Introduction
Flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) have become a vital component of modern electronics due to their many advantages. FPCBs offer flexibility, space and weight savings, improved reliability, and design freedom. With the miniaturization and portability trends in electronics, the demand for flexible PCBs has grown significantly. This has led to the emergence of many flexible PCB manufacturers worldwide who provide high-quality and innovative flexible circuits. This article looks at the top 10 global manufacturers of flexible PCBs.
Top 10 Flexible PCB Manufacturers
1. RayMing Technology
Founded in 2005, RayMing is the leading flexible PCB manufacturer in China with clients across the globe. They utilize cutting-edge facilities and technologies to produce a wide range of flexible circuits and assemblies. RayMing offers both single-sided and double-sided flex PCBs in various configurations. Their flex PCBs feature tight tolerances, high layer counts, fine lines/spaces, buried & blind vias, and controlled impedance. RayMing provides a one-stop solution for design, prototyping, volume manufacturing and assembly of flexible PCBs. They are ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certified.
2. Career Technologies
Career Technologies, established in 1999, is a major flexible PCB producer based in Taiwan. They offer an expansive range of FPCB services including rigid-flex PCBs. With advanced technologies and processes, they can manufacture high-density interconnect flex circuits on thin polyimide material. Career Technologies has been a long-time supplier of flex PCBs to leading electronics brands. They are focused on quality, delivery and technical support.
3. Flexium Interconnect
Flexium is a leading flexible PCB company headquartered in Taiwan with manufacturing plants in China. They have a monthly capacity of over 500,000 square feet of flexible PCBs. Flexium provides cost-competitive, high-quality flex circuits across industry sectors like consumer electronics, automotive, industrial etc. They offer both quick-turn prototypes and high-volume manufacturing of flex PCBs. Flexium possesses technical expertise in manufacturing complex and high-density flexible circuits.
4. MFS Technology
MFS Technology is an American flexible circuit manufacturer established in 1982. They utilize their proprietary processes to manufacture a wide variety of flex PCBs. MFS is highly experienced in producing rigid-flex PCBs with complex layer counts, dense interconnects and advanced materials. They also offer many value-added options like via plugging, 3D forming, shielding, embedded passives etc. MFS delivers over 8 million tails of flexible PCBs annually. They are ITAR registered and ISO 9001:2015 certified.
5. Flexible Circuit Technologies (FCT)
FCT is a leading flex PCB company with manufacturing locations in the United States and China. They have been providing innovative flexible circuit solutions for over 50 years. FCT offers an array of services from design, prototyping, volume manufacturing to testing of flexible PCBs. They leverage processes like laser direct imaging to produce high-density single, double and multi-layer flex circuits. FCT serves clients across sectors like medical, automotive, industrial controls etc. They are ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certified.
6. Wus Printed Circuit
Wus Printed Circuit is a major flexible PCB manufacturer from China. Founded in 2004, Wus has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with advanced technologies. Their flex PCB capabilities include multilayer rigid-flex, double-sided flexible, single-sided flexible, and flex-rigid-flex PCBs. Wus possesses expertise in high-density flex circuits as well as controlled impedance flex PCBs. They offer cost-competitive volume production along with new product introduction (NPI) services.
7. Flexium
Flexium is a Taiwan-based flexible PCB company established in 1992. They have a significant global market share in consumer electronics flex circuits. Flexium provides cost-competitive flex PCB solutions while meeting stringent quality and delivery requirements. They possess advanced design, process and manufacturing capabilities for producing fine line multilayer flex circuits. Flexium also offers specialized RF circuits, medical flex PCBs and flexible PCB bonding among other services.
8. Interflex
Interflex is a flexible printed circuits manufacturer headquartered in the United States with global operations. They specialize in producing ultra-thin flex circuits using their proprietary thin core technologies. Interflex provides rigid-flex PCBs, sculpted flex circuits and other solutions for mission-critical aerospace and defense applications. They also offer high-volume flex PCB production services. Interflex is AS9100D certified and ITAR registered.
9. Suzhou Dongshan Precision
Suzhou Dongshan Precision is a China-based flex PCB manufacturer established in 2010. They possess advanced production lines with technologies like laser direct imaging (LDI) and automated optical inspection (AOI). Suzhou Dongshan provides cost-effective and high-quality flex PCB prototyping, NPI and volume manufacturing services. They also offer specialized solutions like transparent flex circuits, flex on glass, flexible sensors etc. Their website has design guidelines to support customers.
10. ALL FLEX
All Flex is a flexible PCB solutions company founded in 1998. Headquartered in Minnesota, they have production facilities in the US and China. ALL FLEX provides a range of value-added flex PCB services like design, prototyping, fabrication, assembly, box build, and testing. They are highly experienced in manufacturing multilayer rigid-flex PCBs. ALL FLEX serves various markets including medical, industrial, instrumentation, telecom, and defense. They are ISO 13485 and 9001 certified.
Flexible PCB Manufacturing Capabilities
The top flexible PCB manufacturers possess a diverse set of production capabilities:
Rigid-flex PCBs
Rigid-flex PCBs provide both flexibility and rigidity in a single circuit board. This enables 3D assembly, improved reliability and miniaturization. Rigid-flex combine multiple layers of flexible and rigid materials using lamination and advanced interconnect technologies. They allow high component density and integration of disparate functions.
Multilayer Flex Circuits
Multilayer flexible PCBs contain two or more conductive layers laminated with flexible dielectric films like polyimide. They support greater circuit density and complexity in a compact form factor. Fine line traces, laser vias, stacked microvias, sequential lamination and other processes are used.
HDI Flexible PCBs
HDI (High Density Interconnect) flex PCBs feature very thin circuitry, fine features, microvias, tight tolerances and increased layer counts. They enable packaging of multiple high-speed signals, power/ground networks in a compact format. Flex boarders with line width/space less than 100/100 μm fall under this category.
Double Sided Flex Circuits
These contain conductive layers on both sides of the flexible dielectric substrate. Components can be assembled on both sides. This construction provides increased surface area for more interconnections.
Flex and Flex-Rigid-Flex Assemblies
Many flex PCB manufacturers offer end-to-end solutions including assembling of electronic components on the flex circuits along with enclosed housings. These provide fully tested and working modules/products to customers.
Flex Material Options
Polyimide films like DuPont’s Kapton are commonly used as base materials for flex PCB fabrication. Some other options are polyester, PEN, LCP, PET, COP, polyamide etc. Manufacturers offer various material thicknesses, adhesive types, flame retardance etc.
Benefits of Flexible PCBs
Below are some of the main benefits that flexible PCBs provide:
- Ability to take complex 3D shapes – This enables their use in small, curved and moving products where rigidity is difficult.
- Reliability in dynamic environments – Flex circuits are resistant to vibrations and thermal stresses due to lack of solder joints.
- Space and weight savings – Elimination of wiring harnesses reduces bulk. Flex PCBs provide up to 55% space savings versus traditional PCBs.
- Improved high frequency performance – Their low inductance and reduced crosstalk enable better high-speed signal transmission.
- Design freedom and creativity – Flexible form factor allows innovation in packaging and layouts.
- Easy automation of assembly – Reduces labor costs and enables reel-to-reel processing.
- Lower assembly defects – Absence of mechanical connectors minimizes assembly errors.
- Faster time to market and design changes – Simpler logistics and quicker iterations.
As electronics become more compact, portable and miniaturized, the benefits of flexible PCBs make them an increasingly crucial technology. The top flexible PCB manufacturers provide the expertise and capabilities to deliver innovative and high-performance flex circuits solutions tailored to application requirements. Their continuous advancements in flexible PCB technology and processes enable addressing the evolving needs of electronics sectors across consumer, automotive, medical, industrial and other domains.
Conclusion
Flexible PCBs offer invaluable advantages for modern electronic devices and products. They provide design flexibility, reliability, space/weight savings and improved high frequency performance. With rising adoption of flexible circuits, manufacturers worldwide have developed specialized expertise and production capacities for flex PCB fabrication and assembly. The top flexible PCB manufacturers discussed here represent the leaders when it comes to product range, advanced manufacturing capabilities, quality, volumes, and years in business. By selecting an appropriate flexible PCB partner, product teams can benefit from optimized solutions that enhance the capabilities, performance, time-to-market and competitiveness of their electronic products.
