Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Branding, Partnerships Could ‘Tilt’ SMT Landscape

NEW YORK -- Companies that concentrate on process change, global branding and strategic relationships have the potential to shake up the competitive SMT landscape while transitioning to lead-free manufacturing. So said Frost and Sullivan analyst Keith Sullivan during a recent Webcast on the impact of RoHS on the SMT market.

Sullivan claims companies can “help tilt the competitive landscape” by leveraging potential Pb-free market opportunities for existing products, including value-added services, back-end semiconductor markets and expanding to China. For new products, Sullivan suggests looking to potential software developments and diversification. Other trends that may affect the industry include new entrants (think: China) to the market, companies that focus on new technology and process change, and the growth of strategic relationships between inspection equipment suppliers and soldering equipment manufacturers, as well as equipment manufacturers working closely with component manufacturers.

Global suppliers, aware of new trends and new products, will have an advantage if they use the Pb-free knowledge and brand equity they gain from Europe and Japan to open opportunities in other areas. Sullivan cautions that tech followers who remain idle will likely lose share.