Part 4 of 4
FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS
Flexible interconnects, or "Flex" provide support and connectivity between electronic components and help enable
miniaturization of electronic devices through the use of a pliable substrate. Typically the base material of these flexible substrates is a
thin laminate of foil with a copper cladding to one or both sides. The pliable, or flexible nature of the substrate allows it to
conform to sharp packaging contours, due to its bending characteristics (flex), and has become the primary driver of continued
reductions in size of electronic products. Flex enables the board to take advantage of space limitations and is commonly used in
peripherals, lap-top computers and cellular phones. As a result, flex technology has benefited from the ever-increasing demand for
smaller, lighter and better performing electronic products.
The role of flex has continued to expand with the proliferation of cellular phones, lap-top computers and storage devices. With the continuing need for smaller, lighter product and portability becoming more and more important, flex will continue to show the fastest growth within the PCB universe of product offerings.
FLEX MARKET
It is estimated that the worldwide market for flexible circuits grew at a compound annual rate of 14% per year from 1990 to
1995 and reached approximately $2.4 billion. We expect demand to continue to outpace the growth of the rigid board market,
expanding at mid-teen rates. Domestic production of flexible circuits (flex) has risen from $221 million in 1981 to close to $680
million in 1996. Flex has an important role in computer disk drives, CD-rom, printer cables and print heads and notebook computers.
As a result, the computer industry is the largest purchaser of flex produced in the U.S., representing 40%+ of the total U.S.
market and 35% of worldwide sales. |
