# The Road Ahead for the European PCB Industry with Nicolas Schweizer, CEO of Schweitzer Electronic

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2023-11-28
- Length: 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-28-the-road-ahead-for-the-european-pcb-industry-with-nicolas-schweizer-ceo-of-schwe

## Summary

Nicolas Schweizer, CEO of Schweitzer Electronic, discusses the state of the European PCB industry, noting that Europe's market share has dropped from 20% to 3% while China produces 55% of global volume. He argues that PCBs are a transformational technology for climate goals and highlights the critical shortage of skilled talent and the need for increased automation and AI to mitigate labor costs. Schweizer emphasizes the importance of political awareness, lobbying through associations like PCBES, and reducing bureaucratic red tape to attract international investment and regain market share.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-28-the-road-ahead-for-the-european-pcb-industry-with-nicolas-schweizer-ceo-of-schwe#t=8) Introduction: Nicolas Schweizer and Schweitzer Electronic history
- [1:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-28-the-road-ahead-for-the-european-pcb-industry-with-nicolas-schweizer-ceo-of-schwe#t=100) European PCB market share decline vs. China's dominance
- [5:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-28-the-road-ahead-for-the-european-pcb-industry-with-nicolas-schweizer-ceo-of-schwe#t=300) Talent shortages and the role of automation and AI
- [7:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-28-the-road-ahead-for-the-european-pcb-industry-with-nicolas-schweizer-ceo-of-schwe#t=424) Creating political awareness and the role of PCBES
- [9:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-28-the-road-ahead-for-the-european-pcb-industry-with-nicolas-schweizer-ceo-of-schwe#t=553) Goals for regaining market share and attracting investment
- [11:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-28-the-road-ahead-for-the-european-pcb-industry-with-nicolas-schweizer-ceo-of-schwe#t=672) Sustainability, regulation, and reducing red tape

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Schweitzer Electronic (company)
- PCBES (other)
- FAUDE MR (other)
- Productronica 2023 (other)
- Adeon technologies (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Inside PCBAA's Fight for American Circuit Board Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-07-30-inside-pcbaas-fight-for-american-circuit-board-manufacturing) (OnTrack)
- [PCB West 2025: Electronics Industry Insights with Mike Buetow](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-31-pcb-west-2025-electronics-industry-insights-with-mike-buetow) (OnTrack)
- [The Future of PCB Manufacturing: Tariffs, Supply Chains & More](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-04-18-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-tariffs-supply-chains-more) (OnTrack)
- [An Interview with Laen - Purple PCB Philosophy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-06-12-an-interview-with-laen-purple-pcb-philosophy) (The Amp Hour)
- [What's Driving the Next Wave of Electronics Engineers?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-01-31-whats-driving-the-next-wave-of-electronics-engineers) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

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