Companies install more SMT equipment to support smaller-component placement required in popular terminal devices.

China makers of PCB assemblies for the computer, communications and consumer electronics sectors are sustaining manufacturing and product initiatives to match the requirement in these applications. The 3C segment is the industry's primary growth driver, accounting for more than 80 percent of sales. Suppliers are therefore leveraging proximity to these markets. China is the world's largest manufacturing center for mobile phones, computers and TVs, generating output respectively surpassing 80, 90 and 50 percent.

As such and due to competition with foreign players based there, local manufacturers are acquiring more SMT lines to bolster capability. Global Circuit (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd has added one with a Fuji NXP surface-mount machine. It now operates five SMT lines, which includes Yamaha YG12 and YG12F units, and one for DIP. The supplier caters to the telecom, consumer electronics and security products sectors.

Shenzhen Baoli Electronics Co. Ltd owns four lines consisting of Panasonic surface-mount equipment and is looking to obtain one or two additional units before 2H15. Besides 3C devices, the maker offers PCB assemblies for LED lighting.

Fullwill Technology Co. Ltd runs six lines, which include Panasonic MVIIF, MSH3, MV2VB, MV2CA, Juki KE-2060, I760, KE-2050, and Yamaha YV100XGP SMT machines. The supplier also has four DIP and six final assembly lines. Its daily capacity is 10 million points. Fulwill targets telecom, consumer electronics, office automation, IT and industrial control applications.

All three manufacturers derive about 50 percent of revenue from 3C products.

Spurred by healthy demand, suppliers continue to follow the miniaturization trend. They can mount 0402, 0201 and 01005 SMDs. In terms of ICs, companies are able to process DIP, SO, SOP, SOJ, PLCC, PQFP, TQFP, TSOP, TSSOP, QFP, BGA and uBGA kinds. Fullwill is equipped for 0201 to uBGA placement. Global Circuit can now handle 01005 components.

The category maintains stable growth based on the projected 10 percent increase in sales this year. Shenzhen Baoli and Global Circuit anticipate a higher rate of up to 20 percent.

The line caters to the industrial, medical, automotive, military and aerospace segments as well.

More than 1,000 companies make up the pool, of which about 80 percent are local enterprises. Foreign-invested operations mostly from Taiwan and Hong Kong are the rest.