Urgency action in Europe and in France for the Printed Circuits Board Industry
The report made by Custer EIPC Letter of Urgency is resuming the situation and I share the analysis.
I want to add some points.
We are at a very dangerous time for the Printed Circuits Board Industry (called PCB) in Europe and for all our electronics industry. Our governments and main manufacturers should know it. If we are not able to manufacture a minimum and stay relevant in terms of technology, we may not be able to face the consequences of conflicts between countries.
They (the government and main electronics manufacturers) think if making only semiconductors, we have an electronics industry. People who know PCB are aware that semiconductors are very important, but they are mounted on PCB and if we are blocked by the lack of PCB, we would not be able to put the semiconductors then we would not be able to make the electronics equipment used in many fields.
Some (out of EU) countries in the future will put custom duties for supporting their industry. The countries out of Europe who could be affected by custom duties for their exports have decided to support their industry.
However, we do not do anything in Europe, and we are ready to let a key part of our manufacturing capacity disappear because we will save some money by buying everything outside of Europe.
The big groups in Aircraft, Military, Spatial, Defense, Health, Transports, Communication, Energy and others should invest immediately in the PCB industry.
The governments and European Parliament should support as much as they can this action.
This is a very small investment in regards of all what they do but it is a key investment.
We are producing in France 3% of the PCB that we use for our country.
If we do not come to 10% manufactured in France in the next 3 years we are in danger and having spent all my life in this industry I believe that I know what I am saying.
My hope is not to hear in 3 years that I was right when it will be too late.
We should start the change in the coming 6 months if we do not want to wake up in the morning with all our industry blocked because there are some conflicts between countries creating problems for getting PCB.
If we invest quickly, we will become strong in this basic field of the PCB which is going to be in regular progress and innovation.
PCB is progressing very fast, and it is important to have good knowhow, equipment and to follow the technology evolution.
For a better understanding of the importance and the technical impact of PCB I identified a list of factors or examples.
-Flex PCB (shape, size reduction, flex rigid, high frequencies, stretchable for medical applications, heaters and heat dissipation, distortion…)
-Connection (fiber optics, cable, space, design, connectors)
-Improvement (resistance temperature, frequencies, impedance control, thermal management, heat dispersion, miniaturization (HDI),line width, moisture resistant, 3D PCB, weight reduction, design in agreement with industrial safe possibilities, precision requested, signal integrity, knowledge of conditions of use and risks, importance of reliability, cross talk and diaphony, medical use…)
The difference by keeping a minimum of 10% manufactured in France is that the big groups would be able to send their engineers to the PCB manufacturers in France, to build with them products with high reliability, sign NDA, exchange and find best solution without risk to be copied and that can help to make products having a close link with their use and secret information.
PCB Manufacturing in France is about 130 million euros per year which represents 3% of what is used in our country. By investing immediately 200 million euros in PCB industry in France et 3000 million euros in all Europe we really make all industry awaked, and we will become countries involved in Electronics industry in complementary to the fact that we also support semiconductor industry.
By acting immediately, by supporting companies who have resisted the competition we really make all our industry awaked, and we will become as innovative for all types of connection in complementary to the fact that we also support semiconductor industry.
How could the big groups make the investments?
They may loan money, confirm that they will send orders for the years coming, buy machines for the PCB shops and invoice for the amortization for 5 years, take some shares for some time, help for infrastructure, create connections with their engineers, R and D funds, facilitate bank guarantees.
The government should support this action.
If this message is received, all large groups involved would be happy in 3 years of their decisions to support the PCB industry in terms of cost, of delivery time for their needs, and mainly of innovation of new products, of safe relation for what they are inventing.
And we will still have 90% of our PCB made outside!
Bernard Bismuth B de B Consulting
