Keywords
Citation
(2002), "Flexible circuits what is driving the market and what are the future opportunities?", Circuit World, Vol. 28 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2002.21728dab.005
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Flexible circuits what is driving the market and what are the future opportunities?
Keyword: Flexible circuits
Studies written about the potential offered by flexible circuits have predicted fantastic growth rates. This has often been substantiated by looking at the growth rates exhibited between 1993 and 1997 of between 16 and 22 per cent. These were driven by the rapid expansion of the Internet and the resultant demand for computers and related peripherals. 2000 was a boom year with a growth rate of 33% (revenue $4.63bn). However the technology has suffered during 2001 with a fall of 22 per cent (revenue $3.61bn).
BPA predict that despite the fall in 2001, 2002 will show growth, albeit fairly small, and as shown in the attached forecast diagram, this is set to continue.
However the real question everybody is asking is what is actually driving the market? BPA believe that understanding the driving forces is a fundamental step in the process of identifying future opportunities within the industry.
BPA has shown in it's latest study, "Flexible Circuits A Global Market & Technology Review 2001-2006'', that the automotive and IC packaging sectors represent important growth areas for flexible circuit technology. Key applications for automotives include information and entertainment systems, sensors and control and security systems, all of which rely on the adaptability and scalability of flexible circuits. For IC packaging, key applications include high- density stacked memory packages. Such innovative initiatives include Tessera's wrap- over flex package.
BPA have forecast that by 2006, demand will drive feature sizes of flexible circuits to below 25.m and therefore this will present opportunities to review and develop technologies to achieve these results.
For further details, please contact Charlotte Mckay, Marketing Executive on +44 (0) 1306 875 500 or mailto: c.mckay@bpaconsulting.com