This section provides an overview for rigid-flex printed circuit boards (pcb) as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 11 rigid-flex printed circuit board (pcb) manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked rigid-flex printed circuit board (pcb) companies as of November, 2024: 1.Ucreate PCB CO LTD, 2.Rigiflex Technology Inc., 3.Summit Interconnect.
Table of Contents
A Rigid-Flex PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is a type of printed circuit board. It has both rigid and flexible characteristics.
Printed circuit boards are components used to electrically connect electronic devices. They are responsible for transmitting signals and power, and allows wiring connections while fixing the position of each component. It is mounted as a built-in component of various electronic devices and is an indispensable component.
Printed circuit boards are classified into two types: rigid and flexible.
Rigid boards are made of insulators, which are rigid and can withstand automated transport and facilitate component positioning. While they are strong, they are not flexible.
Flexible substrates are made of thin film and can be bent repeatedly. They can be mounted on components with weight limitations and are suitable for use in moving parts. The material itself is also an insulator.
A Rigid-Flex PCB is a composite board that combines a rigid circuit board and flexible circuit board. It was originally developed for use in space aircraft, where compactness was required. Prior to its development, multiple boards were connected by unstable wires, resulting in frequent defects and failures.
The rigid part where components are mounted has a structure in which all layers of the flexible layer for three-dimensional wiring and the rigid layer for circuit formation are overlapped.
Although connectors are normally required to connect between the boards, the concept of connecting the outer and inner layers with through holes eliminates the height and weight of connectors.
The flexible part consists of only flexible layers. However, as the flexibility is impaired when the number of layers increases, the layers are separated by one or two layers. The total number of layers can be adjusted according to the desired application, and design proposals are generally made by each manufacturer.
Flexible substrates alone require careful work in mounting due to their thinness. The rigid board takes care of the base strength, making it possible to use existing mounting equipment.
The structure allows connection with a single lead wire, which has been confirmed to suppress noise generation. The omission of components has made it possible to realize smaller, lighter, and thinner devices, greatly expanding the range of applicable devices.
Rigid flexible substrates are available in various shapes, such as folding type, flying tail type, and book binder type, and can be used in a variety of ways depending on the conditions of the installation location.
Due to the wide range of substrate shape adjustment, rigid flexible substrates are widely used in devices that require compactness, light weight, and high reliability, such as home game consoles, cell phones, medical equipment, smart devices, storage devices, wearable devices, and communication base stations.
The process is more complicated than the manufacturing of rigid substrates or flexible substrates alone. Via positions need to be adjusted, and minute checks are required from the design stage.
The number of manufacturers is also limited, and the manufacturing cost is high.
Recently, the printed circuit board market has been expanding due to improvements in communication technology and increased sales of electronic devices.
Standards that enable high-speed communications have a significant impact on infrastructure facilities, and higher-performance printed circuit boards are required. Furthermore, with the rise of AI technology, various industries intend to promote the use of IT. The diplomatic relations and circumstances of each country are also relevant, and the demand for these products is global.
Rigid flexible substrates are also being mounted in an increasing number of devices due to their characteristics, and a review of manufacturing efficiency is required.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Time-to-Market (TTM) Technologies, Inc. is a Santa Ana, California-based manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and other global technology solutions founded in 1978. The company produces various PCB types including rigid-flex, high-density interconnect (HDI) and backplane assemblies. Other products include radio frequency as well as microwave assemblies and components including amplifiers, antennae and couplers. TTM Technologies operates across a network of over 30 facilities around the world, primarily serving clients in the networking, communications, 5G and defense industries.
Summit Interconnect is a manufacturer of custom-printed circuit boards (PCBs) and cable assemblies. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, California. Summit Interconnect's main activity is the design, development, and manufacturing of custom PCBs and cable assemblies that include high-density rigid, rigid-flex and flex, rf/microwave, and semiconductor. The company also offers a wide range of services, such as prototyping, testing, and assembly. Summit Interconnect's products are used by a wide range of customers, including the aerospace and defense, computing and datacom, semiconductor, and telecommunications industries.
Flex PCB, founded in 1980 in the United States, is a manufacturer of flexible printed circuit boards. The company offers flexible circuit fabrication and assembly services in the USA and offshore. With an intense knowledge of flex PCB, the company is a one-stop provider of flex PCB fabrication and assembly. The company's products are a special types of printed circuit boards that are designed to be flexible and bendable. Flex PCBs are used in a wide range of applications, including aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics.
APCT, founded in 2021 in the United States, is a manufacturer of high reliability printed circuit boards (PCBs). It specializes in new technologies and offers custom designs for low volume, high mix advanced technology PCBs. The company's expertise in complex, multilayer PCBs and related services has made it a valued partner for customers across a wide range of industries including manufacturing IT and automotive. The company has seven manufacturing sites located across the United States.
Cirexx International, established in 1980, based in Santa Clara, California, is a state-of-the-art PCB manufacturer. The company offers a complete line of PCB layout, fabrication, and assembly services. They also offer a complete line of RF/Microwave PWBs using all of the major advanced materials, laminates and composites - Arlon, Rogers, Taconic and others. The company also manufactures complex PWBs and are AS-9100 certified and ITAR registered. The company also provides a “one-stop-shop” and all in-house solutions.
Oki Electric Cable Co.,Ltd. was established in 1936 and is a manufacturer of telecommunications instrument based in Isesaki, Gunma, Japan. The company produces various communications devices such as high speed interface cables, wire harnesses, EDM wire, optical cables, and OKI cables. The products have been applied in various industries such as robotic, automobile, semiconductor manufacture, medical, and financial sectors. The company also involved in real estate business as one of the four major business operations.
Sierra Circuits, Inc., established in 1986, is a company based in Sunnyvale, United States, as a manufacturer of printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication and assembly services and High-Density Interconnect (HDI) technology. Sierra Circuits is proficient in managing all facets of PCB manufacture, encompassing PCB layout and design, as well as assembly and manufacturing processes. This offering provides consumers with unparalleled quality, dependability, and a centralized support system. Sierra Circuits primarily creates expedited printed circuit boards (PCBs) and medium-scale production runs. The company's main objective is to ensure the delivery of PCBs of the highest quality within the shortest possible timeframe.
Ucreate PCB, founded in 2001 in China, is a professional and experienced PCB and PCB assembly manufacturer that offers one-stop service from PCB design to assembly. The company specializes in high-end and multi-layer printed circuit boards. It offers a range of services, including PCB design, fabrication, assembly, and marketing. The company has a highly professional and experienced team that is determined to provide remarkable products and services to its customers.
PCBAStore, founded in 2006 in China, is a supplier of printed circuit board assemblies. It specializes in PCB manufacturing and assembly and offers a one-stop-shop service that includes PCB design, multi-layer PCB manufacturing, turn-key PCB assembly services, and finished product assembly. The company offers both PCB prototype and mass production PCB services and provides online quotes. Its PCB assembly capabilities include both rigid and flex PCB, and it offers both full turn-key and partial turn-key circuit board assembly services.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Ucreate PCB CO LTD |
21.6%
|
2 | Rigiflex Technology Inc. |
19.6%
|
3 | Summit Interconnect |
13.7%
|
4 | TTM Technologies Inc. |
11.8%
|
5 | Flex PCB. |
9.8%
|
6 | APCT |
9.8%
|
7 | Sierra Circuits, Inc. |
3.9%
|
8 | Cirexx International |
3.9%
|
9 | PCBAStore |
2.0%
|
10 | American Standard Circuits |
2.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the rigid-flex printed circuit board (pcb) page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 7 | 87.5% |
China | 1 | 12.5% |
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