acp systems AG will showcase these advancements at Electronica in hall A2, booth 112, in Munich from 10 to 13 November 2026.

Wire bonding has remained a fundamental interconnection technique across the semiconductor industry and microelectronics for 70 years.

High-quality, durable connections rely entirely on the absolute cleanliness of bonding surfaces. Today, dry and scalable quattroClean snow-jet technology has emerged as a reliable, cost-effective method to achieve this precision.

The critical role of cleanliness in interconnection technology

Wire bonding spans applications from automotive systems and consumer products to MEMS, industrial sensors, battery cells, and energy storage. Stefan Schmitz, Managing Director of Bond-IQ GmbH and initiator of the Surf:Guide industry project, notes: “Wire bonding is generally divided into three major process groups. Two of these are fine-wire processes, in which - depending on the application - wires made of gold, silver, aluminum, or copper with diameters ranging from 18 to 50 µm are used. The third group involves thick-wire bonding with wire diameters ranging from 100 to 500 µm,”.

Because bonds form in the nanometre range, the targeted metals must reach an atomic state relative to one another. Consequently, residues as small as 5 to 10 µm can severely hinder operations. Problematic residues include:

• Fingerprints and bleeding adhesives

• Dust and flux residues

• Outgassing from various polymers

• Oxides and remnants from wet-chemical cleaning

“Visually detectable contamination is critical for bonding. If this contamination is no longer visible after cleaning, the bonding surface is usually sufficiently clean. This can generally be determined using a microscope and a visual before-and-after comparison. This alone can increase the success rate three- to fourfold,” explains Stefan Schmitz.

Evaluating methods for surface preparation

Historically, bonding surfaces have been prepared using wet chemical processes relying on solvents or water-based media, which necessitate energy-intensive drying phases. While plasma and laser cleaning offer alternatives for specific contaminants, they present unique limitations.

“For very sensitive surfaces, such as those in microelectronics, however, the costs of a laser system and the appropriate laser technology must first be balanced,” explains Stefan Schmitz. “The industry is currently showing interest in quattroClean snow-jet cleaning, as it can also remove more stubborn, encrusted contaminants.”

Sustainable cleaning with quattroClean

The cleanroom-compatible quattroClean snow-jet technology provides a robust dry cleaning process for full-surface or localised applications. It systematically removes particulate contaminants down to the submicrometre range and film-like residues to the nanolayer level.

This method utilises liquid, purified carbon dioxide sourced from chemical production and biomass energy generation. The medium travels through a dual-component ring nozzle, expanding into fine snow crystals. Concentrated by a compressed air jet, these crystals are propelled at supersonic speeds onto the target. As the carbon dioxide completely sublimates, surfaces remain entirely dry. Dislodged contaminants are extracted alongside the gas, preventing recontamination. This process holds the Green Screen certification for cleaners and degreasers.

Diverse applications across modern manufacturing

The exceptionally low abrasiveness of snow crystals allows the quattroClean technology to safely treat finely structured surfaces, including clearing flux from printed circuit boards (PCBs) and cleaning battery cells.

“The process can be used very efficiently on printed circuit boards, which often have a mixture of organic residues such as grease, fingerprints, flux, or residues from wet chemical cleaning processes. We have also achieved excellent results on semiconductors and on housings that have undergone electroplating or other wet chemical processes,” reports Stefan Schmitz.

The straightforward automation of this technology enhances its industrial appeal. “This results in two advantages. First, automated cleaning ensures reproducible, uniform results. Second, when cleaning is integrated into the manufacturing process, freshly deposited contaminants can be removed immediately,” Stefan Schmitz adds.

acp systems AG will showcase these advancements at Electronica in hall A2, booth 112, in Munich from 10 to 13 November 2026.

Dell Technologies today released findings from its Modern Enterprise Readiness Study 2026, conducted with independent research firm Vanson Bourne.

Artificial intelligence, technology sovereignty, and embedded cybersecurity are actively reshaping how enterprise technology is procured and managed.

According to the 'Modern Enterprise Readiness Study 2026' from Dell Technologies, conducted with independent research firm Vanson Bourne, UAE leaders are abandoning fragmented IT environments. Instead, they seek consolidated strategies to navigate economic uncertainty, regulatory demands, and escalating cyber threats.

Navigating Economic Pressures Through Strategic Consolidation

The prevailing macroeconomic climate is exerting considerable influence over corporate technology investments. Rather than indiscriminately reducing expenditure, 82% of UAE executives report that current economic conditions are driving a selective, outcome-focused approach to IT budgeting. Businesses are now strictly prioritising tangible value and operational efficiency.

Consequently, a clear preference for simplification has emerged. An overwhelming 86% of respondents indicated they prefer to address their technological requirements through a single strategic partner, moving decisively away from complex multi-vendor environments. Furthermore, 86% of leaders are redirecting investments toward partners capable of demonstrating the requisite scale, supply chain capabilities, and comprehensive ecosystems necessary to transition artificial intelligence projects from experimental pilots into live production environments.

The Modern Workplace as an AI Foundation

As artificial intelligence becomes inextricably linked with daily enterprise workflows, modern workplace technology is shifting from a basic operational tool to a strategic enabler of business transformation. The study underscores this evolution, revealing that 98% of respondents believe modern devices fundamentally enhance workforce productivity and collaboration. Conversely, 66% acknowledge that legacy hardware actively restricts their capacity to adopt advanced technologies, particularly AI-powered applications.

This increasing reliance on intelligent digital applications is dictating enterprise hardware refresh cycles. Impressively, 94% of UAE organisations confirm that AI-enabled personal computers and modern endpoint devices will constitute a core component of their future workplace strategies. For these enterprises, workplace modernisation transcends the simple replacement of ageing equipment; it is now recognised as the foundational architecture required to facilitate AI-driven productivity, optimise the employee experience, and fortify endpoint security frameworks.

Infrastructure and Regulatory Hurdles in Scaling AI

Despite the palpable momentum behind artificial intelligence adoption across the region, numerous enterprises are discovering that scaling these initiatives requires robust operational foundations.

• Regulatory Compliance: Privacy and data compliance have surfaced as primary barriers, with 68% of business leaders expressing concern regarding adherence to government regulations when leveraging data for AI models.

• Delayed Implementation: A matching 68% report that these compliance and security anxieties have already hindered or delayed their artificial intelligence implementation programmes.

• Infrastructure Gaps: Underlying infrastructure presents another substantial bottleneck. 68% of IT leaders concede their systems are not yet adequately prepared to manage AI and complex analytics workloads at a full production scale.

As businesses attempt to graduate from theoretical experimentation to operational deployment, long-term success heavily depends on modernised infrastructure, unassailable data governance, and strict alignment with local regulatory parameters.

Cybersecurity as an Absolute Baseline Requirement

Within this rapidly evolving landscape, cybersecurity has fundamentally transitioned from an after-the-fact consideration to a non-negotiable baseline requirement. UAE business and IT leaders now demand that security measures be woven into the fabric of their infrastructure and third-party engagements from inception. A striking 90% of executives expect comprehensive security frameworks to be integrated into every single proposal from strategic technology partners. Highlighting the acute focus on business continuity, 94% assert that integrated cyber resilience and data protection capabilities are crucial criteria when assessing new infrastructure platforms.

Furthermore, 78% of organisations anticipate an increased reliance on managed security services over the next two to three years. This vigilance is strongly reinforced by stringent local mandates, including the UAE Cyber Security Council's Critical Information Infrastructure Protection framework, Information Assurance requirements, and the UAE Personal Data Protection Law. Coupled with sector-specific directives such as the CBUAE's operational resilience regulations, these legislative frameworks guarantee that cyber readiness remains a paramount board-level priority rather than an isolated IT concern.

Huda Al Hashimi attends a session during the AMGFL 2026.

Artificial intelligence has consistently redefined the boundaries of technological capability, but a new horizon is now opening up in the realm of governance and institutional planning.

Moving beyond traditional tools that merely respond to instructions, the focus has firmly shifted towards systems capable of unprecedented autonomy. Recognising this monumental shift, the United Arab Emirates has taken a leading role in a pivotal global dialogue. In a partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF), the nation is spearheading the development of the Global Principles for Strategy in the Agentic AI Era. This pioneering framework is designed to guide how governments and major institutions redesign their strategic planning processes and utilise artificial intelligence to make better decisions.

The shift towards agentic capabilities

At the heart of this international initiative is the rapid emergence of agentic AI.

This crucial dialogue officially opens on the 13th of October 2026, coinciding with the Annual Meeting of Global Future Leaders in Dubai. This gathering provides a vital platform for a new generation of leaders to shape the future by creating bold opportunities within a volatile global landscape. Furthermore, the development of these principles stands as one of the cornerstone initiatives of the Global Strategic Intelligence Programme, a longstanding and deeply collaborative partnership between the UAE and the WEF.

Redefining strategic intelligence

The Global Strategic Intelligence Programme is designed to strengthen the comprehensive capabilities of governments in the areas of strategic intelligence, future foresight, and critical decision-making.

The core objectives of the programme include:

• Strengthening the ability of governments to anticipate rapid global changes.

• Enhancing institutional resilience and overall strategic readiness.

• Institutionalising an integrated approach to future foresight.

• Ensuring that decision-making is consistently driven by robust data, rigorous analysis, and concrete evidence.

A vision for proactive governance

Her Excellency Huda Al Hashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, affirmed that the UAE’s leadership of this international dialogue is a direct reflection of the nation’s forward-looking vision. She highlighted the country’s pioneering role in shaping the future of strategic government work on a worldwide scale. By bringing together a coalition of experts, senior decision-makers, and thought leaders, the UAE seeks to develop shared principles that can keep pace with the exceptionally rapid advancements currently occurring in artificial intelligence.

Her Excellency further explained that developing these principles represents a distinctly proactive step towards expanding the use of artificial intelligence in building more integrated and adaptable government systems. The initiative is focused on fostering advanced operating models that leverage cutting-edge technology to significantly improve the quality of decision-making. Ultimately, the objective is to transform insights and data-driven knowledge into tangible outcomes that enhance the daily lives of individuals and their communities.

Establishing an international reference framework

Stephan Mergenthaler, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of the World Economic Forum, emphasised the profound impact of this transition, stating:

“Agentic AI is fundamentally transforming how governments anticipate change, assess possibilities and make consequential strategic decisions. The Global Principles for Strategy in the Agentic AI Era represent a critical opportunity to establish a shared global framework that ensures these powerful capabilities are developed and deployed responsibly. By aligning around clear principles, we can empower institutions to navigate complexity with greater foresight, respond with greater agility and make decisions with greater confidence.”

The ambition of this dialogue extends far beyond the mere adoption of new technology. These principles are explicitly intended to become a definitive new international reference point, empowering governments to cope more effectively with future change whilst ensuring autonomous artificial intelligence is utilised effectively and responsibly.

According to a global study conducted by Censuswide across 850 C-level and senior utility leaders, the industry is recalibrating its capital deployment towards grid resilience, network reliability, and customer affordability.

According to a global study conducted by Censuswide across 850 C-level and senior utility leaders, the industry is recalibrating its capital deployment towards grid resilience, network reliability, and customer affordability.

Commissioned by enterprise software specialist IFS, the research outlines a sector navigating compounding pressures: deteriorating legacy assets, severe weather events, and mounting consumer sensitivity to energy bills. The findings highlight that operators can no longer treat the green transition in isolation from basic network security and operational balance.

Carol Johnston, VP of Energy, Utilities & Resources at IFS, puts the findings into perspective:

"The pendulum in the energy sector has swung fast. Sustainability continues to be a critical objective for utilities, but evolving operational and geopolitical realities are driving a more balanced investment agenda. Decades of under-investment, coupled with rigid regulatory rate cases and an aging grid, have created an operational environment where reliability, resilience, and affordability must be addressed simultaneously."

Fortifying ageing assets against growing volatility

Hardening physical networks against extreme weather disturbances and cyber threats has quickly become the primary operational focus for utility providers. Decades of deferred maintenance are catching up with operators, driving organisations to scrutinise existing substations, power lines, and transformers rather than chasing greenfield schemes alone.

• 26% of utilities are actively re-evaluating asset portfolios to redirect investment into existing infrastructure.

• 49% of organisations admit operational data silos hinder real-time decision-making during volatility.

• 51% have asset management systems deployed that remain siloed with poor predictive capabilities.

• 33% of leaders consider their current asset lifecycle management capabilities to be advanced.

Bridging these foundational data divides is now considered essential. Without unified insight into equipment condition, network managers struggle to plan capital expenditure effectively or anticipate points of failure before outages disrupt communities.

The role of industrial AI in modern grid operations

Rather than treating digital tools as experimental, power companies increasingly rely on Industrial AI as an operational cornerstone. Executives view artificial intelligence as a practical bridge across fragmented data sets, automating workflows and anticipating equipment failures before service interruptions occur.

Cost management and capacity planning are leading drivers of this technology adoption:

• 57% of utility executives consider AI critical for reducing soaring operational expenditures.

• 47% rely on AI to optimise equipment performance and manage structural demand growth from electrification.

• 46% state artificial intelligence is essential for accelerating the integration of renewable and distributed energy resources.

As Carol Johnston explains:

"Utilities cannot invest their way out of today's challenges through new infrastructure alone. Addressing growing demand and affordability pressures requires a balanced strategy that gets more from existing assets while making smart investments in new capacity, grid modernization, and resiliency. Industrial AI provides the decision intelligence needed to optimize asset performance, maximize returns on capital, and maintain reliable service in an increasingly complex operating environment."

Engineering future clean baseload and storage

As traditional grid management approaches hit functional limits, operators are adopting flexible architectures to mitigate supply volatility. Deployments of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) are expanding to absorb fluctuations and prevent widespread blackouts.

Looking further ahead, utility executives are assessing alternative technologies capable of securing firm, continuous baseload capacity. When questioned on which future innovations will deliver the greatest long-term impact on clean baseload generation, leaders pointed towards:

• Advanced geothermal energy (22%)

• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) (18%)

Modern energy security ultimately relies on striking a viable compromise. By pairing unified asset lifecycle management with Industrial AI, utilities can defend aging assets, satisfy regulatory rate cases, and keep energy affordable without compromising long-term net-zero goals.