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54 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2022 25 mm, the realistic source today is Asia—and with extreme lead times. The Drivers for the European SL PCB Market e implementation of 5G, driven by gov- ernmental initiatives, is the main motivator for the European market. e influence of tab- lets and wearables is less dominant in Europe simply because these products are produced in Asia. But we may see some demand from AI, industrial robots, and semiconductor solu- tions in automotive applications that may cre- ate opportunities in Europe. e market for SL PCB in Europe in 2020 was approximately US$72 million. With a CAGR of 11-12% we can expect around US$175 mil- lion in 2028. is is a quite conservative pre- diction based on the assumption that most of the SL PCB will be made in Asia and the pre- diction of a global SL PCB market of US$4.8 million in 2028 at a CAGR rate of around 18%. Compared to the total European PCB mar- ket with a CAGR around 2.5-3% that is a sub- stantial growth and a good indicator for invest- ments into SL PCB manufacturing capabilities for quick turn of small volume orders. Wrapping It Up, and How to Get Involved? e development of PCB technology reached the level of substrate-like PCBs by the introduction of smartphones and other wear- ables. Today we see a fast-growing need for SL PCB even outside those well-known indus- tries, basically driven by AI and 5G demands. e CAGR of SL PCB is today much higher than the traditional PCB technology, includ- ing normal HDI levels. is will be a substan- tial driver for investments in the next few years. For more information and involvement, IPC APEX EXPO in San Diego will have an Ultra HDI technical seminar track that includes SL PCB. A full forecast will be presented. at conference and the UHDI task group is highly recommended. Here we discuss the main tech- nologies needed to reach the required minia- turization level, such as the difference between a pure subtractive process and the so-called semi-additive process variations. Only together can we change the industry, and improve the standards, technologies, and the communication. PCB007 Resources 1. IndustryARC: European Printed Circuit Board Market—Forecast (2020-2025) 2. IPC TG D-33AP Ultra HDI 3. IPC SL PCB market forecast to 2028 Jan Pedersen is senior technical advisor, NCAB Group- Elmatica and a regular contributor to the I-Connect007 column, "The PCB Norsemen".