Hardware Podcasts

MADE IN EUROPE #2: Scandinavian EMS Exceptionalism with Kitron's Peter Nilsson and NOTE's Johannes Lind-Widestam

EMS@C-LEVEL · 16 Apr 2025 · 31m

What this episode covers

NOTE CEO Johannes Lind-Widestam and Kitron CEO Peter Nilsson discuss the impact of geopolitical tensions and tariffs on European EMS, noting that while US customers are concerned, Northern European manufacturing often remains cost-competitive even with tariffs. They analyze the 'Scandinavian EMS Exceptionalism,' attributing it to a heritage from telecom giants like Ericsson and Nokia, a culture of openness, and high-skilled operators who function as engineers. The leaders explain why complete supply chain localization is impractical due to the specialized nature of components like PCBs and passives, which remain concentrated in China.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Kitron, NOTE, Ericsson, Nokia, Koh Young, Global Electronics Association, IPC, Scoop Communications

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • OnTrack · 51m

    The Future of PCB Manufacturing: Tariffs, Supply Chains & More

    Greg Papandrew, Managing Director of DirectPCB, discusses the impact of tariffs and supply chain shifts on PCB manufacturing, explaining why China remains the preferred source despite geopolitical tensions due to capacity and lead times. He highlights the critical importance of Design for Manufacturing (DFM), noting that designers often over-engineer boards with unnecessary sequential laminations and gold plating, which drives up costs and limits vendor options. Papandrew also addresses the challenges of export controls, proprietary data protection, and the lack of domestic US capacity to absorb offshore production, suggesting that private sector joint ventures might be necessary to scale advanced PCB production in the US.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringPolicy, trade & tariffs
    8 chapters

  • The Circuit · 28m

    Episode 29: The Myth of Semiconductor Industry Deglobization

    Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the political narratives around semiconductor deglobization, arguing that the industry's deeply intertwined global supply chain makes true decoupling impossible. They highlight the economic and talent challenges of moving manufacturing, noting that TSMC's Arizona fab faces higher costs and recruitment hurdles compared to its operations in Taiwan. The hosts emphasize that while countries like the US, China, and Taiwan are investing in local capacity, the lack of trained engineers and the high cost of fabs mean that global cooperation remains economically necessary.

    Policy, trade & tariffsManufacturing partners & offshoring
    7 chapters

  • Robot Talk · 34m

    Bonus Episode: Resilient Supply Chains for Robotics (ERF 2026)

    Claire Asher interviews Carolina Domation, Sanford Dickert, and Agatha Sua at the European Robotics Forum 2026, discussing the urgent need for resilient robotics supply chains in Europe. The guests highlight vulnerabilities in sourcing critical components like PLCs and motors, advocating for strategic reindustrialization, dual-sourcing, and government-backed demand to secure European technological sovereignty. They argue that Europe must shift from funding isolated pilots to supporting scalable integrators and certified deployment networks to compete with US and Chinese state-driven ecosystems.

    Sourcing & supply chainPolicy, trade & tariffs
    6 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 15m

    Beware of the Overachievers

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss new hardware projects, including Jones's low-power lab timer using a transflective LCD and font chip, and Gammell's experience with JLC PCB's automated assembly workflow. They analyze the economic impact of tariffs on sourcing components from China versus domestic distributors, highlighting the cost advantages of JLC despite the 54% tax. The conversation also covers Gammell's stalled solar installation due to local building codes and Jones's recurring EV charging solenoid failure.

    PCB design & layoutSourcing & supply chain
    7 chapters

  • Predictable Designs Podcast · 49m

    The Advantages and Challenges of Manufacturing in China with Case Engelen of Titoma

    Case Engelen, founder of Titoma, a manufacturing and design firm in Taiwan, discusses the realities of bringing electronic hardware to market via Asian manufacturing. He explains why startups must optimize designs for specific factories rather than seeking a universal DFM, and highlights the critical importance of component availability, lead times, and leveraging local supplier ecosystems in China and Taiwan. Engelen also advises entrepreneurs to prioritize sales validation and realistic factory prioritization over pure engineering perfection.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringSourcing & supply chain
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by EMS@C-LEVEL. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.