BANNOCKBURN, Ill. 13 May 2011. One-third of printed circuit boards for U.S. military applications are manufactured outside North America, and domestic board supplies could play a larger role in supplying military technology needs by supplying larger numbers of low-tech military printed circuit boards, according to a study by market analysts at IPC Association Connecting Electronics Industries in Bannockburn, Ill.The U.S. market for military circuit boards is between $1.05 billion and $1.23 billion, IPC analysts say, making the value of military circuit boards manufactured offshore to be $350 to $373 million. From 27 and 39 percent of all circuit boards in systems sold to and used by the U.S. military are made outside North America, IPC analysts say. IPC experts used their own research, as well as that from N.T. Information and other electronics industry consultants for their analysis.Circuit board manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada supply complex, advanced-technology products to the DOD, IPC analysts say. North American circuit board products for military use have high material content, very long build cycles, and very low yields, IPC says. Domestic board suppliers could play a greater role in supplying DOD with technology if they would fulfill a greater proportion of lower-technology needs, IPC analysts say.
"The industry recommends that DOD should also source non-critical technology from North American manufacturers to support a robust and technical advanced domestic supply base," says Denny McGuirk, IPC president and chief executive officer.
IPC experts will meet with members of Congress in mid-June to discuss the importance of U.S and Canadian circuit board manufacturers for the U.S. defense industry, the complexities of conflict minerals regulations, and government over-regulation.
For more information contact IPC online at www.ipc.org/CHD.
