32 The PCB Design Magazine • July 2014
PCB007
News Highlights
Multiline Restructures Business;
Sharpens Focus
Multiline Technology has restructured its business to
improve consistency and dependability while deliv-
ering custom equipment and spare parts. in the last
few years, the company's business has changed to
comprise predominately multiple camera, very tight
tolerance, and large format post etch punches.
NCAB Expands U.S. Presence,
Acquires M-Wave
One of the world's largest suppliers of PCBs, nCAB
group, has acquired 100% of M-Wave international
llC's PCB Division. Bob Duke, former president of
M-Wave's PCB Division, commented, "Being select-
ed by nCAB to be a part of their u.s. team is a great
compliment. As the PCB supply market continues to
evolve, i felt this was an excellent time for M-Wave to
expand its resources."
Matrix Opens New "Value-added"
California Warehouse
Branch Manager Jim Alves reports that the new
warehouse is now in full operation. With the on-
going success of Panasonic high-speed laminates,
Jinzhou Carbide Tools, and Agfa specialty products,
the company is committed to expanding its services
and presence in this region.
Technology Convergence Critical
for PCB Fabrication
The PCB industry is showing signs of life, which in-
dicates that the pendulum is swinging in a more
positive direction economically, but we're not quite
ready to uncork the champagne. A June 2013 report
by research & Markets forecast that the global PCB
fabrication industry alone will reach about $94 bil-
lion in 2017, with a compounded annual growth
rate (CAgr) of 8.1% during this period.
Multilayer Technology Nets 2014
Best of Irving Award
various sources of information were gathered and
analyzed to choose the winners in each category.
The 2014 irving Award Program focuses on qual-
ity, not quantity. Winners are determined based on
the information gathered both internally by the
irving Award Program and data provided by third
parties.
North American PCB Industry
growth Still Slow
"With year-to-date growth rates improving but still
negative, and a book-to-bill ratio just barely in posi-
tive territory for the second month, the north Ameri-
can PCB industry appears to be moving very slowly
toward a modest recovery this year," said sharon
starr, iPC's director of market research. "The negative
month-to-month growth rates in April reflect normal
seasonal patterns."
IPC PCQRR Database Allows PCB
Fabricator Comparison
The iPC Printed Board Process Capability, Quality, and
relative reliability (PCQrr) Database was developed
by iPC and Conductor Analysis Technologies inc.
in 2001 for designers, purchasers, assemblers, and
manufacturers of PCBs. it gives board buyers a way
to compare board fabricators, and fabricators a way
to compare their processes to the industry at large.
Invotec Strengthens Euro Team with
New Appointments
invotec group is delighted to announce the appoint-
ment of Thomas Witt and Monika Braun as sales
agent and sales assistant for germany. Witt joins the
company with extensive experience as a sales ac-
count manager, primarily within the high-reliability
PCB sector, whilst Braun has a strong customer ser-
vice background in the PCB industry with a particular
focus on quick turnaround orders.
Candor Highlights Cutting-edge
PCB Manufacturing
Candor President yogen Patel remarks, "We're ex-
tremely excited over the success we've had achiev-
ing these high-end, technical builds. With the speed
at which the industry changes these days, Candor
wants to be ahead of the pack, at the forefront of
technology.
FPCB Report: Mektron Suffers First Loss
The world's largest FPCB company, Mektron, suf-
fered its first loss since its establishment, due to three
main reasons: hDD and ODD markets contract-
ed; the company began to intervene in the price
war; and the company's 45% output came from
China where rMB appreciation and rising labor costs
eroded profits.
32 The PCB Design Magazine • July 2014
