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Interview: CPCA President Wang Long Ji
March 14, 2007 |Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Anna Zhang Qin, editor of PCB007 in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />China, had the honor of interviewing Mr. Wang Long Ji, president of the China Printed Circuit Association (CPCA), along with PCB007's partner PCBchinanet.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Q: We have seen some forecasts and reports suggesting that China may have a serious problem with overcapacity. What are you thoughts on this?
A: Obviously, China's PCB companies are really developing very fast, continuously. Maybe some data or reports show that China will face a serious situation of overcapacity. But, in my personal opinion, most PCB companies in China don't have this kind of situation right now; even in the coming five years they will not be worried about it, because China's PCB companies are still in their early stage. We can only say that we are a "big" PCB manufacturing country but not a "strong" one. I am sorry to say that there is still a big gap between world-leading technologies and ours in China, such as embedded passive PCBs and ink-jet printed circuits. In addition, China is particularly lacking specialists in researching the world's top technologies. Compared with PCB manufacturers from the USA, Japan, Korea and Europe, Chinese PCB companies still have a long way to go in producing multilayer HDI boards or multilayer flexible boards, rigid-flex boards, and special-material PCBs as well. At present, flexible PCBs occupy 15% of the global PCB market, while manufacturing of HDI in the US is tending to a mature phase: 60% of it is multilayer, flexible HDI PCBs.
Q: Tell us about your work with the IPC.
A: I am very happy to say that we have a very good relationship with the IPC right now. In our eyes, the IPC is always the "big brother" in the worldwide PCB industry. That's why we gave up the chance to spend the traditional Chinese Spring festival with our families and came to the USA to spend a nice time sharing the pride of IPC's 50 years of accomplishment. IPC's Standards in the PCB industry; their good attitude toward their members; their new notions in their management--all of these made a very deep impression on us. We think we have learned lots from the IPC. But, I have to admit that we had many misunderstandings because of our different cultures at the very beginning. I am sure we will maintain our good relationship and will have more chances to cooperate in the future.
Q: What is the manufacturing situation in the Shanghai area?
A: Actually, we call Shanghai the "Greater Shanghai area." The Yangtze River Delta will have better prospects than the "Zhujian Delta" in the near future because the Chinese government recently approved "the Guidelines for the Yangtze River Delta Regional Plan"; this may be released next year and prepare this region for becoming the strongest economic center in China: "one core with six zones," with Shanghai to play the central role in the developing, optimizing and promoting of the zones along the sea, river and the Hangzhou Bay, to bring up the Ning-Hu-Hang (Nanjing, Huzhou and Hangzhou) developing zone and lead progress in the ecosystem service zone around Lake Taihu, one of the largest freshwater lakes in China. That's why more and more PCB companies in China are setting up their new and bigger facilities in the Shanghai area. And, PCB companies in the Shanghai area constitute 40% of the 1000 PCB companies in East China. Most of them are brand-new and high-quality PCB manufacturers.
Q: What are some emerging manufacturing areas in Northern China?
A: Let's be honest: For many historical reasons, Northern China is a bit backward compared with Southern China and the east of China. But, fortunately, the Chinese government has realized the imbalance in China. So, the Chinese government has provided many new, special policies for Northern China.
Specifically, there are more than 55 PCB manufacturers in Northern China, while the cities of Tianjin and Dalian are becoming leading areas containing many large, famous PCB shops.
On the other hand, the Hong Hai group has decided to invest $100 million in Weihai, a city of ShandongProvince, to set up one of the biggest PCB industrial parks for everything from PCB R&D and PCB design to manufacturing. It is very inspiring news, isn't it?
Q: What are the CPCA's goals in 2007? What would you like to accomplish?
A: 1. Led by the CPCA, the combined development of new technology, products, equipment and techniques from companies and research and academic institutes will promote technology effectively in the Chinese PCB industry.
2. The CPCA will cooperate closely with the IPC, JPCA and WECC and frame several proper and applicable standards that will have been recognized internationally.
3. We will have better communication with the Chinese government so we can get better policies to provide better service to CPCA members.
4. We have an ambition to set up a university to train students ourselves to serve China's PCB field so that the PCB and CCL industries in China will resemble the IT industry, becoming a world-leading industry and the world center for both R&D and manufacturing.
Before Mr. Wang Long Ji concluded, he emphasized the coming 16th CPCA Show which will be held for the first time at Shanghai's PudongNewInternationalExpoCenter from March 21-23 together with three other electronics shows: Electronica & Productronica China; SEMICON China; and Laser World of Photonics China. These four premier events will occupy seven large exhibition halls with over 2,000 combined exhibitors; the show anticipates some 70,000 visitors. (Visitors at the 2006 CPCA Show numbered more than 30,000.) The 16th annual CPCA Show is expected to be one of the biggest events in the history of electronics shows in China.
He also expressed his great appreciation to PCB007 for bringing up the good idea of Real-Time With...CPCA 2007. He said, too, that he is confident that China's PCB industry will have a bigger future. He also told PCB007 that Shanghai's government has already agreed to hold the International Information Expo beginning next year. The government has also decided to give money to enlarge the Pudong New international ExpoCenter from seven halls to 11. The next CPCA Show, the organization's president said, will have three big exhibition halls holding six shows. That should be quite a sight to see.