The right trade fair for key players in the electronics industry: Focus on PCB – From Design to Assembly, Europe’s reference trade show for the printed circuit board industry, concluded its fifth edition with clear results: more visitors, more exhibitors, more valuable content, and an audience that came to Vicenza specifically to do business.
The two-day event, which took place on May 13 and 14 at the Fiera di Vicenza and was dedicated to the world of printed circuit boards, saw attendance figures increase by 10% compared to 2025.
This figure is all the more striking when considering the context of rising costs, a packed calendar of industry events, and the continued complexity of international travel. Yet Vicenza experienced a significant upturn.
PROFESSIONAL VISITORS WITH A CLEAR OBJECTIVE
The typical Focus on PCB visitor is a professional with a clear objective. These professionals include engineers, designers, procurement managers, technical directors, and product managers who are seeking meaningful connections and concrete opportunities, such as solutions, suppliers, and technologies. Exhibitors and sponsors recognize the value of this select audience with decision-making power and a genuine intention to purchase.
The international contingent attracted attendees from around thirty European and non-European countries, with Germany, the United Kingdom, and Slovenia leading the way in terms of attendance.
THE BEST OF THE EUROPEAN PCB INDUSTRY WAS ON DISPLAY IN VICENZA
In terms of exhibitors, Focus on PCB attracted 155 companies from 17 countries, bringing the best technology for producing and designing printed circuit boards to Vicenza.
The international component is growing; foreign exhibitors rose from 22% in 2025 to 26.5% this year. This growth indicates that Focus on PCB is expanding its reach beyond Italy’s borders.
Danny D’Alessandro, Managing Director of NürnbergMesse Italia, emphasized the importance of the event, which is unique in the European trade fair landscape. He said, “Focus on PCB demonstrates the resilience of the European and Italian electronics sector. It aims to offer visitors and industry professionals a valuable platform for fostering dialogue and connections among all players in the European electronics supply chain”.
Artificial intelligence, skills shortages, and supply chain resilience are key topics in the global electronics industry conversation, and in Vicenza, there was a space for concrete discussion, not just an exhibition.
THE EUROPEAN PCB INDUSTRY GATHERS IN VICENZA: SUPPLY CHAIN, GEOPOLITICS, INVESTMENTS
On May 14, the trade show hosted a discussion set to leave its mark. The roundtable discussion, “Building a Resilient Electronics Ecosystem: Necessary Strategies, Investments, and Policies” brought together three of the most influential figures in the European supply chain: Alison James, Executive Director of the Global Electronics Association Europe; Thomas Michels, Vice President of the European Interconnect Industry (EIPC) and CEO of ILFA; and Cosimo Musca, President of ANIE Componenti Elettronici.
The issue is more urgent than ever: how can the European PCB supply chain be strengthened in a geopolitical context where dependence on Asia has become a matter of strategic security, not just cost? What policy levers exist? What investments are needed? Where is the battle for the Old Continent’s technological autonomy being fought? Focus on PCB has brought institutions, industry, and policymakers together around the same table for a conversation that few European platforms facilitate. This confirms that the response to the sector’s major challenges depends on coordination between stakeholders rather than on individual companies’ strategies.
NEWS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: TRAINING, DESIGN, EMPLOYMENT
This edition introduced three initiatives that broaden the fair’s scope beyond pure exhibition business:
- HUB FARE IMPRESA with Gi Group and weprosperitY: a space dedicated to bringing companies and industry professionals together, focusing on the most sought-after skills in the electronics supply chain.
- “Beyond the PCB” exhibition: an exhibition itinerary designed to showcase printed circuit board design as a discipline straddling aesthetics and engineering.
- Focus on LAB: an educational workshop on the fair grounds with students from Politecnico di Milano, providing a concrete example of dialogue with the academic world and investment in tomorrow’s skills.
CHAMPION FOR THE FOURTH TIME: MANICONE HEADS TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MONACO
There is one competition at Focus on PCB that keeps visitors on the edge of their seats every year: the IPC Hand Soldering Competition. It is the only Italian leg of the international hand soldering competition organized by the Global Electronics Association. In 2026, the winner is once again Alessandro Manicone of Elettronica GF, who claimed the title for the fourth consecutive time.
Manicone will represent Italy at the World Championships in Munich during the electronica trade fair in November 2026. Last year, he finished fourth, demonstrating the excellence of Italian professionals in the electronics sector.
This year, for the first time, the competition was extended to include wiring, opening the contest to an additional technical specialty in high demand. It’s a clear signal that, in a sector where the integration of diverse skills is becoming increasingly central, competitions must evolve as well.
FOCUS ON PCB 2027
The date has already been set for next year: April 21 and 22, 2027, for the next edition of Focus on PCB, which will once again take place at the IEG Exhibition Centre in Vicenza.
Organised by NürnbergMesse Italia, promoted by the Assodel PCB Group and hosted by IEG – Italian Exhibition Group, under the patronage of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and ANIE Componenti Elettronici.
The Veneto Region has recognized Focus on PCB as an event of international significance.
Further information is available on the website: www.focusonpcb.it/en
