Joachim Verhegghe of ACB on the Future of PCB Manufacturing in Europe

EMS@C-LEVEL · 26 Jan 2024 · 7m

What this episode covers

Joachim Verhegghe, plant director of ACB Dandermonde, discusses the shifting dynamics of PCB manufacturing in Europe, highlighting a surge in demand from high-reliability sectors like space (ESA), defense, and avionics. He explains that while automotive is struggling, these premium sectors are willing to pay a premium for local, high-quality production, driving ACB's expansion. Verhegghe outlines ACB's strategy of using targeted automation to handle high-mix, low-volume orders and mitigate talent shortages in Belgium and France, rather than pursuing mass-scale automation.

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