Shipments of flexible PCBs by Taiwan makers are expected to account for 25% of Apple's total purchases of FPCBs in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to 15-20% previously, since Japan-based Fujikura, one of the major FPCB suppliers to Apple, has not yet completely restored its production capacity in Thailand, according to industry sources.
Fujikura, NOK and Sumitomo are currently the top-three suppliers of FPCBs to Apple, accounting for over 50% of all FPCBs used in Apple's products, the sources indicated.
Fujikura's FPCB production lines in Thailand were completed destroyed by the floods in October 2011. About 70% of the production capacity will be restored by September and the rest by March 2013, revealed the sources.
Taiwan-based makers including Zhen Ding Technology Holding, Career Technology and Flexium Interconnect will benefit from the slow restoration process at Fujikura, commented the sources.
Article translated by Steve Shen