Nippon Mektron, Orbotech Collaborate to Optimize Digital Flexible PCB Manufacturing

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ORBOTECH LTD. today announced that Nippon Mektron Mektec, the world’s most dominant maker of flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs), is deploying Orbotech direct imaging (DI) and automated optical inspection (AOI) systems in multiple factories. These systems will significantly improve current and future smartphone manufacturing by facilitating the creation of flex inspections and high-throughput production capability.

Flex PCB manufacturing, which is required to accommodate the rapidly expanding mobile phone market, will be supported by Orbotech’s Nuvogo™ DI systems, with state-of-the-art DI for patterning and solder mask applications, as well as Orbotech’s AOI systems for inspection.  Nippon Mektron has worked closely with Orbotech’s local support teams to ensure consistent product performance and quick production ramp up throughout their factories in Japan, Thailand, China and Taiwan.

“From mobile phones and tablets to wearables and sophisticated automotive electronics, today’s electronics manufacturers are constantly being challenged to simplify designs, provide flexible packaging solutions and support ever-smaller devices,” said Yair Alcobi, President, Orbotech Asia East. “Through this very close collaboration, we are pleased to support Nippon Mektron’s current and future product performance requirements for flex PCB manufacturing processes and enable them to offer innovative and market-ready solutions.”

According to industry analyst firm Prismark Partners’ January 2016 Printed Circuit Report, the 2015/2014 year-on-year value growth estimate for flex PCBs increased by 6.2 percent in dollar value worldwide, which can be attributed to demand for smart and connected electronics and the need for high-speed communications in small and lightweight packages.

About Orbotech Ltd. 

Orbotech Ltd. (NASDAQ: ORBK) is a global innovator of enabling technologies used in the manufacture of the world's most sophisticated consumer and industrial products throughout the electronics and adjacent industries. The Company is a leading provider of yield enhancement and production solutions for electronics reading, writing and connecting, used by manufacturers of printed circuit boards, flat panel displays, advanced packaging, micro-electro-mechanical systems and other electronic components. Virtually every electronic device in the world is produced using Orbotech systems.

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