Just Ask Happy: Ranking the Top Countries by Fab Technology and Production

Reading time ( words)

We asked for you to send in your questions for Happy Holden, and you took us up on it! The questions you've posed run the gamut, covering technology, the worldwide fab market, and everything in between. This time, one of our readers asked Happy to rank the top countries that provide PCB fabrication services. How would you rank these countries? Check out the global fab trends now and in 10 years.

It's interesting that Happy sees Germany falling down a few pegs, while China and Taiwan continue to gain in technology and in production numbers. After the COVID-19 smoke clears, there may be a real reshuffling of the fab deck. Time will tell. 

Q: In terms of overall PCB fabrication capability, how would you rank these countries in terms of technology and production, today and in 10 years: USA, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Germany, and the UK?

A: I don’t have a crystal ball, but here is my best guess:

To pose your own question for Happy Holden, take the survey by clicking here.

10/16/2020 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007

Trade shows and technical conferences haven’t died; they’ve just moved online. The trade show season continues in virtual full force this week, and event coverage dominates the top five this week. Surprisingly, I don’t see events as this week’s theme. No, this week’s theme is “pundits.” We have Walt Custer’s industry outlook, seven experts on additive electronics, a designers conference keynote, and the IPC’s government relations expert. Don’t get me wrong: These folks are asked to speak to the industry for a good reason. They know their subject matter, and they present it skillfully. This week’s top five picks are worth reading.

10/12/2020 | Pete Starkey, I-Connect007

“We’re not out of trouble yet, but it’s a whole lot better than a couple of months ago.” Walt Custer’s business outlook update, with emphasis on the European electronics industry, attracted a capacity audience to EIPC’s webinar on October 2. Pete Starkey details how it wasn’t all bad news.

10/05/2020 | I-Connect007 Editorial Team

We asked for you to send in your questions for IPC President and CEO John Mitchell, and you took us up on it! We know you all enjoyed reading these questions and answers, so we’ve compiled all of them into one article for easy reference. We hope you enjoy having another bite at the apple. And if you’d like to hear more from John Mitchell, view his column series “One World, One Industry.”