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January 7, 2026

VIEWPOINT 2026: Brian Schmaltz, Chief Operating Officer, NAMICS Corporation



VIEWPOINT 2026: Brian Schmaltz, Chief Operating Officer, NAMICS Corporation
Brian Schmaltz, Chief Operating Officer, NAMICS Corporation
2025, a year in review, shows the semiconductor market's projected 20% surge being revised to 12% as real-world conditions proved less robust than early forecasts. Slower inventory normalization, a gradual memory recovery, and renewed geopolitical and tariff pressures added costs across supply chains. Macroeconomic caution also softened enterprise, automotive, and data center spending, while AI hardware demand leveled off. Together, these factors shifted expectations from a sharp rebound to a more measured—but still healthy—expansion.

Expectations for 2026 point to steady semiconductor growth of roughly 9%, driven by strengthening demand in automotive electronics, edge AI, and advanced data infrastructure. Supply chains are expected to stabilize, though geopolitical pressures and energy-efficiency mandates will continue to influence investment decisions. The year will be defined by priorities in data security, efficiency, and miniaturization, with continued emphasis on energy-efficient electronics, advanced data communication, and expanding AI processing across applications.

From a technology and economic perspective, the rapid adoption of AI is increasingly being compared to the transformative spread of the internet. Just as the internet reshaped global productivity, communication, and business creation in the late 1990s and early 2000s, AI is now accelerating innovation across virtually every sector. Rising cybersecurity concerns have also led to stricter regulatory measures focused on data privacy, infrastructure protection, and responsible AI deployment—intensifying the need for secure architectures throughout the electronics ecosystem.

This shift is triggering new demand for compute, storage, sensors, and secure data movement—fueling semiconductor requirements as organizations digitize operations, automate workflows, and build AI-driven products and services. As AI becomes a foundational economic force, its integration into consumer electronics, industrial automation, healthcare, and cloud ecosystems is expected to drive sustained semiconductor investment well beyond 2026, mirroring the long-term economic lift the internet once provided.

The U.S. will continue navigating a complex geopolitical environment in 2026, balancing domestic priorities with international pressures. Private-sector efforts to secure semiconductor supply chains remain substantial, with companies announcing more than US $600 billion in supply-chain and semiconductor-ecosystem investments across 28 states, spanning fabrication, advanced packaging, and supporting infrastructure. Ongoing concerns surrounding tariffs on imports—reflecting elements of Trump-era trade policies—have added cost pressures and complexity to global sourcing strategies, creating new challenges for companies with significant international component dependencies.

NAMICS Corporation remains committed to environmental stewardship, dedicated to producing high-quality, eco-friendly materials that drive innovation across the five key electronics sectors: Semiconductor, Environment, Energy, Device, and System (SEEDS). As a cutting-edge material solutions provider, NAMICS continues to pioneer advanced chemistries, packaging materials, and next-generation interconnect technologies that enable higher performance, improved reliability, and greater sustainability in the rapidly evolving electronics landscape. We look forward to advancing sustainable practices and breakthrough innovation into 2026.

Brian Schmaltz, Chief Operating Officer
NAMICS Corporation
http://www.namics-usa.com
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