The past year has brought steady progress across the UK and global electronics industry. For manufacturers relying on contract electronics manufacturing and pcb assembly services, 2025 highlighted the value of trusted, responsive partners who can deliver precision, reliability and technical expertise under changing market conditions.
At MPE Electronics, we’ve continued to invest in advanced production equipment, strengthen our leadership team and refine our processes to meet growing customer demand. In this review, we look at:
- The key 2025 developments shaping the electronics industry and the PCB assembly market
- How MPE has responded with new technology, training and leadership
- What trends we expect to define 2026 for UK PCB assembly services
“2025 has been a year of steady progress. We’ve continued investing in equipment and process improvements to ensure we deliver precision and reliability for every customer.” – Nicola Evans, Managing Director, MPE Electronics
If you’re planning production schedules for 2026 or reviewing suppliers,
get in touch with our expert team to secure capacity for your upcoming PCB assembly projects.
Global and UK Electronics Manufacturing Overview
What’s been happening in global electronics manufacturing in 2025?
The global electronic manufacturing services (EMS) market grew from USD 609.79 billion in 2024 to an estimated USD 648.11 billion in 2025, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 6.89 % through to 2032 (Fortune Business Insights, 2025).
Growth is being driven by continued demand from medical, transport and energy sectors, supported by ongoing recovery in global supply chains. Across these markets, manufacturers are prioritising sustainability, ESG performance and lifecycle traceability as procurement teams demand clearer evidence of compliance and responsible sourcing.
Digital process control, advanced inspection systems and real-time data tracking are also becoming standard across high-performance contract electronics manufacturing environments, helping maintain precision and reliability even as assemblies become more complex.
What about in the UK?
The UK market has continued to see a steady return of production as more OEMs prioritise local partnerships for faster lead times, easier communication and greater traceability.
Reshoring continues to gain traction, supported by investment incentives and renewed confidence in British manufacturing quality.
Manufacturers face ongoing challenges, particularly rising energy costs and increasing compliance requirements under standards such as IPC-A-610 and ISO 9001. Despite these pressures, many UK companies have strengthened their competitiveness through automation, training and closer supplier relationships.
“Customers value responsive support from all departments within MPE – Sales, Production, and Engineering – and, of course, traceability they can rely on, and that’s exactly what UK-based assembly provides. We’ve seen a clear shift towards local manufacturing partnerships that offer consistency and accountability.” – Paul Carter, Sales Director at MPE Electronics.
The UK PCB Market: Growth Drivers and Ongoing Challenges
Growth Sectors and Positive Momentum
The UK PCB market has seen growing demand for mixed-technology builds, multilayer boards, and high-reliability assemblies used in industrial control, energy monitoring and medical devices. Many projects now require tighter tolerances, hybrid SMT/THT layouts and improved thermal management to support more compact product designs.
This increased technical complexity has driven more OEMs to partner with experienced pcb assembly service providers who can offer full process control and Design for Manufacture (DfM) support early in development.
With over 30 years of production experience, MPE Electronics is well equipped to support customers through this shift, providing assemblies that meet strict performance, compliance and traceability requirements across industrial, energy and healthcare applications.
“Many of our customers are expanding in critical sectors like Healthcare, Defence, Safety and Security. They need assemblies that perform reliably – especially in critical-to-life applications. Our customers require a partner that can deliver to a superior standard every time.” – Paul Carter, Sales Director, MPE Electronics
Challenges Shaping the Market
Recruiting skilled engineers and technicians remains a key challenge for the UK manufacturing sector. Fluctuating component availability and material costs continue to affect planning and margins.
MPE’s response includes expanding internal training programmes, including ongoing IPC training and up to date certification. This investment has created a team of multi-skilled operators who can step into different production areas when required, maintaining workflow continuity and consistent output. The approach also supports knowledge sharing across departments, helping the team adapt quickly to changing customer schedules and technical requirements.
This focus on internal capability was further reflected in the promotion of Paul Owen to Production Director this year. His appointment recognises his leadership and operational expertise and demonstrates MPE Electronics’ commitment to developing talent from within.
Motorsport Display Units: Specialist Training
MPE’s commitment to skills development goes beyond certification. To meet the evolving requirements of a long-standing client, our production team completed a three-week specialist training programme delivered by the customer on site in our project dedicated production area. The initiative strengthened technical capability across every stage of assembly and deepened understanding of the product’s performance expectations.
Read more about this initiative in our latest case study.
PCB Assembly in 2025: Key Trends and Developments
Miniaturisation, Complexity and Automation
Increased demand for miniaturisation was a defining trend in 2024 and has continued throughout 2025, driving the need for greater precision and process control. As assemblies become smaller and more complex, investment in automation and inspection systems has become essential across the industry.
At MPE, we responded by installing a MYPro-A40DX-17 pick and place machine, improving accuracy and throughput for intricate component layouts.
“The MYPro system enables us to handle higher component densities with even greater precision. It’s improved both throughput and repeatability across our lines.” – Paul Owen, Production Director, MPE Electronics
Quality, Testing and Reliability
Across the PCB assembly industry, electronics manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on proven quality systems and consistent process validation. Automated inspection, reflow profiling (i.e. temperature control throughout soldering) and statistical process control (i.e. monitoring production quality using data) are now core requirements for an advanced pcb assembly service.
To strengthen these capabilities, MPE introduced a BTU Pyramax P100A reflow oven, delivering tighter thermal process control and improved solder joint consistency across production runs.
“Consistent process control is essential for reliability. The Pyramax allows us to maintain that precision even as assemblies become more complex. Alongside our equipment, we’ll continue to invest in testing and inspection that supports the company’s long-standing commitment to IPC-compliant assembly, traceability and reliable performance in every build.” – Kirsty Spalding, Quality Assurance Manager, MPE Electronics
Sustainability and Supply Chain Transparency
Sustainability and traceability remain central themes across the contract electronics manufacturing sector. OEMs and CEMs are tightening compliance with RoHS, REACH and ISO 14001, while electronics customers increasingly request detailed environmental and sourcing documentation.
At MPE, we maintain rigorous supplier auditing and digital documentation systems to verify compliance and support responsible sourcing. This approach not only meets regulatory requirements but also builds trust with customers who rely on transparent, traceable pcb assembly services.
Our Expert Insight: 5 Predictions for PCB Assembly in 2026
PCB assembly in 2026 is expected to evolve in several practical, measurable ways as the industry responds to shifting design, compliance and supply demands.
1. Growth in rigid-flex and multi-board assemblies
Electronic product designers are prioritising compact, integrated layouts. This will lead to more projects combining rigid PCBs, flex circuits and sub-assemblies within a single housing. Assemblers will need to handle hybrid builds involving connectors, wiring and mounting, not just board-level population. MPE’s investment in precision placement and process control ensures it can manage these more intricate production workflows.
2. Higher mix, shorter production runs
OEMs are increasingly ordering smaller batches of more complex assemblies. This shift from high-volume to high-mix manufacturing will continue through 2026, placing greater emphasis on quick setup changes, component programming accuracy and scheduling flexibility. Facilities with multi-skilled teams and efficient line changeovers will maintain the agility customers now expect.
3. Demand for full build traceability
Procurement and quality teams will expect end-to-end traceability, including component batch data, process temperatures and inspection records. PCB assemblers able to provide digital build histories and secure reporting will stand out. MPE already tracks and verifies every stage of production, positioning it well for this continued shift.
4. Emphasis on supply chain resilience
Component shortages remain unpredictable, and customers will expect their assembly partners to adapt quickly to alternative parts or board variants without long delays. Suppliers with strong engineering support, approved substitution processes and flexible sourcing strategies will be preferred.
5. Sustainability as a procurement standard
In 2026, sustainability criteria will continue to influence more purchasing decisions. OEMs will increasingly request documentation on energy efficiency, waste control and material sourcing within the assembly process. PCB assembly manufacturers demonstrating measurable improvements in these areas will gain competitive advantage, especially within public sector and medical supply chains.
“PCB assembly in 2026 will demand more agility and accountability from every supplier. We’ve seen that our customers need more than capacity, they need visibility, flexibility and confidence that their products are built to perform.” – Nicola Evans, Managing Director, MPE Electronics
Future Focus
We’re grateful to every customer who’s worked with us this year. In 2026, MPE Electronics will continue investing in the equipment and expertise that ensure your PCB assembly performs to specification.
Get in touch to plan your next project or follow us on LinkedIn for industry insight and news from our team.
MPE Electronics is an established and experienced contract electronics manufacturer specialising in PCB assemblies and full box build assembly for a wide range of commercial and industrial businesses.
To find out how MPE Electronics’ PCB manufacturing and assembly services can benefit your business, contact our expert and friendly team on +44 (0)1825 764822 or enquiries@mpe-electronics.co.uk.
