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Australia’s reliance on overseas suppliers for printed circuit boards (PCBs) has long been a challenge for local manufacturers. At PCB Connect Expo & Forum, held on 26th February 2025 at the Caloundra Air Museum, industry leaders gathered to discuss the urgent need for sovereign PCB manufacturing. At the forefront of this initiative is Frank-Armin Faller, CEO of Elexon Electronics and a board member of Regional Development Australia (RDA) Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast.

Frank has been a driving force behind efforts to establish a local PCB manufacturing facility, working closely with RDA’s CEO, Jacqueline Steel, to push this critical agenda forward. In his address at the event, he highlighted the vulnerabilities in Australia’s supply chains exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and underscored the importance of investing in local production to secure the nation’s industrial future.

We spoke with Frank and discussed the challenges and opportunities for local PCB manufacturing, and what lies ahead for Australia’s electronics industry.

Where did the inspiration for the PCB Connect come from and what’s so unique about it?   

“It is the first in Australia focused on PCB manufacturing. Seeing it off the ground with support from various stakeholders, whether it’s industry associations like AIDN, Austrade, the University of Sunshine Coast, other PCB assemblers, or defence partners has been encouraging for this particular event, shows we’re moving in the right direction. 

I’ve been in electronics manufacturing throughout my entire career and am passionate about keeping it strong in Australia. Manufacturing drives innovation, values, and sustainable jobs, yet in Australia, we have witnessed a decline over the last 30 years.  

The mindset became, “We design our electronics and then send them to China to manufacture” and we saw business after business going out of operation. COVID was a wake-up call, that reminded us of the importance of sovereign capabilities, and suddenly, we had people knocking on our door wanting to onshore their manufacturing. 

I’ve been an advocate for PCB manufacturing for many years, and it’s encouraging to see industry partners share this vision. It is difficult to get the momentum to make change happen, but with the support of my fellow RDA board members, we are now able to say that this is a project worth pursuing and in no better place than Moreton Bay!” 

What is missing in Australia to have local PCB manufacturing, and what would we gain by establishing it? 

“For the electronics manufacturing supply chain, we need PCB, electronic components, and the right equipment to put it all together. The majority of all this is being manufactured overseas. There are uncertainties with times and transport, and in an environment where you need to be agile and respond fast, it would make all the difference to have a PCB manufacturer around the corner.  As [PCB] is a high-tech product, having that collaboration between design engineers and the engineers that manufacture PCB is very fruitful.  

Here, that collaboration is almost done in isolation. Design engineers send the files off to, mainly, China, and might not be fully aware of the capabilities of the factory. An important aspect of that is defence. It’s important to get these products designed in the UK, the US, or Germany, to protect the IP and so forth for security reasons. However, if there is a world conflict, their national interest comes before Australia’s national interest.”   

What was the source of your courage to launch this event, and how do you expect to achieve its purpose? 

“I am driven by a goal and a determination to get things done, regardless of obstacles. PCB manufacturing is a tough challenge in Australia, we’re a small market, and volume dictates price, making the business case difficult. But with the support of my fellow RDA board members and a silent majority backing this cause, I knew it was worth pursuing. 

Success, however, depends on strong partnerships between government, businesses, and universities. A facility like this needs skilled labour, and universities can provide that talent while benefiting from industry connections for internships. Only with a collaborative approach is it even possible to think about making this successful.” 

How do you see the future of manufacturing in Australia, and what can we learn from countries with a strong track record in this industry? 

“Our AUKUS partners make concerted efforts to have PCB manufacturing in the country. Europe has been a leading manufacturer over the last 20 years. Under the Biden administration, the US has introduced a bill that specifically protects PCB manufacturing because they recognise its importance. We need to build up the business case that PCB manufacturing can be operated as a profitable business in Australia. Something the event wants to establish is the demand. What is the preparedness of Australian customers? However, it is obvious that we do not have the volume that Chinese manufacturers have; we cannot meet those price points, and therefore, we need some form of government assistance.”  

If this project succeeds, how do you envision the long-term future of electronics manufacturing in Australia?  

“The sky is the limit! Now, Australia has a lot of small players in electronic manufacturing, and I can see a consolidation happening while also establishing some bigger players. Bigger players mean a higher volume of PCB manufacturing. All of a sudden, it becomes competitive, and prices are reduced. Australia will be competitive, and we will be able to look at manufacturing on a broader level. Australia may never be the manufacturer of aircraft, and not the world leader in manufacturing shovels, but it is somewhere in between. There is a lot of appetite for electronics in Australia. Electronics are all around us and need to be built somewhere – so why not Australia?” 

The PCB Connect Expo & Forum is just the beginning. The conversation around local PCB manufacturing is growing, and now is the time to turn ideas into action.  

Keep watching for more updates and reach us out if you want to be part of shaping Australia’s electronics future!