Global silicon wafer shipments rise 2.2% YoY in Q1 2025
Global silicon wafer shipments grew modestly in the first quarter of 2025, rising 2.2% year-on-year to 2,896 million square inches (MSI), up from 2,834 MSI in Q1 2024, according to the latest quarterly report from the SEMI. The report highlights ongoing demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, though short-term pressures continue to weigh on the industry.
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Europe's semiconductor target appears out of reach
It is very unlikely that the EU will meet its target of a 20% share of the global market for microchips by 2030, according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).
Dust, water and radar – a hidden threat to autonomous vehicle reliability
A key challenge in autonomous driving technology – how dust and moisture contaminants impair the reliability of automotive radar sensors – will be in focus during a presentation by Jeongmin Kang, Postdoctoral Researcher at Halmstad University, at the upcoming Evertiq Expo Malmö on May 15, 2025.
BASF invests in new semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid plant
BASF plans to increase its production capacity for semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid (H2SO4) with a new facility at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany.
Aspocomp nears sales record with first quarter turnaround
Finnish PCB manufacturer Aspocomp reported a significant turnaround in its financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, coming close to achieving an all-time net sales record.
LGES, Derichebourg to build battery recycling plant in France
Construction of the plant in the Val-d’Oise region of France will begin in 2026, with operations scheduled to start in 2027. The plant will specialize in pre-processing and collection of end-of-life EV batteries.
NXP CEO Kurt Sievers to retire this year
NXP Semiconductors has released its first-quarter fiscal 2025 results alongside news of a significant leadership change, with President and CEO Kurt Sievers set to retire by the end of the year.
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Global semiconductor materials market posts $67.5B in 2024 revenue
Global semiconductor materials market revenue increased 3.8% to USD 67.5 billion in 2024, reports SEMI.
Volvo Cars starts European production of EX30
Volvo Cars and its Belgian manufacturing plant in Ghent have officially started production of the fully electric EX30 small SUV.
Facing the inevitable: how to outsmart semiconductor obsolescence
At Evertiq Expo in Tampere, Ronny Nitsche, Regional Sales Manager at Rochester Electronics, discussed strategies for minimising the impact of semiconductor shortages and product discontinuations through proactive obsolescence management.
How companies can navigate tariff uncertainties
Businesses are facing increasing challenges as shifting trade policies and tariffs impact global supply chains and costs. According to Confidee, a compliance solutions provider for the PCB industry, companies must adopt more agile sourcing strategies to manage the uncertainty.
Stellantis, Factorial advance solid-state battery tech
US firm Factorial Energy’s validated 77Ah FEST cells demonstrated an energy density of 375Wh/kg with over 600 cycles progressing towards automotive qualification, a milestone for large-format lithium-metal solid-state battery.
Report: Huawei develops new AI chip to compete with Nvidia
China’s Huawei Technologies hopes that its new chip, Ascend 910D, will prove to be more powerful than Nvidia’s AI chip H100, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Europe's electronics erosion threatens strategic autonomy
A new report from IPC warns that Europe’s continued decline in electronics manufacturing capacity — particularly in printed circuit boards (PCBs), advanced packaging, and EMS — poses a growing threat to the continent’s defence readiness, industrial resilience, and technological sovereignty.
Chinese EV maker BYD re-evaluates European strategy in face of resistance
Executives speaking anonymously revealed that BYD is rethinking how it approaches the European market in the wake of the continent’s resistance to its technology.
Siemens acquires DownStream to expand PCB design-to-manufacturing flow
Founded in 2002 and based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, DownStream Technologies is a leading provider of manufacturing solutions for manufacturing data analysis and processing, and documenting PCB designs.
Europe’s patent landscape: stable, but no breakthrough
In 2023, the European Patent Office (EPO) received a record number of patent applications from companies, research institutions, and individual inventors alike — a total of 199,275. So, did 2024 break that record? Not quite. Still, the data shows that innovation activity in Europe remains at a consistently high level.
Hanwha, WB Group sign agreement for guided missile JV in Poland
The collaboration will consist of Hanwha Aerospace holding a 51% majority stake in the new entity and Poland’s WB Electronics — a WB Group subsidiary — holding the remaining 49%.
UCB launches accredited battery manufacturing skills program in UK
Battery Manufacturing Skills Pathway (B-MSP) has been developed by University College Birmingham (UCB) to create a talent pipeline that will sustain the UK’s battery value chain across sectors.
NCAB cancels dividend proposal
NCAB is withdrawing its proposal for a dividend for the previous year, which was to be addressed at the annual general meeting on May 8, the company announced in a press release. Instead, the available retained earnings are proposed to be carried forward.
Mikrodust enteres defence sector deal
Mikrodust, a Swedish provider of advanced test solutions for the electronics industry, has entered into a strategic partnership with an unnamed European defence industry company.
Neways Electronics expands focus on defence sector
EMS provider Neways Electronics is expanding its defence-related operations, aligning with growing European ambitions to strengthen regional defence capabilities.
“We’re in the last minutes to rebuild PCB manufacturing in Europe”
Confidee, a PCB compliance and supply partner focused on high-reliability and defence sectors, experienced a strong 2024 despite a declining market. Speaking at the Evertiq Expo in Tampere, Terho Koivisto of Confidee reflected on the year as one of growth and opportunity for the company.
Sophia Antipolis: Half a century of innovation and future ambitions
Sophia Antipolis, Europe’s first science and technology park, marks more than 50 years of growth and innovation. During the Evertiq Expo 2025, Sylvain Rouget and Valérie Gooris from the Sophia Antipolis Foundation reflected on the park’s past achievements and its outlook for the future.
Omron opens new automation centre in Stuttgart
Omron has officially opened its new Automation Centre in Stuttgart. Strategically located near key customers and partners, the new facility will serve as a hub for advanced automation solutions.
Meyer Burger reacts to material shortages – cuts hours at Thalheim plant
Meyer Burger Technology AG says that it will introduce short-time work at its solar cell production facility in Thalheim, Germany, citing temporary material shortages.
Sandvik secures $74 million order for BEV mining equipment
The order includes battery-electric trucks, loaders, bolters, development drills and longhole drills, as well as conventional trucks, cable bolters, loaders and longhole drills.
NCAB acquires Germany's B&B Leiterplattenservice
NCAB has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of B&B Leiterplattenservice GmbH (B&B) headquartered in Mittweida, west of Dresden.
A national initiative to strengthen Sweden's semiconductor sector
Sweden is taking a major step to boost its position in the semiconductor industry with the launch of a new national coordination initiative. Led by the Swedish electronics industry association, Svensk Elektronik, the project – Semicon Sweden – has received funding from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) to run over the next four years.
Report: Intel set to cut 20% of its workforce
Over 20,000 employees are poised to lose their jobs. The move was described by sources to Bloomberg as an attempt by new CEO Lip-Bu Tan to streamline management and rebuild an engineering-driven culture.
Ericsson sets up antenna manufacturing in India
Ericsson Antenna System (EAS) is expanding its local manufacturing footprint in India, positioning the country as a strategic innovation hub within the Swedish telecom company's global network.
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