5 PCB Manufacturing Trends and Their Challenges

Dec 13,2017

With new and improved technologies, the field of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing has been constantly evolving. The electronics industry is driven by innovations and better manufacturing methods that are growing in popularity. Improved technologies also demand the manufacturers to pay attention to the cost factors as well. In such a scenario, they have to find ways to capitalize on the current market trends while balancing costs and incorporating new areas of expertise. With the existing technologies getting obsolete, it is important for manufacturers to keep up with the latest trends and developments. Let us get you through some of the most important developments in the PCB manufacturing industry, in the recent times.

PCB Manufacturing Trends and Their Impact

The PCB manufacturing industry has witnessed some major developmental changes. Below given are some of the biggest PCB manufacturing trends in the recent times.

Rising demand for smart and smaller devices: With increasing demand for smart devices, electronics manufacturers are required to collaborate with technology partners to build and support the connectivity required by such devices. The devices are getting smaller and more complex. Thus, PCB boards also have to be thinner so that they can fit in the smart devices. Here, the manufacturers have to be flexible to incorporate such changes efficiently and quickly.
Rising concept of ‘Go-Green’: Environmental concerns top the list of problems that need immediate attention. Thus, manufacturers face the constant demand to adopt environment-friendly manufacturing processes. The rising awareness to adhere to the RoHS compliances has contributed to the rising demand for lead-free products that helps protect users, as well as minimizes the carbon footprint of the electronics manufacturer. Production of halogen and lead-free PCBs is growing rapidly and manufacturers have to make sure they meet the growing demands.
Quality is the key: With the growing popularity of PCB testing and inspectiontechniques, it is becoming important to maintain the quality of the products. Advanced quality testing mechanisms have made it important to ensure that the quality of the PCB is maintained throughout the entire manufacturing process.
3D integration and embedded components: 3D integration is one of the most potential PCB design trends that demand smaller and denser boards. This is fulfilled by provision of embedded components, which facilitate increased complexity, reduced manufacturing costs and improved system performance.
Growth in the medical device technology market: The field of medicine is one of the biggest adopters of technological advancements. The reduction in the size of the PCBs and their increased complexity is going to benefit medical offices, research labs and manufacturing plants. This is because they all use small PCB driven machines. These machines are designed to improve accuracy and productivity.

This is just a brief compilation of the latest trends in the PCB and electronics manufacturing industry. To stay in the market competition, it is highly important to be aware of the recent and forecasted trends so that you might be well-prepared for those. You must choose a PCB that is in compliance with the latest technological developments. Sierra Assembly provides circuit boards that are sure to improve your productivity while taking care of your cost needs.