FlexiFlexible Print Circuits (FPC), TAB, Flexible Copper-Clad Laminate (FCCL), Insulator Films, and Copper Foils (Sheets)

Manufacturers

I   Current Status and Future Outlook of Flexible Copper-Clad Laminate (FCCL) and Related Markets

1. Flexible Print Circuit (FPC) Market Trends
2. TAB Market Trends
3. FCCL Market Trends
4. Current Status and Future Outlook of Flexible Copper-Clad Laminate (FCCL) and Related Markets

• The market players should escape from price competition
• The market players should find out some kind of mechanism that can be selected not only from prices
• User needs should be accuratedly grasped.  It is important to generate growth market with users involved.
• Manufacturers themselves should develop the application of what they create, which should lead to sustainable growth of FCCL

II   Flexible Print Circuit (FPC) Market Trends

1. FPC Market

• Because FPC having been adopted for OLED displays for iPhones, FY2017 may be the year for South Korea makers to have more business chances
• FPC for Automobiles is on the rise, as it is the next driver of FPC, succeeding the smartphone demands
• The business size of Chinese FPC makers is expanding and brisk by means of merger and business integration
• With larger demand of single-sided FPCs for automobile application, it is possible for the market to expand once again
• Multi-layer FPC have been suggested to respond to the smartphone needs now that they are higher in functions and performances
• Users who introduced ORIGAMI FPC for smartphones are on the rise
• As one of new growing applications, attention to wearable devices has been improving
• Japanese, South Korean and Taiwanese FPC makers are developing MASP and refined FPC, in additio to semi-additve method
• Chinese FPC makers are pursuing refinement of wiring using subtractive method

2. TAB Market (TCP/COF)

• COF (Chip On Film) market kept on growing in FY2012 and beyond, but the market in FY2015 shrank to 3,660 million units.
• The market is likely to recover in FY2016 to the level of FY2012
• TAB market has been dominated by Korean makers, LGI and STEMCO, accounting for 74.6% altogether.
• COF market has expanded by the needs of 4K TVs to be higher quality in images and larger in size
• 2 metal COF has been introduced to Flexible-OLED-installed smartphones
• COF needs new applications to generated, like for OLED-TV, smartphones mounted with flexible OLED, and etc.
• Volume zones of COF Circuit Pitches are likely to be 23μm and 25μm.
• 20μm-circuit pitches by means of semi-additive method have been adopted for COF

III   Perspectives and Strategies of Flexible Print Circuit (FPC) Manufacturers

14 Manufacturers_