Introduction

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are an essential component of electronics, providing the foundation on which components are assembled to realize functional devices and products. But who actually manufactures these critical circuit boards that enable today’s digital world?

This guide examines the major companies engaged in PCB fabrication worldwide. We’ll cover leading manufacturers by revenue, key vendors by region, notable companies for prototype vs production, and providers focused on high-end technologies.

By the end, you’ll have an overview of the companies driving PCB manufacturing spanning large diversified conglomerates, major Asia-based producers, and specialized fabricators serving niche applications. This industry snapshot illustrates the ecosystem delivering the boards powering consumer gadgets, telecom infrastructure, automotive electronics, industrial equipment, and nearly every modern electrical system.

Understanding this landscape helps identify the optimal PCB manufacturing partners to meet your specific design and volume needs.

Top 10 PCB Manufacturers by Revenue

The PCB manufacturing market currently generates over $60 billion in annual revenues. Here are the 10 largest global PCB manufacturers based on total revenue:

1. Ibiden – Japan

2019 revenue: $5.3 billion

Products: Rigid and flex PCBs for consumer, industrial, communications

2. Tripod Technology – Taiwan

2019 revenue: $3.9 billion

Products: High complexity boards for servers, networking, automotive

3. Nippon Mektron – Japan

2019 revenue: $3.7 billion

Products: High frequency, high speed, flex and rigid-flex PCBs

4. Zhen Ding Tech – Taiwan

2019 revenue: $3.1 billion

Products: Advanced PCB and flexible circuit boards

5. Unimicron – Taiwan

2019 revenue: $2.7 billion

Products: High density interconnect, IC substrates, flex circuits

6. YoungPoong – Korea

2019 revenue: $2.5 billion

Products: Consumer electronics boards and IC substrates

7. Daeduck Electronics – Korea

2019 revenue: $1.8 billion

Products: High complexity PCBs across industries

8. TTM Technologies – USA

2019 revenue: $1.7 billion

Products: Prototype and quick-turn boards

9. Compeq Manufacturing – Taiwan

2019 revenue: $1.4 billion

Products: Computer, communications, and consumer PCBs

10. HannStar Board Corp – Taiwan

2019 revenue: $1.2 billion

Products: Rigid, flexible, and rigid-flex boards

This list captures the industry giants churning out PCBs on a massive scale. But dozens of smaller companies also contribute significantly to total worldwide PCB output.

Notable PCB Manufacturers by Region

In addition to the top revenue producers, here are some other notable PCB fabricators by major geographic region:

North America

• TTM Technologies
• Sanmina Corporation
• PCB Piezotronics
• Epec
• Rockwell Automation

Asia

• AT&S (Austria)
• CMK (Japan)
• Shinko Electric (Japan)
• Nagase Electronics (Japan)
• Gold Circuit Electronics (China)
• Wuzhu Technology (China)

Europe

• AT&S (Austria)
• ekk Eagle (Germany)
• Eurocircuits (Belgium)
• Gatema (Austria)
• Mento (Portugal)

This highlights leading vendors across the three largest PCB manufacturing hubs of North America, Asia, and Europe.

PCB Manufacturers for Prototypes vs Production

Two distinct PCB manufacturing models exist:

Prototyping – Short runs for design testing and evaluation

Volume Production – Ongoing fabrication for commercialization

Different companies focus on either prototype or production services:

Prototype Services

• Advanced Circuits
• ALLPCB
• JLCPCB
• OSH Park
• Seeed Studio

Volume Production

• Ibiden
• Tripod
• TTM
• Sanmina
• Compeq

Understanding manufacturers’ sweet spots helps match specific needs whether iterating designs or ramping to full scale manufacturing.

PCB Manufacturers Specializing in Advanced Technologies

For more sophisticated PCB fabrication capabilities, niche providers specialize in advanced technologies:

Flex/Rigid Flex

• Even Circuits
• Epec
• All Flex

Metal Core Boards

• Curamik Electronics
• Thermaltake

Ceramic Boards

• Marshall Electronics
• Remtec

High Frequency/Microwave

• Arlon EMD
• Taconic

Automotive

• TTM Technologies
• Viasystems

These offer processes and expertise tailored to demanding applications that cannot be served by generalist board shops. Identifying specialty partners is key for leading edge products.

Onshore vs Offshore PCB Manufacturing

Two distinct manufacturing models exist:

Onshore – Within the same country as the design firm

Offshore – Outsourced to other countries, usually overseas

Each approach has tradeoffs:

Onshore PCB Manufacturing	Offshore PCB Manufacturing
⦁ Faster shipping/response	⦁ Lower labor costs
⦁ Easier communication	⦁ Large production capacity
⦁ Tighter QC and control	⦁ Longer lead times
⦁ ITAR/IP security	⦁ Time zone challenges

Weighing key factors like cost, responsiveness, protection of IP, and control determines the ideal manufacturing partner location.

Conclusion

This overview of major PCB manufacturers across segments illustrates the breadth of the fabrication ecosystem powering modern electronics.

Key takeaways:

• Massive conglomerates dominate revenues along with Taiwan specialists
• Niche players provide advanced manufacturing capabilities
• Onshore vs offshore manufacturing provide cost-speed tradeoffs
• Prototyping vs production require different vendors

With insight into the landscape, you can identify the ideal manufacturing partners tailored to your specific prototyping and production needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the top 5 PCB manufacturers?

The top 5 PCB manufacturers worldwide by annual revenues are:

1. Ibiden (Japan)
2. Tripod Technology (Taiwan)
3. Nippon Mektron (Japan)
4. Zhen Ding Technology (Taiwan)
5. Unimicron (Taiwan)

Who makes PCBs for Apple?

Apple sources PCB manufacturing for iPhones and other products from multiple vendors including Ibiden, Unimicron, Zhen Ding Technology, and AT&S. Different suppliers are selected based on technical capabilities and production capacity.

Where are most PCBs manufactured?

The majority of PCB production is concentrated in Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and China. Taiwan-based manufacturers particularly are leading in more advanced PCB technologies.

Who is the best PCB manufacturer?

The “best” PCB manufacturer depends on the specific needs in terms of complexity, lead times, volumes, and capabilities. Top fabricators like Ibiden and Tripod are leaders in theirsegments but many smaller companies offer strong quality and service.

How much does it cost to manufacture PCBs?

PCB fabrication pricing depends heavily on complexity factors like layer count, tolerances, materials, and batch sizes. As a rough estimate, simpler 2-4 layer boards can range from $200-$500 for prototyping in small volumes, and $20-$50 for higher production runs. More complex PCBs with high layer counts can cost thousands.