FPC connectors suppliers target finer-pitch units

Makers look to add 0.2 and 0.25mm-pitch models to their regular selections to keep up with miniaturization in terminal applications.

Tighter pitch is on the agenda of China manufacturers of FPC connectors as the trend for miniaturization persists in main product applications such as mobile and automotive electronics, LCDs and medical devices. Companies aim to broaden their range dominated by 0.3mm units with models in 0.2 and 0.25mm.

The Box Group is among those that can turn out 0.2mm models, one of which is a ZIF, front-flip, right-angle type with a 1.2mm profile. The unit comes in 24, 34, 40, 44, 50, 60, 68, 70, 80, 90, 100 and 120-pin versions. It is rated at 40V and 0.25A, and has 120V rms/min withstand voltage.

High reliability remains an objective, with emphasis on firm connection and blind mating. Most makers ensure their products pass CE, RoHS and UL standards.

Customization will also continue to drive product initiatives under efforts to meet diverse requirements. OEM and ODM orders account for 20 to as much as 60 percent of most suppliers' total shipments.

Makers are upbeat about the line, expecting to maintain the 5 to 10 percent annual growth in sales in coming years. They are counting on the more than 10 percent rise in demand for FPC connectors from the vehicle electronics and medical equipment industries in 2016. Companies anticipate an additional spur from the wearable devices segment. The last's global market will hit $30 billion to $50 billion in the next two or three years, according to Business Insider.

For this reason, many China FPC connectors makers are increasing their output. Dongguan Jinda Electronics Co. Ltd will boost yield by another 5 percent in 2016.

Exports are likewise to rise. Most manufacturers allocate between 30 and 80 percent of production for overseas shipments. The main destinations are still Europe, the US, and East and Southeast Asia.

The boom in the line will attract new local and international players, which will intensify competition and can result in the exit of small workshops.

At present, there are up to 400 suppliers in China, and more than 60 percent are local businesses. The category accounts for 20 to 70 percent of output. Most companies offer related products such as SIM and PCB connectors, or turn out cable assemblies as well.

The majority of makers are in the coastal provinces, particularly Guangdong where over half of them congregate mainly in the cities of Shenzhen and Dongguan. Kunshan and Suzhou in Jiangsu province and Yueqing in Zhejiang province are the other key areas.

See a comparison table of FPC connectors suppliers on GlobalSources.com