-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueDon’t Just Survive, Thrive
If we are to be relevant and prosper during these next critical decades in electronics, we must do more than survive. As an industry, we can and must thrive. In this issue, our contributors explore these concepts meant to help you take your business to the next level.
Material Matters
Materials management is nuanced, multifaceted, and requires a holistic systems approach for business success. When building high mix, low volume, and high technology, managing materials and overall cost containment are even greater challenges.
Additive Manufacturing
In this month’s issue, we explore additive manufacturing technology for the PCB fabricator: where it stands today, the true benefits, and where it seems to be headed.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Japan PWB Market: 2015
December 23, 2014 | Dominique K. Numakura, DKN ResearchEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The Japanese were arguably the leaders in the PWB industry for technology and gross revenues during ‘80s and ‘90s. Portable electronics, laptop computers, and audio and video products generated a remarkable demand for HDI multilayer boards and flexible circuits that helped Japanese remain industry leaders. During the ‘80s and ‘90s, Japanese manufacturers developed many new technologies to satisfy market demand for build-up multilayer boards, high-density rigid-flex, and semiconductor substrates. The Japanese PWB industry grew year-over-year, and many electronics companies budgeted a lot of money for R&D, and at the same time reduced manufacturing costs by shifting much of their manufacturing facilities to low-cost labor regions--mostly in China and Southeast Asia.
The double-digit growth rate hit a roadblock when the U.S. IT recession was in full bloom during 2001. Fortunately, the PWB industry in Japan rebounded thanks to new electronic products such as cell phones, digital cameras, and LCD televisions. The multilayer rigid-flex segment posted significant growth when cell phones evolved into smaller devices, and a new market for module substrates was created by the introduction of new semiconductor packaging technologies. Total volume returned to the same level as it was in 2000 (the best year since the recession began).
Unfortunately, a second global recession hit in 2008. This slowdown once again started in the U.S, but this time it crippled the Japanese PWB industry. A small rebound in 2010 could not sustain its momentum, and business continued to spiral downward.
The Japanese PWB manufacturers were not optimistic over the next few years, and they do not expect any significant growth for the next four years. Conversely, PWB manufacturers in Taiwan, Korea, China, and other Asian countries are very optimistic. Their sales forecast for the next few years shows no signs of weakening, and they continue to invest in capital improvements for manufacturing capacities.
Read the full article here.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2014 issue of The PCB Magazine.
Suggested Items
Intel Names Naga Chandrasekaran to Lead Foundry Manufacturing and Supply Chain
07/26/2024 | IntelIntel Corporation today announced the appointment of Dr. Naga Chandrasekaran as chief global operations officer, executive vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry Manufacturing and Supply Chain organization.
TriMech is North America's Newest and Largest Provider of SolidCAM Software for CNC Manufacturing Technologies
07/26/2024 | PRNewswireTriMech has a new partnership with SolidCAM, known worldwide for its CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) solution for efficient, user-friendly programming for all CNC manufacturing technologies, as well as its single-window integration and associativity with SOLIDWORKS.
Benchmark Celebrates Expansion of World-Class Facility in Brasov, Romania
07/26/2024 | PRNewswireBenchmark Electronics, Inc., a global provider of engineering, design, and manufacturing services, celebrated the opening of its significantly expanded presence in Brasov, Romania, continuing the company's investment in the region.
We Energies, Foxconn Complete Clean Energy Project in Wisconsin
07/25/2024 | FoxconnWe Energies, a Wisconsin-based utility company of WEC Energy Group, and Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) are pleased to announce the completion of a solar panel installation project at Foxconn’s Science and Technology Park in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.
Collins Aerospace Relocating Singapore Plant to New $250M Manufacturing Facility in Seletar Aerospace Park, Singapore
07/25/2024 | Collins AerospaceCollins Aerospace, an RTX business, announced the relocation of its Singapore manufacturing facility to a new, state-of-the-art site in Seletar Aerospace Park, Singapore.