MADE IN EUROPE: Building Unified Intelligence For The Electronics Supply Chain: Christoph Solka, Global Electronics Association

MADE IN EUROPE: Building Unified Intelligence For The Electronics Supply Chain: Christoph Solka, Global Electronics Association

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 to AI infrastructure. We also get into the behind-the-scenes story of building a unified electronics industry intelligence platform. With European EMS data, European PCB reporting, global rankings, and ongoing market analysis coming together at the Global Electronics Association, the big question becomes: how do you scale the system without breaking the trust that took decades to earn? Christoph explains why the first priority is strengthening the IT foundation, reducing error risk, and creating a platform that can handle larger-scale data collection while keeping the methodology steady and familiar for subscribers. Then we turn back to the numbers: why automotive weakness and local economic conditions weigh on Western Europe, why certain Eastern European players benefit more from AI-linked demand, and how defense spending can reshape outcomes in places like the Nordics. We also discuss a striking indicator of resilience: many companies improve margins even as revenue falls, and what that mix of cost control, headcount pressure, and agility says about the EMS industry right now. If you care about EMS market intelligence, PCB industry trends, and practical signals you can use for planning and strategy, this is a must-listen. Subscribe, share, and leave a review, then tell us: what single metric best predicts a turnaround where you operate? MADE IN EUROPE is a Global Electronics Association podcast hosted by Philip Stoten and produced and published by SCOOP. For more information on Global Electronics Association visit https://www.electronics.org/ [https://www.electronics.org/]

MADE IN EUROPE: Customer-Led Manufacturing Made Easy with Andreas Nordin, HANZA's COO

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 and eighth, we walk through how real quote requests shape investment in sub-technologies like specialized welding and assembly, keeping capital focused on outcomes customers actually want. The conversation gets tactical on supply chain rewiring. Instead of managing forty suppliers to move capacity 20% up or down, the team shows how a unified partner compresses coordination, slashes indirect costs, and responds to volatility in both directions. We dig into a standout example with Mitsubishi forklifts: building out a facility, installing complex assembly, and standing up an operation designed around the customer’s exact needs. It’s solution design over commodity sourcing, with measurable gains in speed, quality, and resilience. We also talk about integration after acquisition, especially as it relates to the recent acquisition of BMK in Germany. The approach is deliberately humble: listen first, learn what the acquired team does best, and bring those strengths into the broader system. And on AI, we keep it real—use it where it removes a bottleneck, ignore the hype where it doesn’t. Throughout, the theme is constant motion: what works in 2026 will evolve by 2028 and 2031, so the edge comes from sensing change and building with customers, not ahead of them. If you value practical strategy, fewer handoffs, and tech that actually serves the work, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a colleague who manages suppliers, and leave a review with the one change that would make your operations 10x easier. This podcast is part of series filmed at HANZA's Capital Markets Day in Stockholm on March 10th 2026. MADE IN EUROPE is a Global Electronics Association podcast hosted by Philip Stoten and produced and published by SCOOP. For more information on Global Electronics Association visit https://www.electronics.org/ [https://www.electronics.org/]

Disrupting German Manufacturing Through One-Stop Scale: Florian Weiss, HANZA (BMK)

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 sales, R&D, and marketing. The story isn’t theory; it’s the playbook for turning hundreds of components and many suppliers into a single, flexible pipeline that ships thousands of units, yet still delivers in quantities as low as one. We dig into the mechanics of transfer—tooling and test migration, supplier onboarding, firmware alignment, and NPI gates—then connect the dots to real business outcomes: cleaner change control, shorter lead times, and late-stage customization that protects cash. From there, we zoom out to the strategic fit between BMK and HANZA. With HANZA's strengths in sheet metal, mechanics, and cable harnesses across Germany, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia, the combined team brings vertical integration without overlap, unlocking cross-selling across BMK’s 400-customer base and cutting total cost of ownership with a local footprint. Expect practical insights on how to stabilize supply chains for complex electronics, build resilience through regional capacity, and shift from siloed sourcing to a unified manufacturing model. Whether you manage a fast-scaling device or a mature product with variant complexity, the takeaways are clear: consolidate accountability, keep design velocity high, and use flexible fulfillment to match real demand.  If this kind of integrated manufacturing strategy could change your roadmap, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review with the one question you want us to tackle next. This podcast is part of series filmed at HANZA's Capital Markets Day in Stockholm on March 10th 2026. MADE IN EUROPE is a Global Electronics Association podcast hosted by Philip Stoten and produced and published by SCOOP. For more information on Global Electronics Association visit https://www.electronics.org/ [https://www.electronics.org/]

MADE IN EUROPE: How HANZA Blends ESG, Vertical Integration, And Smart Acquisitions To Scale with CFO Lars Åkerblom

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 growth. We trace the recent uptick in organic momentum as customer activity returns and orders turn into revenue, then dig into how vertical integration turns execution into advantage. By pulling more of the value chain inside, HANZA cuts handoffs, speeds problem-solving, and earns room to co-design with clients—lifting margins while deepening loyalty. That same discipline shapes acquisitions: the BMK deal did more than add revenue, it opened powerful cross-selling channels and sharpened the integrated model. Just as important are the deals you walk away from and the customers you let go when the fit is wrong; culture and long-term economics win over short-term volume. Looking ahead to the 2028 target of 14 billion SEK, we explore a balanced route: expand with existing customers, win new ones through capability-led differentiation, and use market softness to acquire quality assets at the right price. Agility stays central—building footprint, capacity, and geography to serve faster and better—while ensuring every acquisition leaves customers better off on day one. Throughout, two voices steer the ship: customers who reveal where value is moving, and employees who make safe, consistent delivery possible. That alignment turns ESG into everyday practice and strategy into steady compounding. If this conversation sparks ideas on culture-led growth, integrated operations, or smart M&A, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review so more builders can find it. This podcast is part of series filmed at HANZA's Capital Markets Day in Stockholm on March 10th 2026. MADE IN EUROPE is a Global Electronics Association podcast hosted by Philip Stoten and produced and published by SCOOP. For more information on Global Electronics Association visit https://www.electronics.org/ [https://www.electronics.org/]

MADE IN EUROPE: The STI Acquisition Repositions NOTE For Long-Term Defense Programs, says NOTE CEO Johannes Lind-Widestam

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 supply chain, expands geographic coverage, and adds specialized sites that win in distinct niches. Johannes also shares the story of adding former Chief of the Air Staff Sir Michael Wigston to the board and why board-level defense experience matters when customers are making long-term manufacturing decisions for security and defense programs. From there, we widen the lens to the broader electronics manufacturing services market: where order coverage is improving, why communication and industrial look healthier, why medtech is softer, and why greentech can swing customer to customer. We also talk supply chain risk in plain terms, including memory constraints, AI pressure on foundry capacity, potential PCB allocations, pricing, and how geopolitical shocks can ripple through logistics and materials. Finally, we tackle regional strategy and growth beyond 2026, balancing organic growth targets with disciplined M&A. If you care about EMS strategy, defense manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and where electronics production is headed next, hit subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more builders can find it. What trend do you think will reshape EMS the most this year? MADE IN EUROPE is a Global Electronics Association podcast hosted by Philip Stoten and produced and published by SCOOP. For more information on Global Electronics Association visit https://www.electronics.org/ [https://www.electronics.org/]