Guangdong Chengde's CD19267 model is a 10-layer PCB with 8mil minimum line width and 10mil spacing, and 0.35mm vias.

The sector is steadily moving toward higher-layer units while companies ride on healthy demand for low-count types.

China manufacturers of multilayer PCBs continue to improve their standard selections, consistent with miniaturization in key applications in the computer and peripherals, communications and consumer electronics segments. They have increased output of 10-layer units, which now join kinds with four to eight tiers in the dominant supply category. Models with 12, 14, 16 and 18 layers make up the rest.

So far, 4, 6, 8 and 10-tier varieties account for more than 80 percent of China’s production value for the category. By 2017, the aggregate portion will hit nearly 98 percent and include PCBs with up to 16 layers. This indicates the local industry’s buildup toward higher-layer configurations despite the majority yield share of units with a low count.

Typical releases have 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4 or 5mil minimum line width and spacing, with those having 3 and 4mil being the most common. In holes, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3mm are the conventional sizes. Variants adopt mainly ENIG, HASL, OSP, immersion silver or tin, flash gold, gold finger or hard gold plating surface finish.

In uses requiring greater circuit density, companies can fill orders for units with higher than 60 layers, 1.5mil line width and spacing, and up to 0.1mm holes. The last two specifications are almost the limit based on the current technology and equipment of local makers.

Guangdong Chengde Printed Circuit Co. Ltd is capable of realizing 20 layers in multilayer types and 16 in rigid-flex, 2mil line width and spacing, and 0.1mm holes. At present, 4, 6 and 8-layer models account for about 80 percent of its sales.

Shenzhen X-Mulong Circuit Co. Ltd can offer up to 16-layer variants with 3mil minimum line width and spacing, and 0.2mm holes. The bulk of its revenue, however, is still from kinds with a lower tier count. Units with four layers have about 60 percent share, and those with six and eight, 18 percent each.

Meizhou Dingtai PC Board Co. Ltd’s turnout consists of models with four to 10 tiers, although the supplier has the capability for PCBs with up to 12 layers. It can achieve 3mil minimum line width and spacing, and 0.15mm holes.

Multilayer products constitute the largest PCB segment. In China, the type’s share of output value exceeds 40 percent. It is 64 percent at Xing Da Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer. Meizhou Dingtai PC, meanwhile, targets to elevate the ratio to 60 percent in 2015 from 40 percent. The company is planning to increase monthly production capacity to 90,000sqm in the next five years from 50,000sqm at present. Guangdong
Chengde projects uptick in demand will improve revenue by 30 percent in the months ahead.

About 1,500 suppliers make up mainland China’s multilayer PCB sector. Ten percent of this pool consists of international companies such as Unimicron, Tripod, HannStar, Nanya, Kingboard and CMK.

To differentiate from foreign players operating there, local manufacturers highlight flexibility to low-volume and high-mix orders, and quick turnaround time. Xing Da can offer 4 to 8-layer samples in seven to 10 days, and 10 to 12-layer versions between nine and 12 days.

In addition, most small and midsize enterprises avoid competing with the former in the computer, communications and consumer electronics markets. They keep prices stable to attract more orders as well.

Domestic suppliers leverage the advantage of a mature industry chain in the mainland. There are homegrown
and Taiwan providers of key material CCL there, including Shengyi, GDM, Kingboard, Nanya, Iteq, TUC and EMC. For solder mask, the key sources are Taiyo, Tamura and GreenCure among foreign companies, and Kuangshun, Rongda, 3Q and ABQ on the local side.
The rest of the inputs are from the mainland.

More than 80 percent of the makers are in the Pearl River and Yangtze River Delta regions and the Bohai Bay Rim Economic Region. There are also suppliers inland such as Chongqing municipality, and the provinces of Jiangxi, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan and
Anhui.

Related reports:
HDI PCBs: Manufacturers build up advanced category
Flexible PCBs: Companies sustain product upgrades, output expansion
Aluminum PCBs: Enhanced thermal conductivity remains on R&D agenda
PCB assemblies: Makers strengthen SMT capability

Product gallery

Guangdong Chengde Printed Circuit Co. Ltd
(China)

Model: CD19267
MOQ: 10 units
Delivery: 15 days
Description: 10 layers; ENIG surface finish; 8mil minimum line width, 10mil spacing; blind vias, 0.35mm minimum size; black solder mask; 3oz copper, 3±0.3mm board thickness

Meizhou Dingtai PC Board Co. Ltd
(China)

Model: DT02548
MOQ: None
Delivery: 7 days
Description: Four layers; ENIG surface finish; 4mil minimum line width/spacing; 0.2mm minimum via size; 1oz copper, 1.5mm board thickness; 45x50mm

Shenzhen X-Mulong Circuit Co. Ltd
(China)

Model: Q4I07896B0
MOQ: 1 unit
Delivery: 10 days
Price: $3.17
Description: Four layers; FR-4 base; ENIG surface finish; 5mil minimum line width/spacing; 0.25mm minimum hole size, 25µm copper; green solder mask, white legend; impedance control; 1oz inner, 2oz outer copper, 1.6mm±10% board thickness; 190.5x190.5mm; IPC-A-600H, IPC-6012B (Class 2), REACH, RoHS, UL

Xing Da Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer
(China)

Model: Xingda-01
MOQ: More than 10sqm
Delivery: 12 days
Description: Six layers; FR-4 base, 1.2mm thickness; OSP surface finish; 3.9mil line width/spacing; 0.275mm minimum hole size, 25µm copper; 169.6x160mm