EISO, the PCB factory, participated in the Satellite 2024 Conference & Exhibition held in Washington DC, USA for the first time, marking the company's entry into Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite applications. This shows EISO's shift of focus to a high-end application of PCB technology, aside from their continuing efforts on domestic and international markets for electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes).
In the first half of 2024, the PCB industry highlights much on LEOS. PCB manufacturers currently producing LEOS products include COMPEQ, Elite Material Co., GCE, Unitech, Chin-Poon, Shen Mao, and Co-tech.
Among these companies, COMPEQ, a major manufacturer of HDI boards, is deemed a promising one due to the continued growth of demand for LEOS communication, which takes up nearly 10% of the company's revenue in 2023, and the ratio would likely increase to 15% in 2024. However, insiders of the industry argue that PCB board manufacturing for satellites is a highly sophisticated technology, thus making it difficult for companies to enter the supply chain.
EISO possesses technologies in high-speed and HDI advanced processing, and the company's mastering of special board materials enables them to manufacture high-end, high-layer-count, and high-yield PCBs that meet the specifications of aerospace satellites.
By participating in Satellite 2024, EISO engaged in in-depth discussions with several well-known European and American clients to jointly develop communication products of specialized specifications that cater to the requirements of precise frequency and extreme environments.
EISO presented products at Satellite 2024 that meet the communication needs of satellites in various aerospace scenarios, including array antennas and communication modules. The applications of PCBs range from drones, ground stations, and navigator receivers to data transmission equipment of end users.
Since the development of aerospace and LEOS products involves national defense and military purposes, Euro-American countries thus set policies to restrict the supply chain of related products outside the regions of China. EISO's manufacturing plants, on the other hand, are all located in Guishan, Taoyuan, which fully meets the requirements of Euro-American clients regarding the location of production.
EISO will invest in expanding its Guishan plants to meet future high-end PCB order demands, aiming to introduce comprehensive automation systems and advanced processing equipment. They will also collaborate closely with existing clients and strategic partners to seize the multi-billion-dollar opportunities in the space satellite communication market.
Looking forward to 2024, EISO maintains a careful yet optimistic view toward the upcoming year, as the LED bicycle lights have returned to their previous shipping pace, and the company continues to devote itself to developing new products and product upgrades. In terms of the e-bikes business, the newest model for 2024 was officially launched at the Taipei International Cycle Show in March, and the company would continue to cultivate its domestic and international marketing markets.
EISO's revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was NT$230 million, a 14% decrease compared to the previous year. However, their March consolidated revenue was NT$82 million, representing a 37% increase from the previous month.
Article translated by Heidi Yin-Hsuan Tai
