EMSNOW

EMSNOW and Dieter Weiss from in4ma begin their 2025 tour of Central and Eastern European EMS in Poland. This podcast previews the tour by providing details and context for these visits. Dieter discusses current industry sentiment, some thoughts about the companies on the agenda and what listeners can expect from this important work. EMSNOW wishes to acknowledge this year’s tour sponsors CalcuQuote...

 EMSNOW learns about Koh Young Technologies’ expansion into the Semicon and advanced packaging arena in North America from Joel Scutchfield, GM of SMT and Semicon Business Operations. Koh Young already has great traction in this arena with companies in Asia as the world leader in 3D measurement, but the market is less developed in the Americas. Expansion depends on engaging with new events, networ...

EMSNOW discusses supplier quality management with John Hartnett who is Director of Quality at independent distributor Freedom USA. Continuous improvement is embedded in Freedom USA's approach to ensuring the components they offer to customers meet the highest standards. Certifications like AS 6081, which is an aerospace standard specifically written  for independent distributors, dictates wha...

This lively conversation with Indium Corporation's President and CEO Ross Berntson is full of positive energy about Indium and the electronics industry in general. EMSNOW learns about Berntson's own career journey after joining Indium in 1996 as a service technician. Now President and CEO, he shares his thoughts about the centrality of a clear vision of the future to successful leadershi...

EMSNOW learns what drives a regional EMS in northern Wisconsin from SMT Corporation's COO Brian Lamers. This company has leveraged its strengths to provide a very unique and focused value proposition to companies that may get overlooked by the larger Tier 1 EMS. Lamers reveals how they actively seek partnerships with organizations that can clearly define their problems and demonstrate commitm...

EMSNOW spends time with Patrick Freytag, who assumed the role of President and CEO at Creation Technologies at the start of 2025. Patrick joked about his bad timing as he joined Creation Technologies as CFO in 2019 right before Covid hit and then moved into the CEO role hours before the tariff disruption. However, he commented that 'right into the frying pan' is a business climate in whi...

In this thoughtful  interview with Cicor Group CEO Alexander Hagemann, EMSNOW explores Cicor's remarkable journey over the past nine years to evolve into the pan-European EMS powerhouse it is today. Laser-focused on high mix/low volume customers that want strategic partnerships, Alexander has executed a down-to-earth strategy to streamline the organization and focus on creating a culture of i...

Luminovo is a software solution focused on improving the OEM and EMS industry’s quoting and procurement processes using AI. The company’s North American Business and Operations Lead Sam Mason explains his company’s recent expansion to North America and developments in the Luminovo platform. The goal of the solution is to take bad component part data and harmonize it by comparing it to their contin...

EMSNOW learns about Cetec ERP from Senior Consultant Scott Ryan. This software solution is specifically designed for the small to medium tier EMS where an all-in-one ERP system that seamlessly connects to MES enables these companies to compete with larger competitors. The discussion includes specifics about the challenges faced by smaller teams stretched thin and wearing more hats, and therefore n...

EMSNOW gets a preview of in4ma’s latest European EMS Industry Report from Dieter Weiss. This year’s report is based on participation from 427 European companies, which represents 42% of the total industry in Europe, Dieter explains. Highlights include the growth rates, how many companies have left the industry, and analysis of what these performance data means about the state of the industry. They...

Edita Dragolj, Co-founder and Partner Manager of GreenChips explains their AI-driven component marketplace to EMSNOW in this informative conversation. She explains the process for working with GreenChips for suppliers and customers with the goal of addressing excess inventory sustainably. The conversation covers the two business models available, how the components are verified, their global footp...

EMSNOW gets an update on activities of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA) from its Executive Director, David Schild. David contends that while there are substantial changes in U.S. trade policy from the new administration, he’s confident that the bi-partisan ‘manufacture in the U.S.’ theme is still very much on the agenda. While PCBAA’s strategies and tactics will adjust to w...

EMSNOW catches up with John Magee, President Sales and Operations, and  Andy Barnett, Vice President of Business Development, at independent distributor Freedom. They share their insights into current market conditions at the beginning of 2025 for the industry and for Freedom's business. The discussion touches on what customers want in turbulent times, and how expectations have changed dramat...

EMSNOW discusses the EMS industry in India with Vivek Khanna, CEO of INDIC EMS Electronics. Growth is continuing in 2025 at both the top level and with middle sector OEMs. It's a massive opportunity for the region and INDIC EMS is fully invested in the trend. Vivek describes his company's educational outreach to women, including training programs to alleviate potential labor shortages. T...

EMSNOW speaks with David Loftus, President and CEO of the Electronic Component Industry Association (ECIA) to help component customers better understand the nuances of lead times. Now that we are a few years past the supply chain disruptions from the pandemic, it's a good time to reflect on what happened and what lessons were learned.  The leadership of the ECIA - comprising component manufac...

EMSNOW gets an update on White Horse Laboratories' expansion from CEO Mark Rinehart. Mark explains that his company has expanded globally in response to customer geographic strategies. They are also offering an expanded range of services that evolved from their arsenal of counterfeit components detection methods; as counterfeiters get more sophisticated, they have added equipment and processe...

EMSNOW learns about Austin, Texas based Cetec ERP’s unique cloud-based platform from Tanner Rogers, the company’s Senior Consultant. This is a platform designed for difficult manufacturing environments like EMS/PCBA and delivers an all-in-one SaaS suite from sales and quoting to inventory management, document management, shop floor control, quality management, and financial accounting. Tanner expl...

EMSNOW discusses the challenges of using artificial intelligence in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments with Mycronic’s R&D Director AI Romain Roux. Romain observes that AI adoption in electronics manufacturing remains gradual, but is being driven by deep customer engagement and market trends. AI must serve human operators, not replace them, he contends. The discussion then goes de...

EMSNOW caught up with Kevin Clue, VP Global Sales, High Flex, Mycronic to learn about their record-breaking financial performance in 2024 and their latest solutions. Kevin explains Mycronic’s evolution over the past 6 or 7 years from focusing on low-volume/high mix customers, and pick and place machines to offering a full line solution including screen printers, inspection and material handling. E...

EMSNOW discusses Delvitech’s inspection system platform with the company’s CEO Roberto Gatti. Delvitech will showcase its groundbreaking Horus system, an all-in-one AI native platform for both Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) and Solder Paste Inspection (SPI), at the upcoming IPC APEX Expo 2025 in Anaheim. The software/hardware systems are fast, fully integrated and agnostic to what is being ins...

EMSNOW concludes our Special Assignment podcast series on the global VTech CMS facilities with a tour of two buildings in the industrial park in Tecate Mexico. Eric describes his experience in detail beginning with an easy trip over the border into Mexico from San Diego to Tecate where VTech uses a shelter program to staff two businesses there. The first building is a commercial audio speaker manu...

In this podcast, recorded in Hong Kong, Eric describes his visit to the VTech CMS NPI Centre, which houses 100+ engineers providing electrical, mechanical and software engineering expertise to customers. Launched in 2020, the NPI Center operates at the center of the Shenzhen cluster of universities, new product incubators, and supplier ecosystem ensuring a vibrant, innovative community for 'n...

EMSNOW continues its travels with a stop in Dongguan, China. On special assignment for VTech's CMS division, EMSNOW focuses in this podcast on the VTech Science Park campus in China, and the company's manufacturing capabilities at this facility. Eric discusses the business strategy of the multiple SBUs, the level of automation and how they manage it, and the challenges of growing the bus...

EMSNOW is on Special Assignment in Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, touring the VTech CMS facility there. This podcast covers background on this largest EMS company that you likely haven't heard much about. The VTech Group operates in 14 countries, with 25,000 employees, offering electronic toys, residential phones, baby monitors, and contract manufacturing services (CMS). It's the VTech C...

On this their final podcast of the 2024 Tour, the EMSNOW - in4ma team discusses their visit to Lacon Group in Karlsfeld, Germany. This self-described 'smart EMS integrator' focuses on low volume, complex systems, with facilities in Germany and eastern Romania. The box-build facility in Karlsfeld assembles the complex cable harnesses built in Romania with PCBs and completes final assembly...