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

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2024-01-26
- Length: 7m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-26-joachim-verhegghe-of-acb-on-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-in-europe

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-26-joachim-verhegghe-of-acb-on-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-in-europe#t=8) Introduction: Joachim Verhegghe and ACB Dandermonde
- [1:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-26-joachim-verhegghe-of-acb-on-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-in-europe#t=67) Reshoring Demand: Space, Defense, and Avionics
- [2:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-26-joachim-verhegghe-of-acb-on-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-in-europe#t=178) Premium Pricing for High-Reliability PCBs
- [3:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-26-joachim-verhegghe-of-acb-on-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-in-europe#t=238) Automation Strategy for High-Mix, Low-Volume Production
- [4:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-26-joachim-verhegghe-of-acb-on-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-in-europe#t=283) Talent Shortages and Workforce Challenges
- [6:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-01-26-joachim-verhegghe-of-acb-on-the-future-of-pcb-manufacturing-in-europe#t=368) Incremental Capacity Expansion and Investment

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- ACB Dandermonde (company)
- ACB (company)
- ESA (other)
- Productronica 2023 (other)
- Adeon technologies (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Global Electronics Association (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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 Jonathan Hirschman of PCB:NG](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-05-20-an-interview-with-jonathan-hirschman-of-pcb-ng) (The Amp Hour)
- [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)
- [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)

## Citing this page

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