The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act) is set to be fully implemented in 2026, and the Cyber ？？Resilience Act (CRA) is scheduled for 2027. Adding the Radio Equipment Directive Delegated Act (RED-DA) already took effect on August 1, 2025, those three legislative measures collectively emphasize mandatory requirements for information security and cybersecurity.These regulations strengthen the comprehensive lifecycle management mechanisms for critical applications, IT components and telecommunications, impacting corporate strategies for complying with international information security standards while providing new opportunities for next-generation technological innovation. As a globally leading standards testing and certification  organization, TUV NORD combines multiple international standards to meet comprehensive regulatory requirements, helping global enterprises address major challenges in AI, cybersecurity, and information security regulations.Eric Behrendt, Global Key Account Manager of TUV Information stechnik GmbH (TUVIT), and Chia-Hung Lin, Director of the Information Security Business Division at TUV NORD Taiwan, were jointly interviewed. This interview coincided with the relocation of TUV NORD Taiwan's testing laboratory to its new address in Kaohsiung City. Taking advantage of the new facility's inauguration. In addition to inviting industry customers to celebrate together, they introduced TUVIT's global organizational developments and its comprehensive assessment and verification services, helping Taiwan customers understand new information security standards and the laboratory's development to seize new market opportunities.TUVIT is an independent subsidiary within the TUV NORD Group, dedicated to the Digital and Semiconductor Business Unit, focusing on information security and data infrastructure resilience technologies. Established in 1995, TUVIT provides cybersecurity verification, testing, and consulting services, specializing in establishing information and networking security technology, testing hardware, software and certifying information security management systems. With the global industry's growing emphasis on and attention to semiconductor chips and network equipment information security standards compliance, TUVIT has established a robust information security environment to advance technological progress and ensure digital security.In partnership with TUV NORD Taiwan, TUVIT assists Asian semiconductor, electronics manufacturing, and OEM/ODM manufacturers in obtaining certifications for various international and national information security standards. This will include Germany Federal Office for Information Security (or named BSI) IT Baseline Protection to enhance cybersecurity with a structured framework for organizations to protect their IT systems effectively.TUV NORD Taiwan laboratory offers services for CC, FIPS 140, and FIDOTUV NORD Taiwan, together with TUVIT, has collaborated to help assisted 12 semiconductor customers in the Asia-Pacific region (across more than 20 factories) achieving the German BSI Common Criteria safety certification. TUV NORD Taiwan's Kaohsiung testing laboratory is the only laboratory in Taiwan equipped to certify three major international cybersecurity standards including Common Criteria (CC), the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS 140-3 standard, and the Fast Identity Online (FIDO) standard.TUV NORD Taiwan has further expanded its services to include financial and industrial PC sectors, in addition to its existing work in semiconductors and networking, to help Taiwanese electronics manufacturers meet global compliance requirements. This expansion offers a broader range of services like product safety, information technology, and vendor assessment audits to support companies in navigating complex global standards.Meanwhile, TUVIT also has expanded more actively into emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing certification services, which are key technologies poised to redefine problem-solving, innovation, and competitive landscapes. TUVIT supports companies in implementing these new requirements and contributes to the safety and reliability of emerging technologies in the post quantum era.As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into everyday business operations, ensuring ethical, transparent, and secure AI systems is very important. The AI Act is the first legal framework on AI, which addresses the risks of AI and positions Europe to play a leading role globally. Since 2018, BSI has reacted quickly to the rapid development in the field of artificial intelligence and created a framework that keeps pace with technological developments. This also includes intensive testing and the implementation of countermeasures. TUVIT carried out these tests and began developing and applying initial testing methods for AI applications at an early stage, Behrendt highlighted. He proudly stated that TUVIT continues to work closely with BSI to ensure compliant in AI devices keeping pace with rapid technological advancements.NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards become a key role in Information security certificationUsing Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology as an example, Behrendt noted that the threat of quantum computer attacks on classical cryptographic mechanisms must be considered to ensure future-proof protection of information. QKD offers a promising solution by harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics to establish secure keys. TUVIT assists enterprises in following NIST-adopted Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standards, providing industry testing and certification services to ensure their systems can withstand future quantum computer attacks.Of course, this also involves enterprises' information systems requiring continuous assessment and upgrades to adapt to the practical operational needs of new PQC algorithms. Current cutting-edge technological developments involving data transmission and remote data exchange all require secure certification mechanisms for assurance. TUVIT is working with global technical partners to develop testing technologies and equipment, enabling related certification work and standard development to proceed in parallel.Beyond facing new challenges such as QKD technology, customers currently face multiple certification requirements including CRA and EU AI Act standards, which inevitably leaves them feeling overwhelmed. Behrendt recently participates in three or more technical consultation meetings with customers regarding CRA standards almost every week. He observes that many customers neglect preparations from the initial stages of product design planning. He especially reminds customers of the importance of a secure internal product development framework that considers information security planning.Large or middle scale manufacturers meet multiple product line launch requirements by leveraging a common product development or manufacturing platforms that incorporates information security standards from the start. This enhances the security of specific environments and allows for the reuse of verification results when certifying products manufactured in those environments, thereby simplifying subsequent product certification processes, saving time and costs.Furthermore, regarding CRA and AI Act, he provides several strategic recommendations. First, priority attention should be given to CC for IT security evaluation and IEC 62443 for industrial automation system information security standards. Currently, these fundamental cybersecurity standards have become prerequisites for new products entering international markets. Furthermore, for consumer electronics product cybersecurity requirements, all security requirement items will require to follow ETSI/EN 303 645 IoT network security standards as important cybersecurity requirement guidelines.Since Taiwan's electronics industry consists major OEM/ODM manufacturers for global brands, TUV NORD Taiwan supports Taiwan's electronics supply chain by providing premium testing, inspection, certification, and consulting services to meet the specifications requested by global branding customers. These services help ensure that products comply with safety , quality, and cybersecurity standards across various industries, and contribute to market access and customer confidence.Behrendt sincerely advises Taiwan OEM/ODM customers that from the first day of designing products under CRA, they must consider security and information security design. If these requirements are not considered, ultimately they will still need to go back to resolve these compliance challenges. Once these basic requirements are overlooked, regulatory agencies for these new standards will impose high penalty as punishment, which will cause product brand name value and enterprises to suffer significant losses. Therefore, he recommends that enterprises need to take seriously and genuinely prepare response plans early and avoid violations. Passing certification and presenting evidence of proven effectiveness is the best product compliance strategy.FIPS 140-3 Cryptographic Module and Software Testing Compliance GuidelinesGovernment agencies in the United States and Canada require FIPS 140-series certification for cryptographic products, while Taiwan's requirements align with this international standard. This certification is mandatory for products used to protect sensitive information and ensures that cryptographic modules have been independently tested and validated for security.Since cryptographic applications involving information exchange and sharing are not limited to hardware or software, as long as they participate in encryption and decryption operations, they need to pass FIPS 140-3 certification. For example, the systems including operating system software, semiconductor chips, network routers, firewalls, and other hardware devices all require to grant the requiring certification.TUV NORD Taiwan's cryptographic module testing laboratory in Kaohsiung is the only local laboratory specifically providing testing and consulting services for this standard. Teddy Tsui, Senior Manager and FIPS 140 Lab Director, introduced that TUV NORD Taiwan laboratory obtained FIPS laboratory certification in 2014. This laboratory is also the only one in Taiwan recognized by NIST, serving ASIA customers for over ten years with expertise in the cybersecurity field. Currently, the laboratory can perform FIPS 140-3 testing for three types of cryptographic validation including hardware cryptographic modules, software algorithms, and entropy sources. Meanwhile, this lab also provides customer consulting and educational training.Credit: TUV NORDTsui explained that the Cryptographic and Security Testing (CST) laboratory only conducts testing and issues test reports for a FIPS 140 standard certification. But the NIST is the authority that issues the formal certification or validation. Talking about the time consuming for hardware cryptographic modules, the process will include checking design process documentation, functional testing, and even code inspection are required.The average time for a FIPS 140-3 certification for hardware cryptographic modules is approximately from 18-month to 2-year, largely due to a backlog caused by the transition from FIPS 140-3 and the high volume of requests, which contributes to the extended waiting period. But software algorithm testing is relatively faster. The laboratory uses software verification programs, expecting to complete testing in two to three weeks. Since NIST released three PQC standards for algorithms that can resist quantum computer attacks in August 2024: FIPS 203 (for key encapsulation), FIPS 204 (for digital signatures), and FIPS 205 (for hash-based digital signatures). These algorithms are now available for certification testing.NIST estimates that quantum computers could threaten current cryptography in the next 10 years, leading to risks for long-term sensitive data through the "harvest now, decrypt later" attack. This involves attackers collecting encrypted data today and decrypting it in the future when a powerful enough quantum computer becomes available.Tsui also frankly stated, FIPS 140 standards for software algorithm testing will require re-testing when PQC algorithms are updated. Customers will face challenges in migrating their systems. The main challenges include the complexity of inventorying all cryptographic systems, integrating the new algorithms into products, and the long timeline for the transition, which requires careful management and strategic planning.TUV NORD Taiwan Leverages Localization Advantages with Rich Experience Serving Taiwanese ManufacturersFurthermore, Chia-Hung Lin, Director of the Information Security Business Division at TUV NORD Taiwan, especially emphasized the importance of information products passing CC verification. The requirement starts from the entire product development lifecycle to ensure cybersecurity every stage of the manufacturing process receives complete protection.The evaluation process of CC certification will include Site Certification where product development or manufacturing occurs. This is ensuring that the physical and procedural environment where a product is developed or manufactured meets security standards, protecting design data and products throughout their lifecycle. These audits are crucial steps in the evaluation, as it validates the developer's claims about product security and confirms the integrity of the entire supply chain, not just the final product itself. Meanwhile, Site Certification also saves time and money for re-audits by allowing a single certification to cover multiple products developed or manufactured at that site. Currently, the major semiconductor fabs and OSAT vendors in Taiwan have obtained Site Certification with TUV NORD Taiwan's assistance.Among the experience of serving Taiwanese customers for decades, most notably, Lin pointed out one real case for customer support in Taiwan. The COVID-19 pandemic induced systemic disruptions by semiconductor shortage for the auto industry during the years in 2020. At that time, Taiwan government has implemented strict border quarantine for all passengers. A Taiwanese semiconductor fab manufacturing automotive chips urgently needed certification but caused delays for the quarantine policy with TUVIT German auditors and professionals. TUV NORD Taiwan's team overcame difficulties and communicated with the government, resulting in a breakthrough that allowed German auditors perform audits on time to certify this Taiwanese customer. This case becomes an important case in TUV NORD Taiwan's customer support history.TUV NORD Taiwan maintains an important market reputation and actively maintains long-term relationships with customers. Combined with the unique and important value demonstrated by the localized laboratory - not just testing equipment, but also the extensive practical experience and know-how accumulated over the years - TUV NORD Taiwan's services have earned customer trust. With Global information security product opportunities to increase Asian manufacturing by helping companies diversify supply chains, TUV NORD Taiwan aims to partner with Taiwan clients to leverage new business opportunities that arise from information security standards. This partnership focuses on helping customers to seize the critical business opportunities on the growing importance of cybersecurity by ensuring compliance with standards, protecting sensitive data, and maintaining business resilience.Credit: TUV NORD

NEXCOM International, a global leader in rugged edge computing platforms, and Stereolabs, a pioneer in AI vision and 3D perception,  announced a long-term collaboration to deliver cutting-edge AI vision solutions for B2B organizations across mobility, robotics, and industrial automation sectors. The integration of Stereolabs' ZED X series cameras with NEXCOM's ATC series Edge AI computers makes deploying intelligent visual systems faster, more reliable, and more scalable than ever.Stereolabs' latest ZED SDK 5.1, powered by TERRA AI, offers breakthrough perception capabilities, optimizing spatial awareness and system efficiency. These enhancements make the ZED X series ideal for advanced AI vision applications where precision and responsiveness are mission-critical:5x faster depth sensing and up to 300% processing load reduction on NVIDIA Jetson platformsSharper depth accuracy in challenging conditions such as low light, fog, or reflective surfacesMagellan, Stereolabs' new localization technology, delivering centimeter-level precision both indoors and outdoors NEXCOM's ATC series of Edge AI computers are built for extreme environments where ruggedization and reliability are essential. This, along with NEXCOM's expertise in designing tailored solutions for physical AI deployments, makes for a powerful integration with Stereolabs' solutions for some of the most complex needs of industrial organizations. Key features of NEXCOM's ATC series include:IP67-rated design: Resistant to dust, water, vibration, and extreme temperatures,AI acceleration: Powered by NVIDIA Jetson modules for real-time edge inference,Industry compliance: Certified with E13 and EN50155 standards for transportation and industrial applications,Vehicle integration: Built-in IGN control and smart power management,Multi-camera support: Capable of processing high-speed, low-latency video streams.Accelerating AI vision across key B2B industriesNEXCOM's and Stereolabs' collaboration empowers critical use cases for B2B organizations across industrial and mobility sectors seeking to introduce AI Vision to drive efficiency and safety:Public transit: Mobile surveillance, infotainment systems, and passenger analytics,Robotics: industrial robots, robotic arms, AMR, Quadruped, and humanoid visual sensors,Public safety: static/mobile ANPR, enforcement monitoring, civil/emergency services,Industrial automation: predictive maintenance, defect detection, blind-spot monitoring,Material handling: enhanced monitoring for ports, warehouses, and fleet operations,Earth moving & mining: rugged AI deployments in construction, agriculture, and mining environmentsBy combining NEXCOM's ruggedized hardware with Stereolabs' advanced AI vision technology, businesses can accelerate AI implementation in complex real-world environments. This collaboration reduces technical barriers and enables scalable deployment of AI vision systems tailored for industrial and commercial success."This collaboration comes at the right time," said Jay Liu, Vice President, NEXCOM. "By combining NEXCOM's ATC edge computing platform with Stereolabs' ZED AI vision stack, we're enabling robust perception solutions that transition seamlessly from prototype to large-scale deployment,""With ZED SDK 5.1 and TERRA AI, we're pushing the boundaries of physical perception: enabling cameras that not only see better in complex environments, but also understand the world with unprecedented intelligence, paving the way for new classes of smarter systems," said Cecile Schmollgruber, CEO of Stereolabs.The integration of Stereolabs' ZED X series cameras with NEXCOM's ATC series Edge AI computers makes deploying intelligent visual systems faster, more reliable, and more scalable than ever. Credit: NEXCOM

From TSMC to SK hynix, every Q3 2025 earnings call delivered the same sobering message, the AI build-out is being throttled by three physical choke points that no amount of 2025 capex can fix fast enough. Leading-edge foundry, HBM memory, and advanced packaging are all sold out, not just for next quarter, but for the next three to five years. Here’s exactly where the wall is.High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM): The New KingmakerHBM has become the single most important component in the AI hardware stack and the scarcest. It’s no longer something you buy. It is something you reserve 18–24 months in advance and hope your allocation sticks.Reading the Q3 reports, Industry leaders have been blunt:SK hynix CFO Kim Jae-joon: "We have already sold out our entire 2026 HBM supply… supply expected to remain tight compared to demand into 2027."Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra: "Our HBM capacity for calendar 2025 and 2026 is fully booked."Samsung Memory: "Customers' demand for next year will exceed our supply, even considering our investment and capacity expansion plan."The consequences are cascading across the industry.The ripple effects are hitting the whole industry. Next-gen platforms like Blackwell Ultra, Rubin, AMD MI400, and everything coming after are now stuck behind memory limits. GPU and AI server lead times have stretched to 12–18 months, BOM costs are climbing, and procurement teams are buried in broker spreadsheets.Even worse, HBM expansion is eating into conventional DRAM. DDR5, LPDDR5, and even older DRAM lines are getting squeezed, setting up surprise shortages in laptops, smartphones, and cars through 2026.HBM has officially become the choke point for the entire AI sector.CoWoS Advanced Packaging: The Real Limit on GPU SupplyYou can have perfect 3 nm chiplets and pristine HBM stacks but without a CoWoS slot, you're holding an extremely expensive paperweight.TSMC’s CoWoS-L/S/R processes are what bind chiplets and HBM cubes using massive interposers and through-silicon vias. That assembly step, not silicon, is now the single most critical governor on AI GPU output.TSMC CEO C.C. Wei: "Our CoWoS capacity is very tight and remains sold out through 2025 and into 2026."NVIDIA CEO Jenson Huang: "CoWoS assembly capacity is oversubscribed through at least mid-2026," directly delaying volume Blackwell Ultra ramps.TSMC is expanding CoWoS capacity by roughly 60% in 2025 and 50% in 2026, but every new cleanroom module is spoken for long before it opens. AMD, Broadcom, Google, Amazon, Meta, everyone is fighting over the same finite packaging slots.Leading-Edge Foundry (3 nm/2 nm): Locked Up Until Late 2020sIf you didn't secure N3E or N2 production capacity back in 2023, you're effectively locked out.TSMC has been explicit:TSMC CEO C.C. Wei: "Frontend and backend capacity for leading-edge nodes is extremely tight… Customers' demand for the next year will exceed our supply, even considering our investment and capacity expansion plan."Apple consumed the bulk of N3 capacity for 2024–2025. What remained was divided among NVIDIA, AMD, Broadcom, and a handful of hyperscalers. TSMC's upcoming 2 nm fabs in Arizona and Kaohsiung won't reach meaningful output until late 2026 or early 2027, and much of that is already pre-allocated.Samsung's GAA roadmap is still trailing on yield and power efficiency, leaving nearly the entire industry dependent on a single geographic region.For any AI startup or any new chip program that didn't book capacity during the 2023–2024 scramble, the earliest possible tape-out now lands around 2028–2029.The Zero-Slack Era: 2026–2027 Demand Already 30–50% Above Planned SupplyThe most chilling part? Every CEO said the same thing, almost word-for-word:TSMC: "We are working very hard to narrow the gap between demand and supply."SK hynix, Micron, Samsung, Intel, NVIDIA-all echoed that even after $200 billion+ of collective capex, supply will still fall 20–50% short of demand in 2026 and 2027.If you are tired of hearing "fully booked through 2027" and watching your roadmaps slip quarter after quarter, talk to Fusion Worldwide. We specializes in AI ICs procurement, providing real-time visibility into ICs availability across all major manufacturers. Our E-commerce platform delivers instant availability checking, automated quote management, and rapid fulfillment capabilities that help procurement teams secure critical storage components even in constrained markets.Don’t wait for the next earnings call to tell you the gap got worse. Get Out In Front, Move now.(Article Sponsored by Alan Chew, Global Director of Strategic Accounts, Fusion Worldwide, Singapore)

Global Unichip Corp. (GUC), the Advanced ASIC Leader, announced a collaboration with VSORA to deliver turnkey ASIC design services supporting the onschedule tapeout of the Jotunn8 datacenter AI inference processor. Through this partnership, GUC showcased deep capability in complex chiplet architectures and HBM3E integration using 2.5D advanced packaging technology, reinforcing the company's strength in accelerating customer innovation with optimized performance and efficiency.Jotunn8 is VSORA's flagship AI-inference chip, engineered exclusively for inference workloads rather than training. It delivers ultra-low latency and very high throughput by overcoming the memory wall bottleneck, making large-scale, cost-efficient AI deployment viable.GUC delivered comprehensive design services for Jotunn8, managing the entire process from  netlistin through manufacturing. The solution integrates GUC's Advanced Packaging Technology (APT) IP portfolio, including 17.2 Gbps GLink-2.5D die-to-die interconnect and 8.4 Gbps HBM3E PHY & Controller, leveraging 3x-reticle 2.5D advanced packaging and 5nm process technology.GUC's contributions included complex physical design, chiplet partitioning and integration, as well as cooptimization of signal, power, and thermal integrity (SI/PI/TI). The team also achieved considerable IR and power optimization, enabling superior power efficiency and overall system performance. This collaboration positions VSORA to meet the demanding compute and bandwidth requirements of hyperscale datacenter inference workloads and underscores GUC's leadership as a trusted partner for AI and HPC ASIC development."Jotunn8 is Europe's first HBM-equipped datacenter inference processor, delivering unprecedentedoptimization across speed, efficiency, and scalability," said Khaled Maalej, Founder and CEO of VSORA. "GUC's excellence in physical design, die-to-die and HBM IP performance, and advanced packaging expertise played a pivotal role in achieving this milestone tape-out. Their rigorous engineering discipline and collaborative mindset have been instrumental in turning our ambitious vision into silicon reality.""GUC is honored to help bring VSORA's advanced AI processor to market," said Patrick Wang,Vice President and Chief Sales Officer at GUC. "VSORA's 2.5D design presented significant technical complexity. By combining their groundbreaking innovations with GUC's engineering excellence in advanced process and packaging technologies, we successfully enabled the Jotunn8 tape-out milestone. We look forward to supporting VSORA's vision for high- performance inference at scale and partnering on future generations of AI processors."Building on this success, VSORA and GUC are advancing the frontiers of AI compute. By combining deep innovation with execution excellence, the partnership paves the way for a new era of scalable, energy-efficient AI solutions for global data centers.For more information about GUC, please visit.For more information about VSORA, please visit.

Global computing power is growing aggressively and pushing high-density chip power consumption. As this power density increases, traditional air cooling is reaching its physical limits, and once-fringe liquid cooling technology, boasting thermal efficiency hundreds of times greater than air cooling, is rapidly becoming core infrastructure.Driven by global sustainability targets and the need for high-performance, energy-efficient infrastructures, new large data centers must achieve their targeted PUE values, accelerating the industry towards large-scale liquid cooling. However, reliability issues stemming from insufficient mechanical tolerances at the connection points of liquid cooling systems are becoming a critical bottleneck for energy efficiency upgrades and stable operation. Southco recognizes the severity of this challenge and is committed to providing breakthrough solutions.Minor Deviations, Major CostsDuring the large-scale deployment of liquid cooling technology, the reliability of connection interfaces is vital. According to key data from the Open Compute Project (OCP) "Rack-Mounted Manifold Requirements and Verification Guidelines," a mere 1mm increase in mechanical deviation at liquid cooling interfaces can significantly raise system flow resistance by 15%, leading to a 7% increase in pump energy consumption!This is no trivial amount; in a hyperscale data center with thousands of interfaces, it translates to millions of kilowatt-hours of additional energy consumption and substantial operational costs each year. More concerning is that traditional rigid connection solutions typically offer only ±0.5mm of static tolerance, which proves inadequate in complex real-world environments like these:1. Accumulation of Multi-Dimensional Installation Deviations: In mixed deployment scenarios of widely used EIA-310-D standard racks and advanced ORV3 open architectures, rack installation tolerances can accumulate up to ±3.2mm, far exceeding the limits of traditional solutions.2. Dynamic Vibration Impacts: In ISTA 3-E vibration tests simulating real transportation and operating environments, interface displacement often exceeds 2.8mm, posing significant risks of leaks or connection failures.3. Material Thermal Expansion Effects: Under a typical temperature change of 55°C, copper alloy manifolds can expand approximately 1.2mm per meter, continuously challenging fixed interfaces.These dynamic, multi-dimensional deviations underline the urgent need for an intelligent, reliable sealing connection solution to ensure the long-term, efficient, and safe operation of liquid cooling systems.Blind Mate Quick Disconnect: A Connection for a Dynamic WorldAs a century-old expert in precision engineering, Southco confronts this challenge head-on with the launch of the revolutionary new "Blind Mate Floating Mechanism" liquid cooling connection solution. This innovation is not just a new product; it is a systematic response to profound insight into industry pain points.Current Status and Trends of Blind Mate Floating TechnologyLiquid cooling technology is rapidly gaining traction in high-performance computing (HPC), AI training clusters, and hyperscale data centers. Blind mate technology allows devices to connect without precise visual alignment, making it a core interface solution for rapid deployment and efficient maintenance in liquid cooling systems (especially cold plate systems). The development trends are clear:1. Higher Tolerance Capacity: Adapting to more complex rack environments and dynamic changes is essential.2. Increased Reliability: Zero leakage, long lifespan, and resistance to extreme conditions are basic requirements.3. Intelligent Integration: Integrating sensors for flow, temperature, pressure, etc., for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance is a future direction.4. Standardization and Compatibility: Supporting OCP ORV3 and other open standards for seamless integration across platforms and manufacturers.Standard ISO 11926-1 threaded interface design, compatible with OCP UQD/UQDB connectors, and custom designs are available.5. Lightweight and Compact Design: Meeting the demands of higher density deployments.Southco's Blind Mate Floating Mechanism exemplifies innovative design centered around these core trends.Advantages Over Traditional SolutionsCompared to traditional fixed or simple floating heat transfer connection solutions, Southco's "Blind Mate Floating Mechanism" offers a qualitative leap with advantages evident across multiple dimensions.1. Three-Dimensional Dynamic Tolerance Control: Southco’s innovative design features a groundbreaking three-dimensional dynamic compensation mechanism: ±4mm of floating tolerance in the radial direction (2° tilt compensation) and 6mm of displacement absorption capacity in the axial direction. This far exceeds common static tolerances in the industry, effectively absorbing and adapting to all previously mentioned installation tolerances, vibration displacements, and thermal expansion deformations.2. Self-Centering Mechanism: When the liquid-cooled blind-plug connector is unplugged, the floating structure automatically resets to the center position, ensuring sufficient floating space for plugging and unplugging operations, fully meeting the strict tolerance requirements of OCP and ORV3 standards.3. Outstanding Sealing Performance for Long-Term Operation: Products endure rigorous ASME B31.3 standard 300psig burst pressure tests, ensuring over 10 years of service life, providing long-term stability for data centers, an achievement traditional solutions cannot match.4. Efficient Maintenance and Significant Cost Reduction: Featuring the Universal Quick Disconnect Blind (UQDB) interface, the design enables genuine "blind operations," allowing server maintenance without precise alignment or specialized tools. Quick disconnect capabilities make server replacement or upgrades as convenient as "hot plugging," reducing downtime and related losses by over 90%.Blind Mate Floating Mechanism. Credit: SouthcoThe Necessity of Blind Mate Floating MechanismIn AI computing clusters and next-generation data centers, adopting advanced connection solutions like Southco's "Blind Mate Floating Mechanism" is no longer optional, but essential.1. Key to Overcoming Cooling Bottlenecks: High power density is an inevitable trend; traditional cooling and rigid connections can no longer meet the demand. The Blind Mate Floating Mechanism is foundational for unleashing the full potential of liquid cooling and ensuring efficient, stable operation of cooling systems.2. Cornerstone of Business Continuity: The costs of data center downtime are immense. The rapid, reliable thermal maintenance supported by the Blind Mate Floating Mechanism is vital for ensuring uninterrupted operation of critical business activities 24/7.3. Core to Achieving Green and Low-Carbon Goals: Minor deviations in connectors leading to increased flow resistance can significantly elevate pump energy consumption. Its high-tolerance, low-flow resistance design directly contributes to lowering data center PUE values, making it an important element in energy conservation and emissions reduction goals.4. Flexibility for Future Expansion and Upgrading: Modular and standardized design enables data centers to expand capacity and upgrade equipment more flexibly, easily accommodating future increases in computing power demand and technological iterations.Continuous Innovation, Intelligent Cooling AheadAccording to the "Open Rack V3" white paper, liquid cooling penetration in hyperscale data centers is expected to exceed 40% by 2025. Southco continues to invest in R&D to iterate floating mechanism technology:1. Exploring lightweight high-performance materials (like PPSU thermoplastic) to reduce weight while maintaining strength.2. Advancing intelligent sensor integration for real-time monitoring of key parameters like flow and temperature, providing data for predictive maintenance and energy efficiency optimization.3. Deepening ecosystem collaboration and standardization to promote liquid cooling interfaces in higher density, lower TCO, and broader applications.As liquid cooling technology transitions from optional to essential, Southco's "Blind Mate" represents a precision engineering product innovation, and a profound understanding of cooling challenges in the data center industry. By integrating over a century of precision mechanical design expertise with innovative three-dimensional dynamic tolerance control technology, Southco strives to help global data centers break through cooling bottlenecks, building a more efficient, reliable, and greener foundation for computing power, empowering infinite possibilities in the digital age.For more information, please click here for more details.

As the demand for high-performance power semiconductors continues to escalate across automotive and industrial sectors, Henkel is addressing one of the industry's most pressing challenges: thermal management in next-generation power devices.Henkel will host a technical webinar introducing its patented Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation technology platform-an advanced solution engineered to meet the evolving requirements of power device performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency.Thermal Control as a Critical EnablerWith rising operational temperatures directly impacting device reliability and efficiency, effective heat dissipation has become essential. The industry's transition to bare copper (Cu) designs-driven by cost and reliability considerations-further underscores the need for die attach materials that combine high thermal conductivity with Cu compatibility.Henkel's innovative technology enables die attach formulations that could meet automotive Grade 0 thermal cycling and MSL1 reliability standards; provide high bulk thermal conductivity for metallized or bare silicon die; ensure compatibility with a wide range of die finish and lead frame combinations, including bare copper; deliver improved RDS(on) performance compared to conventional die attach materials; support copper wire bonding processes. This event marks the first installment in Henkel's Power Device Webinar Series, designed to provide engineers, designers, and industry stakeholders with insights into materials innovations that address the increasing demands of power semiconductor applications.To particiapting in this webinar titled :"What's Powering the Next-Gen Power Device Performance" on 2025/11/28 10:00-10:45 am (Singaporean Time GMT+8), please register, click here to register.Participants will gain exclusive access to Henkel's technical experts and learn how this proprietary platform is setting new benchmarks in thermal performance and reliability for power devices.

When you walk the halls of the TPCA Show Taipei 2025, one theme is impossible to miss: AI is no longer the future-it's the engine driving the next great wave of electronics manufacturing. From cloud data centers to handheld devices, Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how the world processes information. And behind every AI-driven device is an intricate network of high-performance PCBs, advanced substrates, and precision manufacturing technologies.Reporter Gary with the MKS-Atotech leadership team, including the CEO. Credit: MKS-AtotechAt the center of this transformation stands MKS Instruments, whose strategic brands Atotech and ESI are powering the next chapter of Asia's semiconductor and advanced electronics industries.The New Frontier: AI and the Rise of Advanced PackagingAI's explosive growth has created a new set of demands: faster computing, higher data throughput, and unprecedented integration of components. The era of simple, monolithic chips is long gone. Today's AI processors rely on heterogeneous integration, where multiple chiplets are packaged together on complex organic substrates."It's a materials revolution," explains Dave Henry, Executive Vice President Global Strategic Marketing and GM, Materials Solutions Division. "Our technologies touch more than 70% of the critical steps in PCB and substrate manufacturing-and over 85% of semiconductor front-end processes. MKS is deeply embedded in the future of electronics."This new generation of packaging requires ultra-fine features, tighter interconnects, advanced metallization, and laser-drilled structures at microscopic scale. The PCB industry-particularly in Taiwan-is experiencing a surge in demand, driven by applications in AI, HPC, satellite communications, automotive electronics, and beyond.Inside the MKS Booth: Where Chemistry Meets Systems Technology: From Via Drilling Lasers to horizontal and vertical chemical process equipmentOne of the busiest destinations at TPCA 2025 was the MKS booth, where crowds gathered to explore a unique, fully integrated portfolio: lasers, chemistry, plating systems, motion control, optics, software, and more.MKS is one of the few companies in the world capable of delivering this level of end-to-end process integration. Its Atotech and ESI brands showcased side-by-side how laser drilling, surface treatment chemistry, plating systems, and advanced software work together to Optimize the InterconnectSM—a strategic approach to enabling next-generation electronics.This unified offering is more than convenient-it's transformational"AI chips require high-speed interconnects, smaller geometries, and new substrate materials," says Harald Ahnert, Vice President and GM of Chemistry. "Our solutions bring together decades of expertise to help customers manufacture these advanced products at scale."Spotlight on Innovation: The Technologies Everyone Was Talking AboutA walk through the MKS booth was a look into the future of electronics manufacturing, with several standout technologies drawing sustained attention from visitors.One major area of focus was breakthrough chemistry for advanced substrates. MKS highlighted InPro Pulse TGV, designed for high-aspect-ratio through-glass vias, alongside Cuprapulse IN, a reverse-pulse plating solution developed for HDI and package substrates. For reliable final finishing, the company showcased Aurotech G-Bond 3, Stannatech 2100, and PD Core, complemented by EcoFlash S300U, Bondfilm EX, and Novabond PX-S2, which support high-speed, low-loss signal integrity. Taken together, these chemistry solutions cover a broad spectrum of manufacturing needs, from SAP and SLP production to ultra-fine line formation down to 2/2 μm.Another highlight was the portfolio of next-generation equipment systems. G-Plate was presented as a solution for high-volume PTH processing with capability below 5/5 μm, while vPlate offered continuous vertical plating with industry-leading uniformity. Uniplate platforms were positioned as robust systems for mass production of HDI PCBs, and the PLB Line was specifically engineered to meet the demanding requirements of AI server boards. Combined, these systems form a core platform for the future of PCB and substrate fabrication.The ESI brand further elevated the booth with cutting-edge laser systems. Capstone was featured for high-throughput UV flex drilling, Geode A demonstrated precision CO？ processing of ABF laminates, and Geode G2 showcased ultra-fast via drilling for HDI and mSAP applications. "The industry is facing growing complexity: more I/O, more drilling, more layers," says Michael Stubelt, VP and GM of Equipment Solutions. "Our laser systems give manufacturers the flexibility and productivity advantage they need."Why Glass Substrates Are the Next Big ThingOne of the most talked-about highlights at the show was a striking, panel-scale processed glass substrate sample on display at the MKS booth. Glass, once considered exotic, is fast gaining traction as the next major substrate material in heterogeneous integration.MKS is developing complete process flows for glass—including surface preparation, seed-layer formation, metallization, and via filling—combining Atotech chemistry with ESI's high-speed laser drilling. This collaboration reflects a broader theme: MKS doesn't just deliver tools; it builds ecosystems.Scaling Up: New Investments Across Southeast AsiaWhile the spotlight was on technology, MKS also shared details of its expanding regional footprint. "Competition in APAC and Greater China is intense," says George Yang, VP and GM for MKS Greater China. "Our strategy is to be local—local manufacturing, local tech support, local expertise." Today, MKS operates 14 manufacturing sites across the APAC region and is investing aggressively in Southeast Asia.One of the major new investments is a Super Center for wafer fabrication equipment in Penang, Malaysia, which has been under construction since 2024. In Samut Prakan, Thailand, the company has recently opened a Tech Center and manufacturing site dedicated to PCB and substrate development, further strengthening its presence in advanced electronics manufacturing.MKS is also moving ahead with a flagship expansion in Thailand. In May 2025, the company broke ground on a new Atotech chemical manufacturing facility and Tech Center near Bangkok, representing an investment of more than US$40 million. The site is designed for an annual capacity of 18,500 tons and is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2027. As Thailand rapidly emerges as a major PCB manufacturing hub and attracts investments from China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, MKS aims to be a pillar in this fast-growing ecosystem.The Road Ahead: Enabling the Electronics of TomorrowFrom semiconductors and substrates to optical systems and laser drilling, MKS Instruments touches nearly every step in the electronics manufacturing chain. Its integrated approach—rooted in deep expertise across materials science and precision engineering—provides customers with the tools needed to build faster, more compact, more efficient AI hardware."MKS is proud to contribute to the industry's move toward advanced and eco-friendly manufacturing," says Wayne Cole, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Service. "Our mission is to help customers stay competitive in a world that is evolving faster than ever."With major investments across Southeast Asia, a powerful portfolio of technologies, and a unified vision MKS is not just participating in the AI revolution-it is helping to build the foundation on which the future of electronics is being created.MKS is enabling the shift from transistor scaling to advanced integration - merging logic, memory, and photonics. The company's APAC Tech Centers act as co-innovation hubs for customers, encompassing: supporting R&D, process training, and sub-5/5 µm SAP prototyping.These centers are not just service nodes - they're bridges between customer vision and manufacturing reality.MKS has a proud history of innovations and inventions that have shaped the evolution of the key industries we serve. As a global leader in providing equipment, processes, and production solutions that power the most advanced electronic devices, our expansion in Asia reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of the semiconductor, PCB, and package substrate markets in this region. We are excited to be a key player in the future of technology and look forward to continuing to invest in Asia's bright future.  Reporter Gary interviewed the MKS-Atotech leadership team at TPCA Show 2025. Credit: MKS-Atotech

As AI workloads scale across global cloud infrastructure, chip designers face a persistent challenge: balancing compute throughput, bandwidth, and power efficiency amid escalating design complexity.Emerging architectures built around UCIe-based chiplets, PCI Express 7.0 and CXL 3.1 interconnects, and 2.5D/3D memory-integrated packaging have made integration-not computation-the new bottleneck.Progate Group Corporation (PGC, TPEx: 8227), a member of TSMC DCA, leverages its long-term partnership with Synopsys to solve that bottleneck.Through a unified ASIC turnkey flow, PGC enables innovators to design, verify, and manufacture advanced-node SoCs and chiplet-based accelerators for cloud and AI applications with greater efficiency and lower risk.PGC integrates the latest generation of Synopsys Interface IP, spanning high-speed interconnects, memory, and networking subsystems critical to modern cloud and AI processors.The portfolio includes UCIe 40G Die-to-Die, CXL 3.x, and PCI Express 7.0 controllers that enable seamless chiplet-based compute integration for next-generation server processors.It also incorporates HBM4 and DDR5 Gen2 memory subsystems optimized for multi-stack 2.5D and 3D integration, as well as 224G Ultra Ethernet PHY solutions designed for high-throughput data-center networking.Validated across TSMC 3nm to 2nm process nodes, these silicon-proven IPs address the cloud industry's most demanding bandwidth and power-efficiency challenges while maintaining full compatibility with Synopsys EDA and PDK environments.Through its TSMC Design Center Alliance (DCA) membership, PGC provides a verified turnkey service covering RTL design, APR layout, wafer fabrication, 2.5D/3D packaging, and final test coordination.By integrating Synopsys EDA tools (Design Compiler, Fusion Compiler, ICC2, PrimeTime) and complete IP deliverables (Lib, LEF, GDS, and testbench models), PGC helps customers accelerate RTL-to-signoff cycles through pre-verified IP subsystems, SIPI (signal and power integrity) analysis, and IP hardening support-as described in Synopsys' IP Accelerated methodology.This unified approach reduces integration risk, minimiclozes manual iteration, and ensures design closure consistency across advanced-node ASIC projects."Cloud and AI systems are evolving into distributed compute platforms built on multiple dies and protocol layers," said Fred Lai, CEO of PGC."By aligning Synopsys' IP Accelerated methodology with TSMC's leading-edge processes, PGC helps customers scale performance while maintaining design predictability and manufacturing reliability."Unlike large turnkey providers that concentrate solely on a handful of mega-scale clients, PGC combines advanced-node design capability with engineering agility, making it a trusted partner for both hyperscalers and rapidly growing AI startups.Beyond simplifying multi-vendor coordination, the company maintains unified technical accountability across design, IP integration, and manufacturing, ensuring that every stage of development proceeds seamlessly.PGC's engineers perform SIPI co-optimization using Synopsys EDA and PDK models to guarantee signal and power stability, while TSMC-certified signoff flows deliver predictable yield and reliability.Supported by cross-regional teams in Taiwan, Japan, China, and the United States, PGC provides rapid collaboration and execution across the entire ASIC turnkey cycle.PGC's ecosystem extends from design integration to manufacturing, combining TSMC's advanced-node foundry services, Synopsys' comprehensive IP portfolio, and partnerships with leading OSAT partners for 2.5D/3D packaging enablement.Together, this network provides a complete foundation for high-bandwidth, energy-efficient ASIC innovation across AI, HPC, and cloud computing markets.

Robust computational capabilities are fueling the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The rise of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT-5 has triggered a surge in global data center investments, accelerating the expansion of Taiwan's semiconductor and server industries. Today, the production, assembly, and outsourcing of AI servers have become key benchmarks for industry and technology leaders aiming to lead in global AI innovation. As high-density CPU and GPU architectures continue to advance, the demand for next-generation cooling technologies has intensified dramatically.In an exclusive interview on "Thermal Solutions Powering the AI Era" with host Ashley Chu on IC Radio Broadcasting, Ricky Yu, Deputy Manager at T-Global Technology, and Director Chris Chuang discussed how rapid advancements in AI-integrated electronic devices are reshaping thermal design. They emphasized that thermal management-critical for improving heat dissipation efficiency-has emerged as one of the most pressing engineering challenges in the AI era. Currently, the industry is witnessing a significant transition from traditional air-cooling approaches to liquid-cooling systems in the design of thermal modules for advanced processors.The thermal design power (TDP) of processor cooling modules initially started at around 800 W and rose to 1,200 W by 2024, following updated thermal specifications. Today, TDP levels have reached 2,300 W, marking a steep upward trend. The cooling module market is thriving, and Chuang predicts that specifications may soon exceed 5,000 W, and could potentially approach 10,000 W in the near future - an unprecedented leap in thermal design requirements.Currently, three primary cooling methods dominate thermal management: air cooling, liquid cooling, and immersion cooling. Among these, air and liquid cooling remain the mainstream technologies, utilizing a variety of materials to absorb and dissipate heat efficiently.Immersion cooling, on the other hand, represents a promising frontier in heat dissipation. This approach submerges entire servers in electrically insulating fluids to achieve maximum thermal efficiency. While it delivers superior performance, its high cost and complex system integration continue to pose challenges, and the technology remains under active development and validation.As AI computing power continues its exponential growth, the demand for high-performance, reliable, and sustainable thermal solutions will only intensify. Companies like T-Global Technology are at the forefront of this transformation-bridging the gap between innovation and practicality, and empowering the world’s transition into the high-efficiency, high-density era of intelligent computing.PCM Development Exacerbates Heat Dissipation Challenges in AI EraYu notes that only a handful of technology giants - particularly those engaged in large language model (LLM) training - exhibit such extraordinary energy consumption in the development of advanced AI technologies. In contrast, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as general consumers, tend to prioritize thermal solutions that balance performance and cost for their specific applications. Recognizing this market need, T-Global Technology is actively expanding its presence in this growing segment.To meet evolving thermal challenges, T-Global continues to invest in cutting-edge materials and technologies for product research and development. These include liquid metal, metal heat sinks, aluminum silicon carbide (AlSiC), and indium sheets - materials engineered to enhance heat dissipation and conductivity. The company is also advancing the design and manufacturing of solid-state heat sinks, metal modules, and cooling fans, ensuring customers receive more comprehensive and efficient thermal solutions across diverse applications.In recent years, T-Global has also integrated phase-change materials (PCMs) into new product lines. These materials, initially solid and easy to assemble, transition to a liquid state when exposed to heat, enabling efficient heat absorption and transfer. This liquid-metal-based cooling approach, already adopted in high-end gaming PCs and consoles, has emerged as a new technological highlight in advanced thermal design.To address the common issues of material overflow and cost associated with liquid metal, T-Global has developed an innovative containment design that effectively prevents leakage and corrosion - two factors that could otherwise compromise system stability and longevity. This advancement underscores the company's ongoing commitment to developing safer, more reliable, and performance-driven thermal technologies for the AI generation.Actively Enhance Global Synchronous Service Operations and Customer CollaborationIn parallel with the advancement of emerging technologies, Ricky Yu analyzed real-world customer use cases to identify their most pressing challenges. One key issue arises when clients face space constraints in computer rooms or data centers. To accommodate greater cooling demands, they often seek to upgrade thermal performance using existing equipment and infrastructure, rather than complete system overhauls.For instance, when power consumption requirements rise from 200W to 500W and even 1,000W, customers look for solutions that enhance cooling efficiency without disrupting the surrounding environment. This shift has redefined T-Global's role - transforming the company from a traditional supplier of complete cooling modules into a consultative partner that collaborates closely with clients to develop tailored, high-efficiency solutions.Global Expansion and Manufacturing ExcellenceTo meet growing international demand and the globalization of supply chains, T-Global Technology has intensified its manufacturing and operational investments. The company has established a network of zero-time consultants in China, Japan, and other overseas markets, ensuring 24/7, 365-day global support and synchronized operations.At the same time, T-Global continues to expand its overseas manufacturing base in Vietnam while scaling up production capabilities at its Taiwan headquarters. By leveraging its vertically integrated strengths in research, design, and manufacturing, T-Global is well-positioned to seize the opportunities emerging from the AI era's rapid growth - delivering agile, high-performance, and globally supported thermal solutions to customers worldwide.

Global Unichip Corp. (GUC), the Advanced ASIC leader, and Ayar Labs, a leader in co-packaged optics (CPO) for large-scale AI workloads, have announced a strategic partnership to integrate CPO into GUC's advanced ASIC design services.This collaboration paves the way for high-bandwidth, low-latency, power-efficient optical interconnects in next-generation AI, HPC and networking applications where electrical signaling is reaching its limits. By integrating Ayar Labs'TeraPH optical engines into GUC's advanced packaging and ASIC workflow, the companies are exploring critical areas to enable future CPO deployment."The CPO revolution is at our doorstep. Integrating Ayar Labs'optical engines into our advanced packaging flows is a critical step," said Igor Elkanovich, CTO of GUC. "Our new joint design allows us to address the challenges of CPO integration - architectural, power and signal integrity, mechanical and thermal - ensuring our future customers have access to a robust, high-bandwidth and power-efficient solution."The new XPU multi-chip package (MCP) design replaces traditional electrical interconnects with Ayar Labs'optical engines attached directly to the MCP organic substrate. This architecture enables more than 100 Tbps full-duplex optical interface from the XPU package, more than an order of magnitude improvement over current XPUs.UCIe-S (64 Gbps) provides bandwidth between the optical engines and I/O chiplets over the MCP substrate, while UCIe-A (64 Gbps) is used for communication between the I/O chiplet to the main AI die over local silicon interconnect (LSI) bridges. The design also addresses signal and power integrity challenges associated with the large-scale package. Thermal optimization is done at the XPU MCP level, and a new stiffener design incorporates optical engines' requirements and enables detachable fiber connections while meeting mechanical stress and warpage requirements."The future of AI and data center scale-up will not be possible without optics to overcome the electrical I/O bottleneck," said Vladimir Stojanovic, CTO and co-founder of Ayar Labs. "Working with GUC on advanced packaging and silicon technologies is an important step in demonstrating how our optical engines can accelerate the implementation of co-packaged optics for hyperscalers and AI scale-up."GUC will share more about these technology advancements during a presentation titled "Advanced Packaging Technologies for Modular and Powerful Compute" at the 2025 TSMC Open Innovation Platform (OIP) Ecosystem Forum in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.For more information about GUC.For more information about Ayar Labs.