MADE IN EUROPE

AI is boosting demand and breaking planning models at the same time, and that tension shows up everywhere in electronics manufacturing services right now. From my home to yours, I sit down with Otto Pukk, President and CEO of INCAP, to take stock after Q1 and get specific about what a stronger 2026 actually depends on: execution, supply resilience, and a footprint that can serve customers where th...

Global EMS demand is back in growth mode, yet parts of Europe are still shrinking and the gap is getting harder to ignore. I sat down with Christoph Solka, Director Industry Intelligence at the Global Electronics Association to talk through what the latest data is really signaling and why “Europe vs the world” is too simple to be useful when the market is splitting by region, sector, and exposure...

What if you could move a complex hardware product from dispersed vendors to one accountable partner—and do it in three months? I sit down with Florian Weiss, HANZA's Head of Business Development Region Central Europe to unpack how BMK scaled a Raspberry Pi-based platform beyond PCBA into a complete, end-to-end manufacturing solution that absorbs production and logistics so teams can focus on...

What if scaling production were as simple as one phone call? I sat down with Andres Nordin, HANZA's COO at their recent Capital Markets Day to unpack a customer-led operating model that turns complex supplier webs into a single, responsive partnership—and why the most valuable technology choices start with pain points, not buzzwords. From defining six core capabilities to exploring a seventh...

What happens when a manufacturer treats values as part of an operating system, not a slide? I sit down with HANZA CFO Lars Åkerblom at their recent Capital Markets Day to unpack how code of conduct and sustainability guide every decision—from factory floor safety and anti-corruption to transparent relationships with customers, suppliers, and investors—and why that stance fuels both resilience and...

Defense electronics is pulling the EMS industry in a new direction, and the companies that move early will shape the next decade of the supply chain. I’m joined by Johannes Lind-Widestam, CEO of NOTE to unpack what’s really behind their latest moves and why the UK has become such a central piece of the puzzle. We get into the STI acquisition and how it strengthens NOTE’s position in the UK defense...

War has sped up everything—demand signals, lead times, and the tolerance for fragile supply chains. I sit down with Mattia Lindhe, HANZA's Chief Strategy Officer at their recent Capital Markets Day to dig into HANZA's Lynx program’s twofold mission: deliver urgent support for Ukraine while building a stronger, more resilient European defense base that can scale locally and reliably. Alon...

Defense electronics is moving faster than the supply chain can comfortably handle, and the numbers are forcing a rethink of what “normal” growth looks like. I sat down with Peter Nilsson, President & CEO of Kitron Group to unpack a dramatic jump in defense-related revenue, what’s driving it, and how an EMS provider can scale without getting trapped by over-concentration or runaway complexity....

What if your supply chain felt like one well-run factory instead of a maze of vendors and shifting promises? I sit down with founder and CEO Erik Stenfors at Hanza's Capital Markets Day in Stockholm to unpack a simple but powerful idea: build a manufacturing partner the way a buyer wishes it worked. That means vertical integration where it counts, smart outsourcing where it helps, and a singl...

Energy prices can spike overnight, shipping lanes can become political flashpoints, and suddenly the “normal” electronics supply chain starts to look fragile. I sit down with Alison James, Senior Director for European Government Relations at the Global Electronics Association to talk through what the latest geopolitical tensions could mean for European manufacturing, including the quiet but critic...

What happens when founders decide legacy matters more than an easy exit? I sat down with Eurocircuits’ Founding Partner Dirk Stans to unpack a deal that keeps the company’s engineering DNA intact while unlocking the resources to scale. Instead of becoming the 'fifth wheel' of a sprawling industrial group, Eurocircuits becomes the strategic core of a new platform—built around its digitall...

The landscape of European electronics manufacturing is undergoing substantial shifts as geopolitical tensions rise and tariff uncertainties loom large. In this revealing conversation, NOTE CEO Johannes Lind-Widestam  and  Kitron CEO Peter Nilsson share their frontline perspectives on navigating these turbulent waters while maintaining the exceptional performance that has become synonymous with Nor...

NOTE: This show was recorded on April 8th, days after President Trump's "Liberation Day" Tariffs had been announced, but before a 90 day pause was applied to those same reciprocal tariffs, apart from those on China. The comments and opinions reflect this point in time. Sweeping tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions have manufacturers worldwide questioning thei...

Europe's defense industrial base stands at a critical inflection point. Military experts warn we have just three to five years to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities before facing potentially devastating security challenges. I talked about these trends and the European response with Kitron Group's President and CEO, Peter Nilsson and Managing Director of Kitron AS, Hans Petter...