A lithium battery fire that destroyed a £250,000 refuse vehicle in North Warwickshire sparked major public attention, with our LinkedIn post reaching 23,000+ impressions. Because battery design and manufacturing is one of Ardencraft Technology’s core areas of expertise, we spoke with Mike Brown to explore the wider issue, from recycling truck fires to what manufacturers, engineers, and councils can do to reduce the risk.

If you are building a hardware product, someone needs to own the move from design into production. This article explains what an NPI project manager does in manufacturing, why the role matters, and when a hardware team needs one.

Most coverage of the Strait of Hormuz focuses on oil. This article looks at the less obvious manufacturing impact, from helium shortages and copper processing costs to freight disruption and supply chain risk.

Introduction: Social compliance is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ CSR box; it is a supply chain requirement that buyers increasingly verify through audits and supporting evidence. Companies are expected to show that workers in their operations and supplier sites are employed legally and safely, with protections against forced labour, child labour, discrimination, wage and hour violations, and unsafe working conditions, and that issues can be detected, corrected, and prevented fro

Many production problems arise from gaps in three key areas: the factory, product documentation, and test or compliance evidence. Manufacturing readiness means a product can be made every day, in higher volumes, with the same quality, cost and delivery time.

In 2025, there were numerous discussions about relocating production away from China. However, as time has passed and events have unfolded, the conversation has shifted. It’s now likely that many will never move production out of China because they underestimate what would be required to replace it.

Founders building hardware products often face a difficult question early in the journey: who should actually build the product? Should they work with a design studio? Hire a firmware specialist? Go directly to a manufacturer? Or engage a firm that manages the entire process end-to-end?

As hardware companies move into late 2025 planning cycles, procurement teams are managing cost fluctuations across multiple material categories. Input prices for copper, semiconductors, lithium, and other components continue to shift, either due to supply constraints or market adjustments.

In part one, we spoke mostly about engineering and manufacturing. In part two, the discussion shifts, covering trade tensions, the pace of change in China, and how people working inside the supply chain are thinking about the future.

Microelectronics UK 2025 brought together engineers, researchers, and product leaders at ExCeL London for two days, focused on the future of semiconductors, embedded systems, and photonics.

YC is an R&D manager with Ardencraft who has spent over 20 years working in Chinese manufacturing. The discussion was a little unplanned, just two colleagues talking through what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what still surprises people who visit for the first time.

DFM helps teams think beyond the drawing board and into how something will be produced.

This post explains how we did that. It also covers how to choose the right test method based on your product stage, production size, and team setup. Whether you are building one prototype or producing thousands of boards, we believe this approach will help. We will also talk about team communication and the quiet benefits of test jig monitoring that make a difference in practice.

Reliable PCB testing is crucial for producing quality electronics. We understand designing your test jig might seem complicated, but we’re here to help.

In 2025, the role of packaging is changing fast. It’s not just about protection anymore; now it’s tied to how efficiently your business runs.

Not all batteries are created equal, and the difference could cost you more than you think. In this episode of Chinese Manufacturing Insights by Ardencraft Technology, host Abid Ali discusses battery manufacturing, revealing what truly distinguishes high-quality batteries from the rest.

Importers who ship small products often face a key challenge. They need to protect goods during transit while keeping packaging affordable and easy to manage. The right packaging can help you cut costs, reduce product damage, and create a better customer experience.

This scenario is all too common. A design performs flawlessly during prototyping, but once mass production begins with injection moulding, unexpected issues arise. Parts may not fit, function as intended, or meet aesthetic expectations.

You sent the design files. The quote was approved. Everything seemed ready to go. But then, things started slipping.

In April 2025, the United States introduced a new set of trade rules called the Liberation Day tariffs . These changes increased import...