Most modern electronic devices consist of printed circuit boards (PCBs), and as technology advances, the production of PCBs improves. You can find PCBs in any device, from your smartphone to the sophisticated machinery in some industrial plants.
But what are PCB's current trends and future prospects? Is there room for growth, especially after the decline some countries experienced last year?
Let’s see.
The size of the industry
Experts say the global PCB industry will grow this year. The reason for this sudden growth lies in the market imbalance during the pandemic, but PCB production is now getting back to what it once was. For instance, production in Taiwan was over 6% larger in January 2024 than it was last year during the decline.
By the beginning of 2032, the PCB industry is expected to grow 12.5% and earn nearly 40 billion US dollars. This is a great turnover, considering that the most famous technology-producing states like China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan suffered a decline of 9% (Korea even had a 20% decline) during the pandemic and the years following.
PCB’s current trends
- Miniaturization
Are you familiar with the stories of computers that were the size of a room? Fast-forward to today, and your smartphone has more computing power than NASA had during the Apollo missions. This giant step in technology is mostly due to the miniaturization of PCBs.
Over the decades, components and boards have shrunk, resulting in more compact and efficient designs. As is apparent, the industry constantly pushes the boundaries by making smaller and smaller boards.
And it’s not only smartphones–you also have smart watches (definitely smaller than phones) which can track your health, heart rate, your daily activities, the amount of sleep (yes, even snoring), and a lot of other functions. With some models, you can answer your emails and make calls.
- Flexibility
The fact that PCBs can be bent and twisted is one factor helping the industry grow. Laptops, tablets, and smartphones are the first devices to use flexible PCB features.
So, what are the advantages of a flexible PCB over a rigid PCB?
For starters, flexible PCBs can reduce the size of electronic devices since they can bend and take a desired shape. Damage is reduced, whether during assembly or afterwards. Designers can have more freedom because flexible PCBs can have more layers, unlike rigid PCBs.
Where are flexible PCBs mostly used?
- Satellites
- Cameras
- Battery packs
- Fuel pumps
- Motion systems
- Etc
Also, PCB design services must be careful about the material used when making flexible PCBs.
- High-density interconnect (HDI)
Have you heard that less is more? This is what HDI is all about–packing more into less. HDI PCBs have smaller vias, finer lines and spaces, and capture pads. That way, more components can be packed onto a single board.
- Embedded components
To improve performance and save space, manufacturers are embedding active and passive components right into the PCB. This means that components are no longer on the board’s surface, making the board lighter, thinner, and more reliable.
- Environmentally friendly
Everything and everyone is going green, so why not PCBs? Manufacturers are starting to use more biodegradable materials and to reduce waste.
Trends that can shape the future
When talking about the future, many think about artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, or the Internet of Things (IoT). Some decades ago, those were expressions from sci-fi novels, but today, they are our reality and continue to develop. People never stop finding new uses for AI, but, what does artificial intelligence have to do with PCBs?
If you're crazy about IoT, you’ll want to connect everything in your home, from the fridge to the oven and your fitness tracker–everything can get connected together and on the internet. Well, each and every one of these devices needs a PCB, and these boards need to be small, efficient, and capable of wireless communication.
When AI first emerged, people imagined androids and human-like robots–but AI is not just about creating physical automatons. With AI, you can optimize processes, including PCB manufacturing. AI can help by predicting defects, optimizing production lines, and, most importantly, designing even more efficient PCBs.
The rollout of 5G networks is another game-changer. This faster network needs highly sophisticated PCBs to handle the increased data and connectivity. Sometime in the future, when we move to faster networks, PCBs will also need to move to satisfy the need for increased speed.
Do you know what cars some fifty years back looked like? There wasn’t an electronic part in sight; you could repair it with a little mechanical and electrical know-how and drive it for years. And today, you can’t buy a car without electronics. It seems like cars today are more electronic than mechanical. This trend requires many PCBs that can withstand the harsh automotive environment.
Medicine is advancing at a great speed when it comes to implementing advanced electronic devices. So you have portable diagnostic tools, for example, and wearable health monitors. But, not like the Star Trek Tricorder, but inventors are trying. These devices need miniaturized PCBs, and they need to be reliable too.
PCB’s future prospects
To have a bright future, the PCB industry will likely need to develop new materials, try 3D printing, and become more sustainable.
Developing new materials is crucial for the evolution of PCBs. For example, graphene is known as a "wonder material" because it has exceptional electrical and thermal properties. Imagine using materials like that for manufacturing PCBs! This could lead to significantly improved performance.
3D printing technology is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to revolutionize PCB production. With 3D printing, we can create prototypes faster and reduce waste by printing boards layer by layer.
Although quantum computing seems like science fiction, it is gradually becoming a reality. This specialized field requires unique PCBs that can operate at extremely low temperatures and handle qubits instead of traditional bits.
Bioelectronics, a combination of biology and electronics, is an emerging area in medical technology. This field requires specially designed PCBs, opening up new possibilities for medical implants, prosthetics, and even brain-computer interfaces.
And concerning sustainability–would it be possible to use recycled materials? Only the future will tell.
Challenges on the Horizon
There's a saying that goes, "There's a problem for every solution." While the PCB industry solves many problems, it still faces challenges.
One major challenge is supply chain disruptions. The good news is that the industry is becoming more globalized, which should make it easier to get materials in the future.
Designers must keep up with market demands, which often means creating more complex designs. However, people also want affordable products. Balancing the need for cutting-edge technology with cost-effectiveness can be tricky.
Additionally, PCB companies must comply with regulations, which can vary by country, especially those related to environmental protection.
What’s next?
Despite the challenges it faces, the PCB industry has a very bright future. As more businesses operate globally, the PCB industry will have easier and cheaper access to materials. AI will speed up PCB production and lead to innovative board designs.
3D printing will allow us to watch products being built layer by layer right before our eyes. PCBs are constantly improving, becoming smaller, faster, and better. When quantum computing becomes more widespread, we'll need PCBs that can withstand extremely cold temperatures.
The PCB industry is becoming more environmentally friendly, driven by new regulations. One day, our smartphones and other devices could be 100% eco-friendly.
PCBs may not be visible, but they are essential components that make our electronic devices possible.
