On June 17, 2025, Austrian microelectronics manufacturer AT&S announced that its Leoben-Hinterberg site has achieved Nadcap Gold Status following the Nadcap 2025 audit—the highest possible rating under the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program. This certification recognizes AT&S's excellence in advanced PCB production for the aerospace industry.

“Nadcap is globally recognized as a mark of quality and risk management,” said Jay Solomond, Executive Vice President and COO of the Performance Review Institute, which oversees Nadcap accreditations. “Gold Status is an exceptional achievement and reflects AT&S's commitment to meeting the highest industry standards.”

AT&S has maintained Nadcap accreditation since 2019 and is among the few European electronics manufacturers to meet its rigorous requirements. “Unlike general certifications like ISO 9001, Nadcap audits go deep into process traceability, repeatability, and compliance,” said Michael Mertin, President & CEO of AT&S. “Achieving Gold Status extends our audit interval to 2027 and reinforces our leadership in safety-critical applications.”

The company's Leoben site manufactures essential on-board infrastructure for aircraft—including flight controllers and engine control systems—and is increasingly supplying products for space applications. “This success is a testament to the hard work of the entire Leoben team,” said Florian Titjung, Operations Director for plants HTB1 and HTB2.

Just two weeks earlier, on June 3, 2025, AT&S officially opened its new Competence Center for R&D and IC Substrate Production in Leoben. The €500 million facility—named HTB3—employs 420 people and marks Europe's first dedicated R&D and production hub for advanced IC substrates. Together with AT&S's sites in Malaysia and China, the launch of HTB3 completes the company's global IC substrate manufacturing triangle—critical for enabling next-generation high-performance chips used in AI and VR.

Founded in Austria, AT&S currently operates production sites in Austria, India, China, and Malaysia, and serves key industries including mobile, aerospace, automotive, medical, and high-performance computing. The company employs around 13,000 people worldwide.

Separately, on June 17, 2025, UK-based PCB manufacturer Graphic, a subsidiary of Italy's SOMACIS Group, announced that it had successfully renewed its Nadcap accreditation for Electronics – Printed Boards. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Devon, Graphic specializes in high-reliability PCBs for aerospace, defense, and advanced industrial sectors.

These milestones reflect Europe's growing strength in aerospace electronics, backed by strategic investment and globally recognized quality systems.