Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

EPTE Newsletter from Japan: What to Expect at JPCA 2013

The world’s largest electronics show for electronics packaging, circuits, and assembly, the 43rd JPCA Show, will be held at Tokyo Big Sight June 5-7, 2013. The Large Electronics Show 2013, JIEP 2013 (Microelectronics Show), JISSO PROTECH 2013, and Monotsukuri Fiesta 2013 will be held in conjunction with JPCA. Lately, I've been writing about the slowdown in business and the subsequent recession felt in Japan's PCB industry during the last two years. Many Japanese manufacturers are now looking for new business opportunities; the question is whether the JPCA Show can provide any new avenues for business.

Market conditions for both consumer electronics and printed circuits in Japan remained soft in the first quarter. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) reported a slight rebound for PWB shipments during March compared with the previous month. Unfortunately, volume is showing a double digit decline when compared year-over-year. On the other hand, the PWB industry in Taiwan posted double-digit gains for this same period. This dramatic shift in business paints a hopeless picture for manufacturers in Japan producing and creating a market for the same products and technologies offered by their Taiwanese competitors. Executive committees from Japanese manufacturers realize that a change is necessary to survive and that new business or product lines are necessary. They also recognize that it is not easy to find alternative business ventures using internal R&D departments and project planning staff. Manufacturers are looking for new technologies that can generate new ideas and profit--the reason many companies are sending R&D engineers and market researchers to various conventions and technical seminars. The JPCA Show is one such show, as it encompasses all products and technologies for printed circuit manufacturers.  

Many show regulars decided not to reserve a booth this year because business is too slow. Many of the major printed circuit manufacturers will be absent this year; however, they will be replaced by new companies. There was such an increase in booth rentals from these new companies that the floor size is nearly the same as last year’s. These new companies are not traditional printed circuit manufacturers. Some are limited to the manufacturing process only, while others include R&D firms, universities, and public institutes. They will introduce new technologies and new products for electronics. A business manager from one of these traditional material suppliers told me his company decided to allocate less space for the traditional products and focus more on new materials and applications that are completely different from the traditional circuit board business.  

Many attendees hope to attract potential customers; however, the staff working these booths are not ready to interact with new customers. The displays are not very attractive because of their poor experiences in this new market, and their promotional messages are weak. I ask all visitors attending this year’s JPCA show to look past the lacking communication and presentation skills as there may just be a good idea waiting to hatch. 

Dominique K. Numakura, dnumakura@dknresearch.com DKN Research, www.dknresearchllc.com

*To view past issues of the newsletter, click here.

Headlines of the Week

(Please contact haverhill@dknreseach.com for further information on the news.)1. Konika Minolta (Major camera and film supplier in Japan) 5/9The supplier has terminated domestic production of X-ray dry film for medical use. 2. Nippon Shokubai (Specialty chemicals supplier in Japan) 5/16The supplier has co-developed a new flexible OLED manufacturing process with new layer construction and materials. The new device is stable in high humidity circumstances.

3. Kyocera SLC (Major printed circuit manufacturer in Japan) 5/17The manufacturer recently hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for its second plant in Kyoto. The new plant will produce FC-CSP substrates for smart phones and tablet PCs. 4. DaiNippon Screen (Major equipment supplier in Japan) 5/20The supplier has commercialized a new high-resolution direct imaging system for HDI boards that can generate 15 micron lines.5. Ricoh (Major electronics company in Japan) 5/21The company has developed a new inkjet printing/laser crystallization process to form thin PZT layer on silicon wafers during manufacture of piezo devices.6. Sumitomo Electric (Major flex circuit manufacturer in Japan) 5/22The manufacturer has developed a new thin construction for flexible circuits which fills via holes with a conductive nanopaste.7. Sumitomo Chemical (Major chemical company in Japan) 5/22The company has displayed a new glass-like encapsulation material for LED devices that will improve heat and chemical resistance. 8. UMC (Major semiconductor manufacturer in Taiwan) 5/22The manufacturer has opened a new "Fab12" R&D center in Singapore for specialty processes. The company plans to invest $110 million in the first phase.9. Panasonic (Major electronics company in Japan) 5/24The company has developed the world's brightest white organic EL (114 lm/W) device with the equivalent efficiency of discrete LED components.10. Yaskawa Electric (Major equipment manufacturer in Japan) 5/28The manufacturer is introducing a new robot system with double arms for use in biological and medical laboratories.Recent Articles from DKN Research

For a full list of articles, click here.