Most Taiwan-based flexible PCB (FPCB) makers, including Career Technology, Ichia Technologies and Taiflex Scientific, are optimistic about the outlook for the FPCB industry in 2010, saying Apple's iPad tablet PCs and other portable touch screen devices will help drive up demand.
The makers all estimated that the FPCB sector in Asia will likely see 10-15% growth in 2010, driven by wider adoption in smartphone, e-book reader and ultra-thin PC applications.
A smartphone uses 5-7 FPCBs, and a high-end one needs 10-15 pieces. There ia also potential demand for e-book readers, as each device would require 16 FPCBs, the makers commented.
Career said it is seeing orders for smartphones and digital cameras outperform other applications. Smartphone-use FPCBs will remain Career's main growth driver in 2010, the company noted, adding that it also looks to develop new customers from the e-book reader and other touch panel sectors.
Ichia saw sales from FPCBs outpace those from handset keypads for the first time in 2009, according to the company. January revenues generated from its FPCB business were NT$323 million, compared to NT$213 million from handset keypad.
Market watchers commented that Ichia is supplying both keypads and FPCBs to its major handset customers, who are in the process of streamlining their supply chain. Ichia declined to comment on customer status.
Taiflex revealed that orders for touchscreen applications increased substantially in December 2009. It expects the segment to bring in a significant contribution to its 2010 revenues.
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