China suppliers pursue advanced PCB technologies

Efforts to strengthen the multilayer PCB segment in China emphasize HDI, flexible and high-layer types.

Greater circuit density, wider use of flexible substrates and higher layer count continue to drive China's PCB industry along with initiatives to boost the production of multilayer types. Suppliers target the release of more HDI, flexible and high-layer variants, with some making additional investment to support the venture. Xinfeng Fuchangfa announced in 2017 that it was allocating $193 million to achieve an annual manufacturing capacity of 1.2 million square meters. Mass manufacture is scheduled to begin by end-2018.

At this rate, such advanced PCBs are projected to collectively represent nearly 61 percent of China's overall PCB shipments by 2021, according to Beijing Zhiyan Consulting.

Local HDI boards have 2mil minimum line width and spacing and as small as 0.075mm holes compared with 5mil and 0.1mm that conventional PCBs can offer. Flexible PCBs, including rigid-flex ones, have the advantages of being thin, lightweight and ductile. As for high-layer configurations, as many as 68 now can be reached by some companies. Units with a lower number of layers, however, still rule output.

Communications, computer and consumer electronics remain the top applications of multilayer PCBs. In the near term, consumer and automotive electronics, communications and the solar power industry will be the key drivers. These are anticipated to ensure a 10 percent increase in production value for the board type's domestic sector.

Most manufacturers are ready to adjust their output levels to accommodate the expected increase in orders this year and in 2019. Guangdong Hetong Technology Co. Ltd, which bolstered its yield by 30 percent in 2017, will continue doing so and keep the rate above 10 percent. Multilayer PCBs represent 10 percent of its total shipments.

At present, the category now forms the majority of China's aggregate PCB deliveries. It has been steadily growing in production value over the years and outstripping the global rate. In 2016, the total hit $27.1 billion from $15 billion in 2008 or at a CAGR of 7.7 percent, according to Beijing Zhiyan Consulting. Worldwide, the multilayer sector's performance during the same period was at 1.5 percent.

In 2021, the projected value will touch $32 billion, which will account for 53 percent of the global industry.

Overall, the PCB line is anticipated to sustain a CAGR of 2.3 percent from 2016 to 2020, according to Prismark. The consumer electronics and solar power sectors will have the fastest growth rate in terms of demand during the period.

There are about 500 of suppliers of multilayer PCBs in China. Most are locally owned and continue to turn out single- and double-sided types. A number have the capability to handle PCB assemblies as well. The local leaders include Shennan Circuit, WUS and Ellington.

More than 60 percent of the makers are in south and east China, mainly in the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu. There are also manufacturers that have chosen to set up operations in the central region such as Huangshi in Hubei province, Guangde in Anhui and Suining in Sichuan. More domestic and international businesses are expected to find their way to these noncoastal areas where labor cost is lower.

Typical output

Units with four to eight layers make up the mainstream supply in China, but this will be upgraded to variants starting at 12 layers in the next one or two years.

General types have 5mil minimum line width and spacing, and 0.1mm minimum hole size. Board thickness is up to 3mm, with 1.2 and 1.6mm the commonly available. There are companies that can turn out as thin as 0.2 or 0.8mm units.

The base materials used are varied to suit different requirements. These include FR-4, high-Tg FR-4, polyimide, copper, Rogers, aluminum, PTFT, PPO and PPE. For surface treatment, some of the choices are HAL, lead-free HAL, ENIG, immersion gold, tin or silver, OSP and flash gold. Flexible PCBs adopt polyimide.

Most products are CE-approved, RoHS-compliant and UL-listed.

The materials used come from local and foreign providers, depending on buyers' requirement. Their costs rose slightly last year, resulting in a 5 percent increase in the prices of multilayer PCBs. In the months ahead, there is a possibility input rates will stabilize and keep product quotes at current levels.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in multilayer PCBs from China makers.

4-layer PCB with FR-4, ENIG

This PCB from Cheng Yi Electronics (Jiaxing) Co. Ltd, N4V059K19236F3 model, has four layers, an FR-4 base and ENIG surface treatment. The minimum line width and spacing are 6.97 and 7.01mil, and the minimum hole size is 0.3mm. Copper used on each layer is 1oz. Board thickness is 1.6mm.

The negotiable order quantity is delivered within 3 days.

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0.8mm thick PCB has 4 layers, uses immersion gold<0.5W at no load

Guangdong Hetong Technology Co. Ltd's 037P4G0001A model is a 4-layer PCB, which is 0.8mm in thickness. The base is made of FR-4 material and the surface treatment used is immersion gold. The minimum line width is 7.87mil and the minimum line spacing 4.72mil. Copper thickness is 35µm.

The minimum order is 100 units and the delivery lead time 7 days.

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16-layer PCB with 0.2mm holes

Shenzhen Hechuangyi Electronic Technology Co. Ltd offers a 16-layer PCB, HCY-109 model, which can be delivered within 7 days for a minimum order of 10 units.

The board has 3mil minimum line width and spacing, as small as 0.2mm holes and 20μm minimum copper. It comes in maximum dimensions of 510x1,200mm, while thickness is from 1.6±0.1mm to 6mm.

Base material options are CEM1, CEM3, Teflon, Rogers, FR-4, high-Tg FR-4, aluminum and halogen-free, and the choices in surface treatment are lead-free HASL, ENIG, chemical tin, flash gold, OSP, gold finger, peelable and immersion silver. The solder mask may be done in green, blue, red or black and the legend in white, black or yellow.

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PCB with up to 16 layers

The model VS402 PCB from Shenzhen VanSoon Electronics Co. Ltd can have up to 16 layers, CEM1, CEM3, Teflon, Rogers, FR-4, high-Tg FR-4, aluminum or halogen-free base, and OSP, lead-free HAL, immersion gold or gold finger surface treatment. It has 3mil minimum line width and spacing, and 0.1mm minimum hole size. The holes are plated with a minimum of 25µm copper. The final copper used is 0.5 to 5oz. Board thickness ranges from 0.4 to 3±0.1mm.

The solder mask can be in green, blue, red, black or white and the legend in white or black.

No minimum order is required. Delivery takes 4 days.

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