West Chicago, IL - Anaya Vardya, President and CEO of ASC Sunstone Circuits, a leading provider of printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication and assembly solutions, announced that the company will be exhibiting at PCB East 2026, taking place April 29 at the DCU Convention Center.
PCB East continues to be one of the industry’s most respected events, bringing together PCB designers, engineers, and manufacturers to share ideas, explore new technologies, and collaborate on real-world challenges.

“PCB East is where meaningful conversations happen,” said Vardya. “It’s an opportunity for engineers, designers, and manufacturers to come together, solve problems, and move the industry forward. We’re proud to be part of that.”

ASC Sunstone Circuits will be exhibiting at Booth 310.

In addition to exhibiting, ASC Sunstone will be represented in the conference program. Matt Stevenson, Director of Operations, will speak in a technical session titled: “From Idea to In-Hand: A Real-World Journey Through PCB Design, Fabrication, and Assembly.”

Stevenson will be joined by industry experts Vitaly Michalchuk and Geoffrey Hazelett. The session will walk through the full lifecycle of a PCB-from initial concept through design, fabrication, and final assembly-highlighting how collaboration across each stage leads to better outcomes, faster timelines, and higher-quality products.

“Design, fabrication, and assembly don’t work in isolation,” said Stevenson. “When those pieces come together early and stay aligned, everything works better. That’s what we’ll be sharing in this session.”

Attendees visiting ASC Sunstone Circuits at PCB East will learn more about the company’s capabilities, including quick-turn prototyping, advanced fabrication, and integrated assembly services designed to help customers move faster and with more confidence.

About ASC Sunstone Circuits

ASC Sunstone Circuits provides a complete PCB solution—bringing together advanced fabrication, quick-turn prototyping, and integrated assembly services across U.S.-based operations in Illinois and Oregon. The company supports a wide range of industries including medical, aerospace, defense, industrial, and emerging technologies, delivering everything from early-stage prototypes to full production.

With a focus on reliability, speed, and collaboration, ASC Sunstone helps customers move from concept to reality with greater efficiency and confidence. The company holds key certifications including AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, MIL-PRF-31032, MIL-PRF-55110, MIL-PRF-50884, and ITAR registration, and offers access to a qualified global supply chain when needed.

For more information, visit www.asc-i.com or www.sunstone.com.

Flying probe testing (FPT) has long been a reliable method for validating PCB designs, particularly for prototypes and low volume production. Unlike traditional in circuit testing (ICT), which relies on custom built fixtures, flying probe systems use movable probes to test electrical connections directly, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware.

What Is Flying Probe Testing?

Flying probe testing uses multiple programmable probes to contact pads, vias, and component leads across a PCB. These probes perform continuity and isolation checks, verify component values, confirm polarity, and test power rails, all without requiring a custom fixture. Instead of redesigning hardware for every iteration, engineers can simply update the test program.

Why Engineers Choose Flying Probe Testing

FPT is especially valuable for designs where fixtures are impractical or uneconomical. It enables testing on dense layouts, high complexity boards, and frequent design revisions without adding unnecessary cost or delay. While slower than ICT, its flexibility makes it ideal for early stage validation and small production runs.

Flying Probe vs In Circuit Testing

Compared to ICT, flying probe testing offers faster setup, lower upfront costs, and greater adaptability to design changes. ICT remains the preferred option for high volume production due to its speed, but FPT provides deeper flexibility and detailed diagnostics when fixtures are not feasible.

Designing for Testability

As PCB designs become more compact and complex, test accessibility becomes a critical challenge. Engineers should plan for testability early by incorporating accessible test points, maintaining adequate spacing, and ensuring probe clearance. Designing with testing in mind helps avoid costly redesigns and ensures reliable validation.

When Flying Probe Isn’t Enough

Although powerful, flying probe testing has limitations. It cannot easily access buried nets, verify high frequency signal integrity, or replicate real world operating conditions. For advanced designs such as RF layouts, rigid flex assemblies, or multi board stacks, a hybrid testing approach combining flying probe testing, AOI, X ray inspection, and functional testing is often required.

A Smarter Approach to PCB Testing

Modern PCB validation relies on combining multiple testing methods to ensure performance and reliability. Flying probe testing plays a key role in this strategy by providing flexible, detailed diagnostics where traditional fixtures fall short.

San Francisco Circuits – Your Trusted PCB Testing Partner

San Francisco Circuits delivers comprehensive PCB testing solutions, including flying probe testing, to support complex designs at every stage of development. Their expertise ensures accurate validation, reduced risk, and high-quality results for even the most challenging applications.

Read more about flying probe testing on San Francisco Circuits’ website.

Byron Center, MI – April 2026 – ubersmt, a U.S.-based electronics manufacturing services provider, has expanded its inspection capabilities with the purchase of a PARMI Xceed 3D automated optical inspection (AOI) system, further advancing its ability to deliver reliable PCB assembly for startups, entrepreneurs, and low- to medium-volume production.

The Xceed system brings a different approach to inspection, using PARMI’s laser-based 3D technology to capture precise measurement data rather than relying solely on traditional camera-based imaging. This allows for more accurate detection of defects, especially on complex assemblies and reflective surfaces where conventional systems can struggle.

“For us, this was about gaining better visibility into the process,” said Michael Antwih, President and Founder of ubersmt. “The level of detail the system provides gives us more confidence in what we’re building and helps us catch issues earlier.”

In addition to AOI, the system also supports solder paste inspection (SPI), giving ubersmt added flexibility to validate multiple stages of the assembly process. With high-resolution measurement capability and advanced Multi-Reflection Suppression (MRS) technology, the system reduces false calls while improving overall inspection accuracy.

The investment aligns with ubersmt’s broader focus on automation. By integrating advanced inspection into its SMT line, the company is able to maintain a lean operation while improving consistency and reducing manual intervention—key factors in keeping costs competitive for its customers.

Horizon Sales supported the equipment selection and procurement process, working closely with ubersmt to ensure the system aligned with both current production needs and future growth plans.

ubersmt specializes in quick-turn PCB assembly for a wide range of customers, from early-stage startups to established companies looking to reshore production. With over 15 years of experience, the company combines modern SMT equipment, high-speed placement capabilities, and inspection technologies such as AOI and SPI to deliver dependable results on tight timelines.

By adding the PARMI Xceed system, ubersmt continues to build out a production environment designed for flexibility, efficiency, and consistent quality—while staying true to its mission of making U.S.-based manufacturing more accessible.

For more information, visit www.ubersmt.com.

Altus Group, a supplier of capital equipment and service support for the electronics manufacturing sector across the UK and Ireland, has strengthened its sales support function with a new appointment to support its growing customer base across the region.

The company has appointed Crystal Nisbet as Sales Administrator. Based in Mallow, Ireland, she will work in a hybrid role from Altus’s facility in Little Island, Cork, supporting the sales and pre-sales teams. Her role will focus on strengthening sales support and ensuring efficient project administration.

The appointment comes as Altus continues to increase activity across its customer base, with rising demand for demonstrations, project support and technical engagement. The company’s five-person sales team currently delivers more than 15 demonstrations and over 50 face-to-face meetings each month, working with more than 600 unique customers annually.

Joe Booth, CEO at Altus Group, said: “I am really delighted to have Crystal on board and I am excited to see the impact she will have across the team. This is a role we had prior to COVID, so it is great to bring it back, enabling the sales team to spend more time with customers.

“The sales team is setting a new bar in terms of regional coverage, and our customers value that level of support. We have added over 20 new partners each year for the past five years and have never had more projects, covering more customers and suppliers than ever before. With Crystal joining, we can maintain that momentum, continue to engage with new accounts and ensure a high level of service for our existing customers.”

Crystal joins with experience in supporting teams and improving internal processes. In her role, she will work with existing systems to streamline administration, improve response times and support ongoing development of sales processes.

Altus Group has invested in its systems, facilities and people in recent years, with a focus on strengthening customer support and ensuring consistent delivery across its operations.

www.altusgroup.co.uk.www.altusgroup.co.uk.