Trackwise Delivers Record-breaking 72m Multi-layer Flexible PCB
November 16, 2021 | Trackwise Designs PLCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Trackwise Designs plc, the UK-based manufacturer of specialist products using printed circuit technology, has broken its own record for the world’s longest multi-layer flexible printed circuit (FPC), delivering a 72m FPC for an industrial application. Constructed using a polyimide base laminate with copper elements, and finished with an organo-metallic layer to protect against oxidization, the final circuit, and the exceptional circuit consistency, was made possible thanks to their patented Improved Harness technology.
The customer also recognized Trackwise’s ability to deliver a constant copper thickness across and along the manufactured part, thanks to a reel-to-reel copper plating line, achieving within +/- 5um across and along the entire 72m long part. This allowed for defined and tightly controlled layer to layer resistance with as thin as possible thickness for the flex in the end product.
New Record
“We are delighted to have smashed our previous 2020 record of 52m, which itself beat our 2019 record of 25m,” said Philip Johnston, Trackwise CEO. “Many applications are emerging for very long FPCs as customers become aware of the advantages offered by the technology. As well as the industrial sector, we are also winning business in the aerospace and automotive industries where our FPCs can help to increase battery life and EV range, for example, by reducing weight. Another key market is medical where users look to replace existing microwires with a cheaper, more reliable, and flexible solutions.
The versatility and cost effectiveness of the roll-to-roll, length-unlimited manufacturing capability means that we are delivering improved connectivity solutions for new and innovative product designs all the time, even where the client does not need a product as extreme as 72m in length!”
Suggested Items
HQ NextPCB of HQ Electronics Debut on the International Stage for Electronics Manufacture at IPC APEX 2024
05/01/2024 | PRNewswireHQ NextPCB of HQ Electronics, a leading Chinese-based multilayer PCB manufacturer and assembly house showcased its industrial prowess on the international stage for the first time at the IPC APEX Expo 2024.
IPC's Vision for Empowering PCB Design Engineers
04/30/2024 | Robert Erickson, IPCAs architects of innovation, printed circuit board designers are tasked with translating increasingly complex concepts into tangible designs that power our modern world. IPC provides the necessary community, standards framework, and education to prepare these pioneers as they explore the boundaries of what’s possible, equipping engineers with the knowledge, skills, and resources required to thrive in an increasingly dynamic field.
USPAE to Springboard U.S. Technology Forward
04/30/2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineThe U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics (USPAE) was launched as a nonprofit subsidiary of IPC in 2020, specifically to manage the DoD relationship and access to funding, and to develop a cooperative facility to develop UHDI capabilities in the U.S., not only for the defense sector, but for the whole of the U.S. electronics industry. It is a tall order, but industry veteran Joe O'Neil believes it will happen. Having been tasked with making the UHDI Capable Cooperative Production Facility (UCCPF) a reality, he provides an update on this important project for U.S. electronics manufacturing.
North American PCB Industry Sales Down 23.8% in March
04/29/2024 | IPCIPC announced the March 2024 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.13.
EIPC Issues Letter of Urgency
04/29/2024 | Alun Morgan, EIPCAlun Morgan, president of EIPC, issued a letter last week in an effort to raise awareness of the state of PCB manufacturing in Europe. He writes, "The European PCB manufacturing industry and its supply base has been steadily shrinking since the dot com crash at the start of the millennium. European demand for PCBs and assemblies has, however, continued to grow, thus creating an ever-widening gap between European domestic capacity and consumption. The risks posed by this imbalanced supply and demand pattern came into sharp focus during the Covid-19 pandemic which caused chaos in extended supply chains across the world and resulted in widespread shortages."