid purchasing, constant supply shocks and quality risks.”
Mobius will use the new funding to accelerate development of its platform, including the upcoming launch of its e-auction platform, which allows manufacturers to reach thousands of qualified buyers, improve returns, often by up to three times traditional broker rates-and close transactions in weeks instead of months. The raise will also support continued team expansion, following recent leadership hires in engineering and customer experience, with a search underway for a Head of Operations. In addition, Mobius has filed a patent for its machine-learning–based system for authenticating the quality of electronic components.
“Chips power nearly every device we rely on, yet the secondary market remains opaque and inefficient. Mobius is building a trusted marketplace that delivers transparency, liquidity, and quality control,” said Shripriya Mahesh of Spero Ventures. “We’re proud to support Margaret and her team as they create a more resilient and sustainable future for global manufacturing.”
A robust secondary market has never been more important for the $630B semiconductor industry. Geopolitical tensions, a brittle and very long supply chain, and a robust gray market have combined to mean that the semiconductor industry is one of the most volatile in the world. Meanwhile it is incredibly crucial, not just for consumer electronics and national defense but for every sector imaginable. Chips make up 40% of the cost of a car, 66% of the cost of consumer electronics and 65% of the cost of AI development. Allowing quick, safe and floating price buys on a spot market dampens the extreme shocks of the industry and allows manufacturers to keep producing even when chips hit shortages or gluts.
As tariffs continue to rage, Mobius also helps to strategically connect buyers with sellers and reduce the impact of the tariffs. Sellers who already have imported their chips before the trade tariffs have been imposed can sell to buyers pinched by the new costs of import for example. Upshur and her team anticipate that there will continue to be changes in tariffs internationally and are ready to respond, creating a flexible source for their customers.
Kitron has received a contract with an estimated value of EUR 17 million for the production and supply of advanced electronic components used in combat vehicle systems.
Deliveries under the contract are scheduled to start in the second half of 2026, and production will take place at a European Kitron facility.
“We are proud to strengthen our role as a trusted manufacturing partner in the rapidly evolving scale-up of European defence capabilities,” says Hans Petter Thomassen, Kitron Vice President Nordics and North America region.
The contract further expands Kitron’s growing portfolio within the Defence and Aerospace market sector and solidifies the company’s position as a leading supplier to land system platforms.
Kitron is a leading Scandinavian electronics manufacturing services company for the Connectivity, Electrification, Industry, Medical devices and Defence/Aerospace sectors. The group has operations located in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, India, Malaysia, China and the United States. Kitron has about 3 000 employees, and revenues were EUR 647 million in 2024.
