Shenzhen X-Mulong’s model XML2K100-Security PCB with two layers and FR-4 CCL has lead-free HAL surface finish.

Suppliers anticipate steady revenue rise in coming years, particularly from key video surveillance segment.

China makers of PCBs look to continue benefiting from the growing market for security products, fueled by heightened safety awareness. They are banking on the global application segment’s projected steady 8 percent annual expansion from 2012-17, which will hit $32.2 billion by the end of the period, according to Memoori. Video surveillance, access control and remote management, and intruder alarms are the key categories driving this development.

PCBs for such uses are forecast to have stable sales increase of more than 5 percent in the years ahead, with video surveillance as the prime demand catalyst.

At present, double-sided and multilayer boards topbill China’s selection for the security sector. They have an aggregate production value share surpassing 70 percent. The latter comes mostly in 4, 6 and 8-layer versions.

The line also includes flexible, aluminum and rigid-flex PCBs. Single- and double-sided units dominate output in the first two subcategories. In the third group, double-sided and 3 to 6-layer variants lead.

Releases have a minimum line width and spacing of 2, 2.5, 3 or 4mil. Units based on the last two form the bulk of yield. In terms of hole sizes, the typical choices are 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3mm. ENIG, HASL, OSP, immersion silver or tin, flash gold, gold finger and hard gold plating are the commonly adopted surface finishes.

As with boards for other electronics devices, the trend in PCBs for security products is higher circuit density. So far, China manufacturers are capable of turning out multilayer units with more than 60 layers, flexible variants with three to eight, and rigid-flex types with three to 16. By line width and spacing, the tightest they can achieve is 1.6mil, while the smallest holes are 0.1mm in CNC and 0.075mm in laser drilling.

Shenzhen X-Mulong Circuit Co. Ltd can offer up to 16-layer types with 3mil minimum line width and spacing and 0.2mm hole size. Its output consists mostly of double-sided kinds, accounting for 40 percent. Versions with four layers follow with a 31 percent share, while 6 and 8-layer counterparts have 9 percent each.

Abis Circuits Co. Ltd and Guangdong Chengde Printed Circuit Co. Ltd are able to meet requirements for 20 layers and 2mil, with the former realizing 0.075mm holes and the second 0.01mm. The latter can produce 20-layer PCBs and 16-layer rigid-flex types.

Besides highlighting manufacturing capability for various requirements in the security products sector, mainland China PCB suppliers emphasize enhanced quality and competitive prices. To achieve these, they adopt key materials CCL and FCCL from domestic and Taiwan companies. The last includes Nanya, Kingboard, GDM, Iteq, Shengyi, Taiflex and AEM. For polyimide and PET film, copper foil, prepreg, copper granules, tin lead bars, gold salt and chemicals, they turn to local sources.

Makers complement this with flexibility, accepting low-volume and high-mix orders to differentiate from international industry players with factories in China. The latter group includes Nippon Mektron, Young oong, Unimicron, ZDT, Semco, Ibiden, Tripod and Sumitomo.

About 1,500 companies make up the mainland’s PCB segment. The majority congregates in the Pearl River and Yangtze River Delta regions. Other suppliers operate in the Bohai Bay Rim Economic Region.

The local industry is expected to maintain 6 percent CAGR between 2012 and 2017. At the period’s end, it will reach nearly $29 billion and represent 44 percent of the global total.

The mainland is the largest manufacturing base for the line, responsible for about 40 percent of the world’s PCB production value.