Having returned from the IPC Apex trade show and listening to comments from stakeholders who are charged for volunteering their time to develop standards, one wonders if there is a better way.

Having spent four years of my career in standards development, I know the process well. Groups of engineers, often from competing companies, gather around tables to debate the ins and outs of everything from what an end-product should look like and how it should perform to the placement of commas and the meaning of “shall” versus “should.”

COPENHAGEN – GPV reported first quarter revenue of approximately $312 million, down 3% year over year, while profitability improved as restructuring measures implemented in 2025 began to take effect.

HELSINKI, Finland – Incap reported first quarter revenue of $60.5 million, up 7.3% year over year, supported in part by its acquisition of Lacon Group, though profitability declined amid supply chain constraints.

TEMPE, AR – Benchmark Electronics reported first-quarter revenue of $677 million, up about 7% year over year from $632 million, as improving demand across key segments supported growth.

NEENAH, WI – Plexus reported fiscal second quarter revenue of $1.1 billion, up 19% year over year, marking a record quarter as demand strengthened across its end markets.

WORCESTER, MA – April 29, 2026 – The annual PCB East exhibition opens today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time (EST) at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced.

WORCESTER, MA – April 28, 2026 – The annual PCB East conference, featuring more than 80 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training, opens today at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – Mycronic reported strong first-quarter results, posting record net sales and earnings while raising its full-year outlook on continued demand across key segments tied to AI and advanced electronics.

ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, SWEDEN – Kitron plans to build a new, larger production facility for its subsidiary Kitron Eltech in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, to support expected growth tied primarily to defense programs.

HELSINKI, FINLAND – Scanfil reported strong first-quarter results, with revenue rising 19% year-over-year to €229.1 million ($248 million), driven by acquisitions and continued organic growth.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – NOTE reported first quarter sales of SEK 962 million ($88 million), down 6% organically year-over-year, as cautious market conditions weighed on demand despite continued strength in defense-related business.

WASHINGTON, DC – North American EMS shipments increased 7.6% year-over-year in February, signaling steady demand growth and improving production activity across the sector.