N.A. PCB Sales Growth Continues at a Slow Pace in October
December 1, 2015 | IPCEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced today the October findings from its monthly North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. Modest sales growth continued in October and the book-to-bill ratio retreated to 1.02.
Total North American PCB shipments increased 1.4 percent in October 2015 compared to October 2014. Year-to-date shipment growth continued positive at 0.4 percent. Compared to the previous month, PCB shipments were down 6.9 percent.
PCB bookings declined sharply to -20.5 percent compared to October 2014, reducing year-to-date order growth to 2.1 percent. Orders were down 6.0 percent in October compared to the previous month.
“Modest sales growth continued in October for the North American PCB industry, thanks to strong order growth earlier in the year,” said Sharon Starr, IPC’s director of market research. “A sharp decline in orders pulled down the book-to-bill ratio in October, although it remains in positive territory,” she added. “Thirteen consecutive months of positive book-to-bill ratios indicates positive sales growth in the fourth quarter of this year, provided orders bounce back.”
Page 1 of 2
Testimonial
"Your magazines are a great platform for people to exchange knowledge. Thank you for the work that you do."
Simon Khesin - Schmoll MaschinenSuggested Items
MES Software Tools Need Thoughtful Integration
10/21/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineThe Global Electronics Association recently published a survey report on the state of EMS production software. This project, led by Thiago Guimaraes, director of industry intelligence, connects the dots across the global electronics value chain to uncover practical insights that individual companies might not have seen on their own. In this interview, Thiago discusses the whys and hows of this report.
SEMICON West: The Path to a $1 Trillion Future
10/14/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007After more than 50 years in San Francisco, SEMICON West moved its 2025 show to Phoenix, which is significant because it highlights the importance of Arizona as a semiconductor and tech hub. Though the show will be back in San Francisco in 2026, the overwhelmingly warm welcome SEMI received from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and ASU President Michael Crowe—who has been responsible for ASU repeatedly achieving the U.S. News and World Reports most innovative university ranking—was remarked upon repeatedly. All indications are that SEMICON West may well be back in Phoenix after that 2026 season.
Technica USA Named Exclusive U.S. Distributor for DCT Cleaning Products
10/14/2025 | Technica USATechnica USA is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with DCT USA, LLC, becoming the exclusive master distributor of DCT cleaning products in the United States, effective November 1, 2025.
Is Glass Finally Coming of Age?
10/13/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007Substrates, by definition, form the base of all electronic devices. Whether discussing silicon wafers for semiconductors, glass-and-epoxy materials in printed circuits, or the base of choice for interposers, all these materials function as substrates. While other substrates have come and gone, silicon and FR-4 have remained the de facto standards for the industry.
Amplifying Innovation: New Podcast Series Spotlights Electronics Industry Leaders
10/08/2025 | I-Connect007In the debut episode, “Building Reliability: KOKI’s Approach to Solder Joint Challenges,” host Marcy LaRont speaks with Shantanu Joshi, Head of Customer Solutions and Operational Excellence at KOKI Solder America. They explore how advanced materials, such as crack-free fluxes and zero-flux-residue solder pastes, are addressing issues like voiding, heat dissipation, and solder joint reliability in demanding applications, where failure can result in costly repairs or even catastrophic loss.