-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueThe Growing Industry
In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we talk with leading economic experts, advocacy specialists in Washington, D.C., and PCB company leadership to get a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in the industry today. Don’t miss it.
The Sustainability Issue
Sustainability is one of the most widely used terms in business today, especially for electronics and manufacturing but what does it mean to you? We explore the environmental, business, and economic impacts.
The Fabricator’s Guide to IPC APEX EXPO
This issue previews many of the important events taking place at this year's show and highlights some changes and opportunities. So, buckle up. We are counting down to IPC APEX EXPO 2024.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
The New Industry: Will the Growth Continue?
April 30, 2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 1 minute
How sustainable are the primary financial models in the United States regarding PCB fabrication shops? In this interview with economic experts Shawn DuBravac and Tom Kastner, we explore what’s happening with U.S. printed circuit board shops in today’s market, how consolidation affects the industry, and what can be done.
Marcy LaRont: Shawn and Tom, thank you for joining us today. Tom, in another recent interview, you estimated there are 100 to 120 circuit board shops left in the U.S.
Tom Kastner: Yes, and my number tends to be lower than IPC’s, but I have a different definition of a printed circuit board “shop” because there are so many that are not making boards anymore. It’s difficult to track anyone under $5 million.
Statistically, the number of board shops doesn’t really matter because roughly 90% of production is done by something like the top 50 printed circuit board manufacturers. We see that the bigger shops are getting bigger, for example, the ones like APCT and Summit. There is some organic growth, but much of the growth is due to the acquisition of smaller shops. The bigger shops are more likely to have better equipment and technology to compete with Asia. Overall, that’s good for the industry in the United States.
Nolan Johnson: Tom, if some of those estimated 120 U.S. PCB shops aren't making boards anymore, what are they doing?
Kastner: They are brokering, for example. Any business that has survived for 25 to 30 years under tough conditions can make much more money brokering because they don't have the headaches of CapEx or environmental regulations. They are brokering domestically as well as importing boards, and many of them have gotten into assemblies as well.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the April 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Real Time with… IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Transitioning Into Automation With DIS
05/08/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOPublisher Barry Matties and DIS Sales Director Jesse Ziomek discuss the company's shift toward automation, tackling issues such as limited floor space and integration costs while showcasing the advantages their SAM automation system has to offer. Also discussed are workforce challenges and return on investment considerations. As Jesse states, "DIS's goal is to offer solutions for smaller shops," and underscores the user-friendly, no-integration-costs aspect of their system.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: all4-PCB, A Premier Solution Provider for the PCB Industry
04/22/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOIn the PCB industry, all4-PCB, is a top-tier equipment supplier and process solution provider. Ralph Jacobo highlights the active market and the demand for high-quality equipment, discusses their existing customers, investment in advanced substrates, and smaller board shops.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Integrating Automation into the North American PCB Market
04/18/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPODan Beaulieu introduces James Chien from SAA Symtek Automation Asia and Jason Perry from Technica, who are bringing automation to the North American PCB market. They discuss their expertise in automation, equipment sets, and growing opportunities. The focus is on integrating automation into existing shops, considering hardware, software, and flexibility. They also discuss the challenges of modernizing domestic shops and the potential of expanding automation to other markets.
Catching Up With Industry M&A Expert Tom Kastner of GP Ventures
02/21/2024 | Dan Beaulieu, D.B. Management GroupEvery year or so, I like to chat with my friend, M&A expert Tom Kastner of GP Ventures. I know he has been busy the past few years, so I was anxious to find out more about it. He is the one person I know who really has his finger on the pulse of the industry. Tom has always been a great source of information for me and the industry as a whole.
Punching Out: 2023 PCB and EMS M&A Review
01/09/2024 | Tom Kastner -- Column: Punching Out!M&A picked up for both the PCB and EMS sectors in North America in 2023, despite a challenging overall M&A market. Higher interest rates, concerns over the economy, and global crises caused global M&A activity to fall in 2023. However, the technology/electronics sectors fared better than others.