Stronger SMT capability stays a priority in China's PCB assembly industry

PCB assembly manufacturers acquire more surface-mount machines and highlight competence for ultrasmall component placement.

Suppliers in China's PCB assembly sector remain focused on gaining advantage in the thriving outsourcing business, keeping up-to-date on manufacturing trends. They continue to obtain equipment to demonstrate greater SMT manufacturing capability for various electronics.

Shenzhen Sanwin Technology Co. Ltd targets to raise its SMT lines to four by the end of 1H16 with the acquisition of two surface-mount machines. Wells Electronic Technology Ltd installed two lines recently, bringing its total to nine. Topscom Precision Industry Co. Ltd boasts 32 SMT lines, including those from Fuji, Siemens, Panasonic and Yamaha. It can handle 30 million points per day.

This ongoing objective has made China the largest market for SMT equipment, accounting for about 40 percent of global sales. The estimated number of lines there is now at 50,000, consisting of more than 100,000 pick-and-place machines.

Boosting manufacturing capability also extends to mounting components with very small footprint and using advanced PCBs such as HDI and flexible types. Local makers can handle 0402, 0201 and 01005 SMD components as well as ICs in different packages. The last includes DIP, SDIP, SOP, SSOP, TSOP, PLCC, QFP, QFN, SON and BGA. Topscom adopts 0201 technology, in addition to flip chip.

Companies ensure upgraded testing facilities mainly for in-circuit tests, and automated optical and X-ray inspection, and lead-free production practices are still in place.

Production conforms to ISO guidelines, with ISO 9001 still the commonly followed standard. Other makers have multiple certification for additional assurance. Topscom also complies with ISO 14001, 13485, ISO/TS 16949, OHSAS 18001 and TL 9000. Leach (SZ) Co. Ltd has the ISO 13485 stamp as well.

Rounding out initiatives is the strategy of accepting small and mixed orders usually not accommodated by international companies. This is especially effective even for major local players competing for attention in the highly contested consumer electronics market. Most small and midsize manufacturers use the tactic in the less intensive but high-value industrial, instrumentation, medical, automotive and security fields.

With such an approach, China's PCB assembly companies have been flourishing. Despite the presence of foreign rivals there, which make up 20 percent of the maker population, the number of local operations remains solid.

The 1,000-member industry has a collective global revenue share surpassing 40 percent, making China the largest manufacturing base for PCB assemblies. About 60 percent of the makers are in Guangdong province, specifically the cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou.

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