On a global scale, the value of manufacturing services in the electronics market is estimated at €800 billion. Communication technology accounts for only €185 billion of that value and consumer electronics only takes a share of  €160 billion. The remaining €455 billion can account for the automotive and industrial electronics industries in Europe.

Approximately 300,000 people are employed in the European Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) Industry for the design and assembly of electronics in the European Union. In recent years the electronics industry in Europe has had to adapt its practices due to increasing competition from low-cost to labour and production countries that produce these similar products that as a result has caused a significant decrease in the production of high volume, low cost electronic products in the European Union.

The focus of the electronics industry in Europe is now concentrated on non-consumer electronics and rather focused on more specialised applications. These are low volume, high value products, or those that are based upon cutting-edge technology where sustained performance and reliability are critical. Typically, these might include applications in diverse industries such as telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, medical, industrial control systems and many other niche applications. The requirements of such products are widely different from those of normal high volume consumer electronics. In particular, they are often required to have very good in-service performance reliability and much longer in-service lifetimes. These key factors are strongly influenced at the Printed Circuit Board manufacturing stage by the choice of solderable finish.

The PCB fabrication industry is a key supplier to a wide range of EU-based electronics assemblers, systems manufacturers and end-users across many strategically important industry sectors, all of whom will also directly benefit from this project as a consequence of being able to source circuit board assemblies with enhanced reliability at more competitive prices.

Most of companies cover all the quality requirements and technology standards. Due to specialization and highly educated staff South-East European (SEE) companies can offer the global market state-of-the art technology of Printed Circuit Boards produced. All the production is compatible to global industrial standards in all the aspects, from design, materials used, lamination, manufacturing, etc. (including compliance to new EU directives WEEE and RoHS).

Though relatively developed Contract Electronic Assembly Industry in several South-East European countries most of the PCB production is export oriented. Bigger number of PCB manufacturers in the region exports more than 90% of their production which is not far from the situation with the local Electronic Assembly Industry. The main exportation direction are European countries, generally members within the European Union.

The year 2006 was the first year in which electronics production in the US, Japan and Western Europe accounted for less than 50% of global electronics output as there was an increase in relocating to lower-cost countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. Many EMS providers from Western Europe such as the UK and France relocated business due to a decline in the period 2004-2007 and as a result repositioned production to lower-cost countries such as South America, Hungary and Thailand.

Within Europe the shift in electronic production locally can be seen to have shifted from Western Europe to Central and Eastern European countries. Closeness to markets for many European countries remains an important decision factor in production and market value as this could become even more important due to the growing attention for climate change and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Demand for EMS in Europe can be seen to demonstrate quick growth, starting in the period 2004-2007 with a 10-15% year increase. Worldwide in 2008 around 20% of all electronic assembly activities was subcontracted to EMS providers, resulting in a global EMS market of €160 billion. The EU was responsible for about 15-20% of this value (€24-30 billion).  The US and Japan also saw a  similar market value share while Asia claimed the remaining value share for their markets. 

The largest EMS provider in the EU, although it is not in the top ten of the largest EMS providers in the world, is from Finland. In total, Europe counts about 1,350 EMS providers with some 1,450 factories, which are usually small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). About 80% of the EMS providers record annual sales of less than €10 million.

Without being classified the largest EMS provider in the EU, Germany has the largest number of EMS providers with around 400 companies totaling an estimated €4.0 billion sales per year and is recognized as the largest market for EMS in Europe, closely followed by countries including the UK, France and Italy. Hungary, Spain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic are smaller markets, but are still classified as medium-sized EMS providers in the EU.

In 2011 Germany accounted for over 40% of the PCB production in Europe as a whole while the addition of Switzerland an Austria (both German Speaking countries) equate to a total of 75% of all European PCBs. The end-uses of these PCB’s are dominated by automotive, industrial and some photovoltaic and medical applications.

Throughout the European Union whether you are a large OEM or small Electronics design Engineering company, with today’s constant demanding deadline pressures in Research and Development Projects for many electronics products and service relying on Printed Circuit Boards, PCB Global is your ideal partner for rapid quote, ordering and delivery options for your Printed Circuit Board requirements.

Shipping days are as per the matrix provided; Standard, Fast and Express for 2 Layer to 20 Layer Printed Circuit Boards that no other competitor can offer on this global scale. PCB Global’s Sales and Administration is based in Sydney, Australia and our high technology quick turn joint venture printed circuit board manufacturing facility is located in Huizhou, China.  This proximal location to all European Union nations enables PCB Global to deliver your PCB’s through the worldwide with the preferred and trusted shipping company DHL Express in a timely and efficient matter.

Unlike our competitors, PCB Global will not only offer an extremely competitive quote but will enable you to receive a quotation simultaneously for all three delivery options giving you control of both cost and delivery at your convienience as mentioned above. Try our professionally crafted Instant Online Quotation and ordering system as this will allow you to compare all possible prototype services with your preferred delivery options of Standard, Fast and Express Delivery on our web site www.pcbglobal.com

PCB Global standard multi-layer Printed Circuit Board layer stack up is predominantly made up of three components with varying thicknesses of Copper Foil, Pre-preg and Copper clad FR4 laminates as cores.

The Standard Copper thickness in particular for all the FR4 Core Inner Layers is generally 35um (1oz), this  can be easily varied to 18um (0.5oz) – 70um (2oz) – 105um (3oz) if required.

Increasing the Copper thickness to 70um or Higher will naturally depend on the printed circuit board design in respect to Trace/Space clearances, these can be viewed on PCB Global‘s Capabilities – www.pcbglobal.com/capabilities .

All the PCB Global Standard Multi-layer stack up can be varied and detailed to suit not only specific finished thicknesses but more importantly specific calculated impedance control requirements for RF applications.

If you have a special requirement for a finished thickness or impedance please email PCB Global the details and we can recommend a multi-layer stack up to suit.

PCB Global offer these FR4 laminates and pre-preg’s in standard TG materials – TG=130/140 as well high TG materials TG=170.

    

 

Before outlining the History of a Printed Circuit Board, or PCB, lets look at what a PCB is and does. 

Along with wire wrap and point to point construction, PCB’s are the most common element used to make nearly all electronics devices work. They are self-contained electronic mediums that mechanically supports and utilizes electricity to connect electronic components with features such as conductive tracks, pads and etched copper sheets.  More specialized or ‘advanced’ PCB’s may also contain embedded components such as capacitors, resistors or active devices.  They are found in our common everyday electronic devices such a radios, televisions, mobile phones and refrigerators; anything that requires electricity to work.  The complexity of a circuit board depends on a variety of factors such as size, use, battery life, cables used and portabilityof the electronic device.

There are two other types of circuit assemblies that are used; one being an integrated circuit (IC or microchip), which performs similar functions to a PCB except the IC, contains many more circuits and components that are electrochemically put in place on the surface of a very small chip of silicon. The second is a hybrid circuit looks like a standard PCB, but contains some components that are ‘grown onto’/placed within the surface of the substrate rather than being placed on the surface and soldered.

Printed Circuit Boards evolved from electrical connection systems that were developed in the 1850s. Metal strips/rods were previously used to connect large electric components that were first mounted on wooden bases. Soon after the metal strips were replaced by wires that were connected to screw terminals, whilst the previously used wooden bases were replaced by metal frames.  This new invention originated in England but soon became a global phenomenon in the electronics manufacturing industry. 

‘Wire wrap’ and ‘point-to-point’ units were used previous to 1943, when in 1936 an Austrian Engineer by the name of Paul Eisler invented a prototype PCB, whist working on a radio set. The US used this invention to make large scale proximity fuses to use in the world war at the time (1943, WWII).  1948 the war had ended a few years before this time and the US now manufactured PCB’s strictly for commercial use.  The 1950’s brought on ‘Auto- Sembly’ , an automated line of assembling the boards, which sparked in increase in popularity and consumption in the electronics industry. 

It seemed that these large designs were becoming impractical, as they required smaller and more compact systems to be able to cope with larger amounts of data as well as fit in the modern designs of new electrical appliances. A new method was applied to create an electrical path directly on an insulated surface by printing through a stencil with electrically conductive inks, later named "printed wiring" or "printed circuit."

Single-sided PCB’s were common in the 1950s and 1960s. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, technological advancements enabled plating to the drilled hole walls which then enabled connection of electronic components on either side, creating a double-sided board.


By the 1980s, ‘multilayer’ circuit boards, which include several layers of a typical ‘single-sided’ board are placed one on top of another.  A more diverse and complex process purposefully built for modern computers and telecommunications equipment.

The next step form here were small surface mount parts which are used instead of through-hole components, allowing the construction of a smaller sized board; more functional as well as reducing production costs, however, servicing these boards requires a little more effort then a standard sized board.

Components on a PCB are connected electronically to the designed circuits by two different methods. The first method is called "Through Hole Technology" and the second and newest method is called  "Surface Mount Technology." Through Hole Technology requires a component that has thin wires, or leads, which are pushed through small holes in the substrate and soldered to connection pads in the circuits on the other side of the board. The contact with the holes and pull of gravity between the leads and the sides of the holes enables the components to stay in place until they are soldered. Surface Mount Technology has stubby J-shaped or L-shaped legs on each component keeping contact with the printed circuits directly. A solder paste consisting of glue, flux, and solder are then applied at this point of contact to allow the components to be held in place until the actual solder is melted or "reflowed," in an special oven to make the final connection complete. Although surface mount technology requires greater attention and care in the placement of the components, its benefits are that it eliminates the time-consuming drilling process as well as the space-consuming connection pads characteristic with Through Hole Technology. In today’s manufacturing, both technologies are frequently used.

A thin layer of conducting material deposited or ‘printed’ on the surface of an insulating board known as the substrate that will then be able to form the circuits.  The substrate most commonly used in PCB’s is a glass fiber reinforced (fiberglass) epoxy resin with a copper foil bonded on to one or both sides. PCBs made from paper-reinforced phenolic resin with a bonded copper foil are less expensive and are often used in household electrical devices.

Fabricators and designers will generally choose to use a heavier copper when manufacturing boards as the thicker the copper, the more resistant to thermal stains and increase in current carrying capacity the board will have.  This is then coated in tin to prevent oxidation (rusting) of the copper. 

When a complete board has only copper connections, but no embedded components it is more correctly titled ‘Printed Wiring Board (PWB).  Likewise, A PCB occupied with electronic components is called a Printed Circuit Assembly (PCA). The term PCB is used informally both for bare and assembled boards.

As can be seen, the Printed Circuit Board industry has come a long way through the various technological advancements in production methods as well as new integrated design methods for more and new superior yet simplistic electronics devices that we use in everyday life such as mobile phones, tablets, complex machinery and aircraft technology. Today it is simple and easy as all geographical boundaries and broken with the introduction of the online shopping phenomenon through e-commerce websites, from simple to high-tech custom made Printed Circuit Boards can be quoted and ordered online.

Our company PCB Global prides itself on our innovative technologies enabling PCB Global to also offer our Full Spectrum capabilities for 1 Layer to 40 layer Printed Circuit Boards with a multitude of substrates and technologies for Standard, Fast and Express quick-turn prototype manufacturing, low to medium volume pre-production to high volume mass production.  In an ever-changing world of technological advancements, at PCB Global, we believe in the importance of continuously advancing our ideas, knowledge and experience in order to follow through and become the pioneers in taking the lead of these technological advancements, leading towards an innovative future in the electronics industry. 

Electronics is the largest manufacturing industry in the world that employs and average of around 2.6 million Americans (a consistent value progressively increasing every year). The worldwide market for electronic goods is over $800 billion. But the United States of America alone have approximately a quarter share of this at $200 billion.   The United States as can be seen from above as having a high turn over and import of electronics goods. The mighty state of California is ranked as the world’s sixth largest economy in total of all goods, trades and services conducted within and surrounding the state. 

California is very well known for its ‘environmentally friendly’ attitudes towards the disposal (correct disposal) of many electronics goods produced. In 2008 there was a proposed legislation that was soon after enforced which would require consumer electronics that were sold within the state of California to ensure the items are manufactured without any toxins or hazardous material, both to the consumers and the environment.This proposed legislation arose from a study conducted in 2004 whereby dangerous chemicals and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and brominated flame-retardants, were commonly used in mobile phones, music players, computers and computers monitors.  These metals and chemicals do not commonly cause direct harm to consumer but rather when disposed of in landfills they are leached into the groundwater supply that in turn can directly impact the population.

Since it can be quite impractical, and almost impossible to omit these heavy metals and various chemicals to many electronic components (i.e. solder –lead- to semiconductor boards used in all electronic devices) there have been specialised recycling programs put in place, implemented to help reduce and eventually eliminate this dangerous cross contamination that can potentially effect all citizens of California, not to mention the rest of the world (due to exports and each nations choice of disposal).  These recycling programs include returning items such as computers, laptops and mobile phones to the store/company it was purchased from to which they will recycle these items for free.  Apple is a known participant of this program as you can drop your old iPhone into any store to which they will take on the recycling responsibilities from then on.

This ‘recycling’ initiative has many other benefits other then just protecting the environment as it also allows manufacturers to continue with their processes of production (by strict safety guidelines OHS as always) and without investing large sums of money in order to restructure and recreate new techniques of production whist also holding onto the major US and European markets.

During the 1990s, the high-technology sector accounted for about one half of the manufacturing value added in California and over a quarter of the employment of production workers. It wasn’t until the early 1900’s in a 40 year time period (1940) that the state of California began to specialize in knowledge-intensive activities, as high-technology industries grew more rapidly in the state alone, beating the rapid growth of the entire nation put together. By the end of this ‘rapid expansion and growth’ time period, the high-technology sector accounted for 21 percent of output and 14 percent of production workers in California.

The second rapid high-technology expansion occurred just after the first boom between 1939 and 1967. Expansion was disproportionately vigorous in the state, driven initially by the growth of its aircraft industry and later by electronics. There was soon a decline in the production worker sector as due to the uprising of the electronics industry, as machines soon took over the ‘hardwiring work’ of the employees of major production companies.  Electronics manufacturers were soon looking to gain more efficiency in production and effectiveness in the market with new high technological advances.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, after a mild decline the electronics sector soon bounced back due to the growth and development of the semiconductor and computer equipment industries. California’s electronics industry has continued to increase with newer technologies to the semiconductor, circuit, electronic device and systems industries alongside the rest of the world’s growth and development in these fields.

With such a diverse and broad spectrum of the electronics manufacturing industry, the state of California is an ideal Synergy partner for the PCB Global online Printed Circuit Board sales as PCB Global also participates in active environmentally friendly initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint on the Australian environment as well as the rest of the world.

PCB Global encourages and prefers to supply ROHS compliant, lead-free technology surface finishes such as immersion gold (ENIG), immersion silver, immersion tin, lead-free hot air leveling (ROHS HAL) and OSP Organic finish. In the case where electronic devices are not disposed of correctly, rather disposed of in landfills with other waste items, these lead-free surface finishes assist in the reduction of lead contamination into our soils and water streaming systems containing precious bio-life, important in maintaining a balance in all of our ecosystems worldwide.

With over 35 years’ experience in the Australian Printed Circuit Board industry, PCB Global is the trusted name for PCB export sales to California in the USA.

Whether you are a large OEM or small Electronics Design Engineering company, with today’s constant demanding deadline pressures, economically and environmentally in Research and Development projects for Printed Circuit Boards, PCB Global is your ideal partner for rapid quote, ordering and delivery options for your PCB requirements. Our advantage over our competitors are that we provide instantaneous quotes through our online experience 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year eliminating time wasted in waiting for a reply to your request for quotation, reducing the impact of wasted resources during this short time period.

By enabling our business to run strictly as an online experience, we are hence reducing our impact on the environment through the reduction in paper printing and use and as stated in our email contact base with our valued customers to please consider the environment before printing our emails.

PCB Global offer three delivery options; Standard, Fast and Express for 2 Layer to 20 Layer Printed Circuit Boards. Not only will PCB Global offer an extremely competitive quote, you will receive a quotation simultaneously all three delivery options which no competitor to date can offer.  Simply select one of the three delivery options (Standard - Fast - Express) and proceed with the best option for your requirement.

As well as the instant on-line Prototype service PCB Global also offer the full spectrum service of Printed Circuit Board manufacturing which encompasses all the variables of specialty laminate materials as well as technologies and surfaces finishes. If your Printed Circuit Board design file has requirements that are not listed on the attributes within the on-line quotation matrix, simply email us your PCB file for our rapid full service quotation.

Put PCB Global to the test California!  Go to www.pcbglobal.com and visit our online quotation page and type in your Printed Circuit Board details and see for yourself!