# The PCB Supply Chain Squeeze - A C-Level Special with Confidee's Raymond Goh and TLT's Vytautas Ilgunas

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2026-07-13
- Length: 27m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl

## Summary

Raymond Goh of Confidee and Vytautas Ilgunas of TLT PCB discuss the severe PCB supply chain squeeze driven by AI server demand and upstream material shortages. They explain how capacity loss in European laminate manufacturing, combined with resin shortages from Middle East conflicts, has created lead times of up to nine months for advanced materials. The guests highlight that availability now trumps price, forcing customers to approve alternate laminates and reserve capacity years in advance to avoid production halts. They argue that rebuilding a complete European electronic manufacturing ecosystem, from sand to assembly, requires long-term policy support rather than short-term urgency.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl#t=3) Introduction: Raymond Goh (Confidee) and Vytautas Ilgunas (TLT PCB)
- [2:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl#t=137) European PCB and Laminate Capacity Decline
- [3:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl#t=212) AI Demand Cascading to Standard FR4 and Lead Times
- [6:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl#t=381) Resin Shortages and Geopolitical Disruptions
- [11:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl#t=678) Timeline for Rebuilding Laminate Capacity
- [13:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl#t=802) Policy Gaps and the Need for a Complete Ecosystem
- [18:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl#t=1125) Global Alternatives: India and Supply Chain Visibility
- [21:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-07-13-the-pcb-supply-chain-squeeze-a-c-level-special-with-confidees-raymond-goh-and-tl#t=1309) Mitigation Strategies: Alternate Materials and Capacity Reservations

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- TLT PCB (company)
- Confidee (company)
- Panasonic (company)
- Nanya (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)
- [Chip Shortage Denier](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-05-10-chip-shortage-denier) (The Amp Hour)
- [AI-Powered PCB Supply Chain Management with Luminovo's Timon Ruban](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-06-24-ai-powered-pcb-supply-chain-management-with-luminovos-timon-ruban) (OnTrack)
- [PCB East 2025: Exhibitors, AI Trends & Networking Opportunities](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-05-09-pcb-east-2025-exhibitors-ai-trends-networking-opportunities) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

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