Advantech is evaluating potential acquisitions in retail, imaging, and software modules as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its presence in fragmented vertical markets. Chairman KC Liu said the company is positioning itself for a return to pre-pandemic growth, supported by new investment priorities.
Goertek, a major Apple supply chain partner, is ramping up upstream AR/VR investments with a US$100 million deal to acquire UK-based microLED specialist Plessey Semiconductors. The move follows its HK$10.4 billion (US$1.33 billion) purchase of precision manufacturing assets in July, marking another step to overcome display technology bottlenecks in next-generation smart glasses.
Since Donald Trump's first term in office, US-China relations have steadily deteriorated. Coupled with the supply chain disruptions triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, multinational companies have accelerated efforts to diversify risks—especially by reducing reliance on "Made in China" and Chinese supply chains.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that President Donald Trump's newly introduced "reciprocal tariffs" are effectively locked in, with little room for revision despite ongoing negotiations with several countries.
