Equipment vendors have recently seen increasing cases of PCB makers deferring new equipment installation schedules amid a weaker-than-expected outlook for 2019.
According to Digitimes, the PCB industry is unlikely to invest heavily in new equipment in the short term unless the end market has a significant recovery. In addition to Taiwan PCB makers, China-based ones that had been aggressively increasing capacity to gain market shares over the past few years have also decelerated their expansion recently.