Not to beat a dead horse, but we’ve been speaking the past few months about corporate mergers and the intersection between academia and industry, and while these are separate topics, to be sure, I am motivated to continue both conversations.

In the wake of Cadence’s acquisition of EMA Design Automation, I warned of the risks to EMA's customer-centric culture as it assimilates into its new parent. I also pointed out the possibility that the investment in EMA’s novel tools could wane: a $5 billion company might not see value in supporting products that, in their entirety, might be worth less than a single average-sized customer.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board bookings surged in April as shipments also increased, pushing the industry’s book-to-bill ratio to its highest level in more than a year.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – MAY 27, 2026 – Flex and rigid-flex circuit design and manufacturing expert Dave Lackey will present a free webinar for PCEA members this month.
The talk, “Fundamentals of Flex and Rigid-Flex,” takes place Jun. 24 from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – May 18, 2026 – The Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) today issued a call for abstracts for the PCB East 2027 technical conference. The conference, the largest of its kind in New England, focuses on training and best practices for printed circuit board design engineers, electronics design engineers, fabricators and assemblers.