Circuitnet Viewpoints 2026
Lukas Buske responds to the annual Circuitnet Viewpoints of the online magazine Circuitnet. He offers insights on new products and the practical application of artificial intelligence. He also looks ahead to the developments we can expect from Plasmatreat in 2026 for electronics and semiconductors.
Circuitnet Viewpoint: Are you planning to launch any new products or services in 2026?
At the 2025 productronica and SEMICON Europa events, we presented our comprehensive electronics manufacturing product portfolio, which covers the entire process chain — from wafer cleaning and PCB assembly to surface pretreatment prior to conformal coating.
A notable product is the REDOX®-Tool, which facilitates in-line, chemical-free, and flux-free oxide reduction on metallic surfaces. This technology removes oxide layers directly within the production process and creates oxide-free contact surfaces, significantly improving bondability, solderability, and electrical conductivity.
Additionally, we are introducing new plasma nozzle technologies for wafer cleaning and surface activation in series production. These technologies provide contamination-free, low-particle treatment and reliably remove organic residues and oxides. They also increase surface energy for subsequent processes, such as die and wire bonding.
We are also using plasma more frequently in PCB manufacturing and assembly, for instance, in pretreatment before conformal coating, coating, or soldering. Plasma treatment improves the adhesion of coatings and protective layers, reduces defects, and ensures reproducible, inline-capable process conditions.
Overall, these innovations drive more efficient, sustainable, and highly integrated electronics manufacturing with a focus on higher yields, lower scrap rates, and improved reliability of complex assemblies.
Have tariffs affected your business planning?
Tariffs have impacted our business to a certain extent, but the overall impact remains manageable. We can now see much more clearly that our customers' production strategies are changing due to the trade policy environment, and that manufacturing capacities are increasingly being relocated or diversified geographically.
In response, we are expanding our activities in India and other locations in 2026. We are strengthening our local presence to provide better support to customers in new production regions.
Does your company use artificial intelligence?
AI currently plays a supporting role in our processes but not a central one. It is integrated into our CRM system, supporting the analysis of customer data and structured, data-based sales work.
Looking to the future, we see great potential for AI's use, particularly in control technology, plant planning, and production-related processes. By evaluating large amounts of data, we can identify bottlenecks, optimize processes, and operate plants more efficiently and precisely while using fewer resources.
Additionally, AI provides substantial opportunities in sales and service. For instance, it can be used for error analysis and troubleshooting, as well as for identifying new markets, analyzing customer requirements, and developing customized technical solutions. In the long term, AI will be an important building block for increasing efficiency, process reliability, and competitiveness.
What is your company's outlook for 2026?
We are cautiously optimistic and expect a more positive outlook than in the current year. Although Plasmatreat remains closely linked to the automotive industry, our broad positioning across numerous industries also benefits us.
We see considerable growth potential in the semiconductor sector, in particular, as Openair-Plasma® technologies are becoming more prevalent there. New manufacturing approaches, such as hybrid bonding, are increasing demand for precise and reliable plasma pretreatment. With this in mind, we are strategically expanding our product portfolio to best support future technology hubs and modern packaging concepts.
