KTP with Stevenage Circuits Ltd

Project objectives

The aim of the project is to improve the manufacturing capability to meet the future requirements of the electronics industry particularly for miniaturisation and high reliability for military grade High Density Interconnects (HDI) and Printed Circuit Board (PCBs). With the inexorable increase in packaging densities the device footprints reduce to a point where the current PCB fabrication and assembly technologies will struggle to meet the future demands of the industry. The objective of this project is to develop surface modification techniques, materials adhesion and electroplating processes that meet the needs for the manufacturing of miniaturised electronic devices with only minor modifications to the existing process methodology - thus extending the capabilities and life of the existing infrastructure. 

Research impact

The World PCB market was estimated to be worth $52 billion in 2010. UK PCB production was €200 million for the same period whilst the European PCB industry is producing around €2.0 billion worth of PCBs per annum

Most high value PCBs requires extreme reliability and miniaturisation of design. The PCB manufacturing process developed during the KTP will allow increased agility to meet the requirements of component miniaturisation in high value manufacturing industries such as aerospace and automotive that needs lightweight devices to enhance fuel economy and range. In addition, the medical industry requires smaller, lighter parts with increased functionality.

Further benefits of the new process are:

• Lighter, smaller and denser designs
• Enabling technology for further miniaturisation
• High reliability Inter-laminar via structures
• Thermal management techniques
• Optical transmission lines and components
• Miniaturisation and higher density of designs
• Buried and or planar components

The increase in sales, market and product range will enable Stevenage to safeguard existing staff and remain a significant employer in the region and, depending on the customer interest, could increase employment within 2 years from the end of the project.

The new process will also reduce water, energy and material usage whilst enabling a significant lowering of the amount of hazardous chemistry consumed.