Weekly Market Updates for February 8, 2012

2012.02.08 // Posted by: Walt Custer // Posted in: Articles, Industry Conditions

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European Printed Circuit Industry Update

Last week the EIPC held its winter meeting in Prague. About 85 people attended, many from the Czech Republic’s local PCB and related electronics industries.

Download my presentation here: Custer EIPC Presentation Download

• The Czech Republic has about nine PCB manufacturers, with a total annual bare board output of an estimated 12-14 million euros. I toured one of the largest of these, PragoBoard in the Prague suburbs. This well-run facility is small, but well equipped. PragoBoard’s owner Oldřich Šimek has invested heavily in many pieces of first class manufacturing and test equipment.
• Although the Czech Republic’s bare printed circuit output is modest by world standards, it has a very large EMS industry (which imports virtually all of its PCBs from China).
• A highlight of the meeting was a factory tour of Skoda, the Czech Republic’s local automobile manufacturer and part of the Volkswagen Group. This factory was very clean and well automated.

For further detail on EIPC membership or to obtain copies of the papers below contact
Mrs. Kirsten Smit-Westenberg, Executive Director, kwestenberg@eipc.org

EIPC Winter Conference Prague, February 2 & 3, 2012
Conference Program Day 1, Thursday February 2

08:30-08:45
Welcome by the EIPC Chairman
Announcement ECWC13
Rex Rozario, Graphic Plc, UK
Giacomo Angeloni, Somacis Spa, IT

Keynote Session Moderator: Oldřich Šimek,
PragoBoard s.r.o., CZ

08:45-09:15
Business outlook: Global electronics industry
Walt Custer, Custer Consulting Group, USA

09:15-09:45
OEM requirements for PCBs for future automotive electronics
Dr.- Ing. Patrik Hartherz, Robert Bosch GmbH, DE

09:45-10:15
Flexible printed circuits - Innovation in automotive electronics
Dr. Wolfgang Bochtler, Mektec Europe GmbH, DE

10:15-10:45
Attractiveness of Czech Republic for investors in the electronics, evaluation of the actual progress. Chances for engaging of investors also in smaller enterprises. Advantages of Czech industry toward the Far East.
CzechInvest, CZ

Session 1: Reliability and efficiency manufacturing advanced technology PCBs
Moderator: Michael Weinhold, EIPC, DE

11:15-11:35
How clean is clean?
Graham Naisbitt, Gen3 Systems Limited, UK

11:35-11:55
PCB reliability made measurable
Hermann Reischer, Polar Instruments GmbH, AT

11:55-12:15
A distinctive, new class of PWB final finish
Johan Pellicaan, Enthone BV, NL

12:15-12:35
Waste water cleaning in electronics
Karel Vratny, VWS-Memsep, CZ

14:30
Factory tour Skoda

19.45
Networking Dinner

Conference Program Day 2, Friday February 3

Session 2: How to Improve Reliability for Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBA)
Moderator: Oldřich Šimek, PragoBoard s.r.o., CZ

08:40-09:00
Halogen free flame retardants for printed circuit boards – technical developments and market trends
Adrian Beard, Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, DE

09:00-09:20
Brominated flame retardants − status today
Willem Hofland, EFRA, NL

09:20-09:40
The advantages and importance of the European supply base
Alun Morgan, Isola Group, UK

09:40-10:00
PCB Technology road map and the European impact on the global Electronics market
Michael Weinhold, EIPC, DE

Session 3: Advanced Material / Process Development
Moderator: Giacomo Angeloni, Somacis Spa, IT

10:40-11:00
Improved surface treatment processes to increase PCB manufacturing yield
Dr. Peter Amann, KIV PCB ProfiChem GmbH, DE

11:00-11:20
Involvement of EIPC in EU projects to support the electronics Industry
Dr. Konrad Wundt, EIPC, DE (presented by Michael Weinhold)

11:20-11:40
Direct EP and EPAG on copper - surface finishes for the future
Jaime Peraza Ordaz, Atotech Europe, DE

11:40-12:00
InCam - The software of the 21st century
Claudio Bellistri, Orbotech SA, BE

12:00-12:20
AutoCam
Karel Tavernier, Ucamco, BE

Session 4: Advanced Mechatronic Developments using PCB Technology
Moderator: Paul Waldner, Multiline International Europa L.P., DE

13:30-13:50
Mechatronic: Advanced electronic device embedding technology as “Key for Success” in automotive and industry electronics
Thomas Hofmann, Hofmann Leiterplatten GmbH, DE

13:50-14:10
The mechatronics challenge for PCBs
Giacomo Angeloni, Somacis Spa, IT

14:10-14:30
HDI Boards: reliability considerations
Roberto Tulman, Eltek Ltd., IS

December Semiconductor Shipments

SIA recently released December’s semiconductor shipments to each region of the world. Here are a few brief comments:

• World semiconductor shipments declined 5.3% on a 3-month average for December 2011 vs. December 2010 (Chart 1).

Chart 1


• The beginnings of the normal winter seasonal slowing were obvious (Chart 2) and the present chip business cycle is now clearly in negative growth territory (Chart 3).

Chart 2



Chart 3


• The seasonal slowing was evident in SE Asia’s December semiconductor shipments (Chart 4). This region is by far the largest chip consumer.

Chart 4


• SEMI capital equipment sales are extremely volatile, fluctuating much more than semiconductor sales (Chart 5).

Chart 5

U.S. Electronic Equipment and Components Shipments, Orders & Inventories

The December U.S. Factory Orders report was just released:

• Electronic equipment orders and shipments remained relatively flat (Chart 6) with both shipment and order growth in negative territory (Chart 7).

Chart 6



Chart 7


• Orders by electronic equipment type are given in (Chart 8).

Chart 8


• Defense (Chart 9) and electromedical, measurement and control equipment (Chart 10) orders are deteriorating.

Chart 9



Chart 10

North American PCB Industry – December Data

Chart 11, Chart 12, and Chart 13 provide an overview of North American December printed circuit board activity based upon data from IPC.

Chart 11

Chart 12

Chart 13

North American Summary

Chart 14 summarizes the annualized (12/12) and 3-month (3-12) growth of the U.S. electronics supply chain. The 3/12 “leads” the 12/12.

Chart 14

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