High-tech hat trick: Leading European trade fair for printed circuit boards grows

Nothing works in modern electronics without boards made of insulating materials with solder fields. Almost every electronic device contains one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) and they serve as the basis for control systems in machines, systems and vehicles. The challenge: the majority of PCBs come from China. Supply chain problems such as those experienced in recent years can quickly lead to bottlenecks.

Two thirds of the EU's PCB imports still come from China. According to the IPC, the global trade and standardisation organisation for electronics manufacturing, the EU accounts for only 2.3 percent of global PCB production and 11.5 percent of electronic assembly. The EU is competing with the USA, South Korea and Japan in developing its own electronics ecosystem. The new European chip law is intended to protect the European PCB industry. As a networking platform, the ‘Focus on PCB’ in Vicenza also contributes to a strong PCB industry in Europe. The trade fair recorded significant growth this year.

As the only European event dedicated exclusively to the PCB industry, ‘Focus on PCB’ recorded 18 per cent more visitors from 25 countries compared to 2023, mainly from Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, France and Spain. Among the 119 exhibitors from 16 manufacturing and distribution countries along the entire production chain were entrepreneurs and representatives from the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and APAC (Asia-Pacific) regions. At conferences and technical forums, European PCB experts analysed the potential of the booming market.

‘This event has established itself among PCB industry professionals as an excellent event capable of effectively promoting business in the sector,’ says Stefania Calcaterra, Managing Director of NürnbergMesse Italy. ‘The feedback we have received from exhibitors on the quality of the visitor profile motivates us to continue in this direction.’

There is also a particular focus on the next generation. In Vicenza, for example, the best Italian talents were determined when it comes to producing complex printed circuit boards within one hour. 32 participants - including nine women - competed against each other at the trade fair. The winner will be able to travel to the IPC Hand Soldering World Final in Monaco.

There were also winners at ‘Focus on Career’, the new recruitment platform at ‘Focus on PCB’. Organised for the first time, the job fair connected exhibiting companies with interested and qualified visitors - the skilled workers of tomorrow in the European electronics industry.