IPC: N.A. PCB Industry Forecasts Moderate Domestic Production Growth through 2017

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The estimated size of the North American printed circuit board (PCB) market declined in 2014 for the fourth consecutive year, driven by continued declines in rigid PCB sales, according to IPC's 2015 Analysis and Forecast for the North American PCB Industry, but the signs are positive for 2015 and beyond.

Other key findings include segmented market data showing that, for the past three years, the flexible circuit segment of the market has grown steadily. The military and aerospace market for PCBs in North America has overtaken the communications segment to become the largest vertical market for PCBs in the region. U.S. imports of PCBs held steady in 2014, while PCB exports increased. A slight decrease in on-shore PCB production was seen in 2014, but the forecast is for modest growth of domestic PCB production in 2015 through 2017.

The annual survey-based study provides a comprehensive overview of the market and business of PCB manufacturing in North America. It contains current data and analysis covering rigid PCBs and flexible circuits separately, including market size, sales trends, sales growth by product type and by vertical markets, production type (regular vs. quick-turn vs. prototype), types of base materials used, special technologies, and financial metrics including spending on research and development, labor costs, and revenue per employee. Forecasts of PCB production in the Americas and the world through 2017 from Dr. Hayao Nakahara, a leading industry analyst and consultant to the PCB industry, are included in the report.

The 68-page, downloadable report is available to IPC members for $450 and to nonmembers for $900. Companies that participated in the survey receive a complimentary copy of the report. For more information or to purchase the 2015 Analysis and Forecast for the North American PCB Industry, visit www.ipc.org/PCB-Study-2015.

About IPC

IPC is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.