PCB industry 2023 Key Trends Outlook Eschips perspective

As we enter a new year, it is important to take a step back and analyse not only the challenges and opportunities facing us in 2022, but also what we can learn from them as we move into 2023.
It's safe to say that the industry has changed dramatically since the epidemic, so keeping up to date with the latest news, trends and technologies is important to ensure you stay ahead of the competition.
In this article, we'll analyse some of the key trends for 2023 to keep you up to date with the latest PCB industry news.
1. Market size and growth
Globally, the PCB industry is valued at US$80.9 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach US$128 billion by 2030. This market is expected to see significant growth in the coming years due to the popularity and demand for flexible circuit boards in smartphones, computers, new energy vehicles and other consumer electronics.
In addition, demand for printed circuit boards is increasing with advances in medical devices and automation, as consumers look for vehicles that can easily connect to their smartphones. Demand and growth for flexible pcb's in this industry is also expected to increase as small wearable technologies such as smart watches become more popular.
3D printing will be another significant growth area for the industry. 3D printed circuit board electronics works by printing the substrate layer by layer, applying liquid ink to it and then using surface mount technology. As this is a new technology, this means more manufacturing opportunities and improved products are available.
It is also worth noting that HDI boards (High Density Interconnects) are expected to be the fastest growing boards in the industry between 2022 and 2030. This is due to their superior circuit density compared to conventional boards, thus offering great potential for products and technologies in the industry.
2. Technology trends
● Internet of Things
As we move into 2023, technology will move more towards 3D printed circuit boards along with the Internet of Things, including wearable technologies such as smart watches. In order to produce circuit boards for wearable technology, manufacturers will need to increase their supply of flexible boards and flex-rigid pcb's to meet demand.
The demand for pcb for the Internet of Things is not limited to wearable technology, but also includes household products such as connected networks or alarms that can be controlled remotely. All these products and technologies require specific pcb, which will affect the manufacturing process.
● AI intelligent technology
AI machine learning technology has also entered the PCB industry, helping to improve the quality and yield of boards. chatGPT's wave has driven even more explosive growth in the AIGC industry, which can be extended to almost every industry and area of life, and the PCB industry is no exception, and this trend is set to continue. artificial intelligence in PCB manufacturing uses data collected from multiple sensors. Machine learning interprets the accumulated data, which in turn is used to improve the efficiency, speed and production quality of PCBs. This PCB technology trend is also likely to grow because of the advantages it brings to the manufacturing process, such as increased efficiency, enhanced performance and cost improvements.
3, material trends
As manufacturers aim to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable, the materials used in the industry are likely to change. With many companies and manufacturers committed to meeting strict, formal net zero targets, the next few years will see a focus on the materials used in manufacturing processes.
It is estimated that 20% of PCBs could be manufactured using more sustainable methods in the next decade. Demand will increase for materials such as lead-free solder, glass fibre and even newer adaptable materials for connections, such as resin-coated copper.
4. Manufacturing trends
With the rise of technological trends, such as the demand for pcb's with 5G functionality, manufacturing processes need to be adapted accordingly. In order to manufacture high-frequency pcb for 5G use, the technology used in the manufacturing process will change.
For example, in order to obtain a high circuit density with low signal loss, an improved semi-additive method (MSAP) technique will need to be used instead of the traditional etching method. A process called photolithography is used here to ensure accuracy during the etching process.
Advanced Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) is also used in the manufacture of 5G pcb's to help identify any problems that may occur with the board and alert the manufacturer early in the process.
AOI works by uploading scans or pre-programmed boards or 'master boards' to the system. After this, all boards that pass through the system are compared to that master board to ensure that everything is correct and to identify any faults that need to be corrected during the manufacturing process.
5, industry challenges and opportunities
With the overall economic recovery this year, the next challenge that the PCB industry is likely to face is - shipment.

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