Impact on the PCB prices during the pandemic
As the world adjusts to the effects of the global pandemic, there are at least some things that can be relied on to remain constant.
The Chinese economy having struggled at the start of the pandemic, has recovered strongly, with Chinese manufacturing activity having increased for the 9th straight month according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Production for Chinese domestic PCBs currently exceeds export orders in many factories and coupled with price increases on raw materials in excess of 35% in some cases, PCB manufacturers are now willing to pass these increased costs to customers, which they were loath to do during the early phases of the pandemic.
As export orders start to pick up available capacity continues to reduce putting further pressure on material supply chains, allowing raw material producers to charge further premiums.
Gold remains a universal hedge to global economic uncertainty, with the precious metal rampaging to a historic high, a performance that has doubled the cost of the metal over the last 5 years.
The cost of PCB technology is not immune, with ENIG surface finishing costs having increased across all technologies, the impact of these increases being felt more across lower layer count products as the % of the increase is inversely proportionate to the number of layers.
The rebound speed of the Chinese economy is also being felt across the globe, with the U.S Dollar declining 6% against the RMB since January 2020. PCB factories with dollar exposure from billables are having to take the foreign currency translation hit as their labour costs are paid in local currency.
With increases in raw materials likely to continue until after the Chinese New Year along with the continuing rise in globally traded commodities, the market has now reached the point where PCB output prices are increasing to a level that is not sustainable for the factories to contain.
As we head toward peak production season, the importance of analyzing your forecasts and revisiting buffer stocks to mitigate longer lead times and further future price increases, cannot be overstated, and if you need any advice on your PCB supply chain, then please let the PCB Connect Group know.
PCB Connect in Finland receive the Diamond AAA, certification that assure credit and high quality
PCB Connect OY, part of PCB Connect Group, is verified with credibility, reliability and minimum risk as a certified company.
The certificate, provided by Bisnode, assure to companies that has high quality in their processes, financial health and confirm a strong position on the market. In Finland, only 348 companies hold the Diamond AAA certification.
Marko Timonen, Managing Director at PCB Connect in Finland says “we are proud to get this great achievement! The certification shows credibility, which is a key factor in the PCB Market. PCB Connect OY will reach 13 years in November, so this became a great present to us. I like to thank all the OY team to make this possible”.
PCB Connect OY
FINLAND
+358 344 759 90
PCB Connect BV hires the experienced Bill van de Griendt as Key Account Manager.
With an extensive background in the PCB industry, Bill van de Griendt will join us as Key Account Manager for the Dutch market.
With a solid background and a great deal of knowledge, his broad experience of 10 years in the PCB industry and 25 in electronics, Bill will strengthen our position and bring to PCB Connect a strategic view of the market. His valuable expertise makes him the perfect fit for this position.
“I was warmly welcomed and it’s an amazing atmosphere with experienced people. I am very excited to see the possibilities in the market today. It’s a privilege to work in a company like PCB Connect, and I must say that I have been on the competition side and I used to hear positive things from the customers”, says Bill.
Even if the future is hard to predict due the pandemic, Bill believes that “we are in a good position involved with medical applications. PCB Connect plays an important role during this crisis. I have absolutely sure that with our quality and fine logistics combined, we are a good player.”
John Kuitert, Managing Director at PCB Connect BV, says “I am very happy to welcome Bill to the team. He brings a lot of experience, a valuable network and detailed product/market knowledge, but also a lot of energy and enthusiasm – he is very well-known in the business. Together with Iris and Sjoerd, that joined us last month, Bill will strengthen our Benelux team. I’m confident that this will result in superior customer value.”
PCB Connect BV was founded in 2010 and recently celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary of supplying PCB’s to the Dutch market.
About PCB Connect Group
PCB Connect was founded 2004 in Sweden. Since then, PCB Connect has organically expanded and has become one of the leading suppliers of Printed Circuit Boards. PCB Connect is since 2010 organized as a corporate group, PCB Connect Holding AB and 11 other companies spread over 17 different countries as a Printed Circuit Board manufacturer.
PCB Connect in The Netherlands nominated to the Dutch Industrial Suppliers & Customer Awards 2020
PCB Connect BV, part of the PCB Connect Group in The Netherlands, was nominated for the Dutch Industrial Suppliers & Customer Awards 2020 for the Best Process & Parts Supplier category.
According to the Link Magazine, "The prize for Best Process & Parts Supplier is a new award, specially set up for suppliers who, in the often difficult circumstances of the past period, managed to deliver on time, at the agreed price. They are able to perform - despite corona, despite the trade war and despite the increase in transport costs - by holding very provisional intermediate stocks, by having suppliers on several continents, by being very well informed about customs regulations and by IT systems with which they can monitor goods flows."
"This is the recognition of our efforts and great work that PCB Connect BV has done over the years and, especially, in the year of 2020 during the pandemic. Our teams managed the situation exceptionally well and I am prod to be nominated for this award by our satisfied customers as result", says John Kuitert, Managing Director of PCB Connect BV.
Last News:
• PCB Connect expands in Benelux market by adding new faces and energy to the customer support team
• Chinese Mid-Autumn and National Day, 1st – 7th October
PCB Connect UK expands its team to support its recent growth
PCB Connect expands its U.K based team to support its recent growth and continued growth aspirations as PCB supplier in UK.
Having been active in the United Kingdom market since February 2020, PCB Connect Limited, the U.K based division of the PCB Connect Group, has recruited additional engineering resources supporting its growth.
Since we entered into the U.K market earlier this year, it has been gratifying to see how new and existing customers have embraced PCB Connect, and we are rapidly becoming one of the most competitive PCB suppliers in the United Kingdom, with a will do mentality that our customers have enjoyed commented Robert Keyser, Sales Director for PCB Connect UK.
“To support our growth aspirations, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Burns, as an Internal Sales Engineer who will support several of our fast-growing customers".
Adam joins us from a global EMS organization and has shown the aptitude and talent to thrive in a fast-paced organization, which will serve him well as we continue our objective of bringing new choice and increased value to customers across the U.K electronics industry.
Adam Burns commented “I am delighted to join PCB Connect who have quickly established themselves as one of the premier PCB companies in the U.K, the fast-paced, will do nature of the business is the perfect environment for me to take the next step in my career, I look forward to continuing our mission in bringing a fresh approach to delivering our customers PCB needs".
Justin Olejnik, Managing Director for PCB Connect in UK, said “In Adam, we have found someone who embodies the spirit of the PCB Connect Group, who thrives in a dynamic and innovative environment. In the last 6 months, we have proven to be arguably the most competitive PCB provider in the U.K and a company who is focused on bringing a fresh and welcome new approach to our customers”. Adam is the first of several key appointments we intend to make over the next year as we continue building our position towards becoming the number one choice in the U.K PCB market.
Chinese Mid-Autumn and National Day, 1st - 7th October
PCB Connect would like to inform you about the Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 in China and the impact the factories closing time might have on your orders to PCB Connect.
Factories in China will be closed from approximately Oct 1st to Oct 7th.
Note that no orders will be produced or delivered from Chinese factories during this period, and the production will be affected both before and after The Mid-Autumn Festival.
PCB Connect will of course be able to send PCBs from our local warehouses.
Please make sure that your orders are placed well in time to meet your needs and your urgent orders will be prioritized.
Do not hesitate to contact your local PCB Connect office for further information about lead time and recommendations for your order planning.
PCB Connect Group
PCB Connect expands in Benelux market by adding new faces and energy to the customer support team
PCB Connect BV, part of the PCB Connect Group, expands in the Benelux hiring two new customers support specialists: Iris van Doren and Sjoerd Veenstra.
“2020 marks the 10 years anniversary of the PCB Connect Dutch branch office in Eindhoven. The PCB market in the Benelux is growing and we grasp the opportunity to grow with it. By adding Iris and Sjoerd to our experienced team, we make sure that all our customers will be well supported. Iris and Sjoerd further improve our Commercial and Communication skills”, said John Kuitert, Managing Director at PCB Connect BV.
“This week I started at PCB connect in Eindhoven, I was very warmly welcomed by the team. It is with great pleasure that I will develop myself further into a professional in the customer support function”, said Iris, whose focus is on Customer Support to provide the best possible service to Dutch customers. She brings experience in intense customer orientation. “I will ensure that the customer's needs and wishes are properly satisfied”
Sjoerd has a commercial background in the Automotive industry as Sales Advisor and also has communication skills. “I am a strategical thinker in a distinctive and innovative way. I expect to be of value for long term 
business relationships and to be a successful factor for ensuring customers satisfaction.” Sjoerd said that he is “very excited to start working in an energetic B2B work field with a team of experienced professionals.”
John Kuitert says that “We see it as very positive that we have been able to strengthen the team. However we expect further expansions and more great news for the PCB market in the near future !”
PCB Connect is recertified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 in 2020
The PCB Connect Group is pleased to announce that it has been recertified across its business operations to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 with zero non-conformities.
Wim Op’t Veld, Quality Manager for the PCB Connect Group commented, “ It is testament to the hard work and commitment that the whole organization has to pursue the ideals of quality first, process optimization, and delivering consistent customer service, that has made this recertification with zero non-conformities possible”
ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 allows us to maintain consistency across our businesses globally, bringing agility in our ability to bring our customers new product development to fruition and as a consequence increase customer satisfaction. Whilst we were pleased to pass with zero non-conformities the audit provides a method for further refining the organization's culture, allowing the business to grow while maintaining the quality of product and service that our customers know us for.
“This year's audit was truly a global team effort across the PCB Connect Group. We were able to count on the organization's planning and capability of our teams, which always persist in the search for solutions”, says Wim.
“On the behalf of the PCB connect group I would like to thank everyone across the group organization for their support in making this recertification process one of the easiest I have been involved in”
PCB Connect holds a multisite certificate for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and was initially approved in 2008.
