PCB industry can be divided into three categories: rigid printed circuit boards, flexible printed circuit boards and the carrier board. Flexible printed circuit boards and carrier board is a new industry, the early stages of only rigid PCB in history. Despite the rapid growth in recent years and the flexible printed circuit board substrate, rigid PCB industry still accounted for 50% of the total. There are many rigid PCB suppliers have gained better than a flexible printed circuit board and substrate less profit margins. PCB industry is fairly mature, the growth rate generally does not exceed 6%. Rigid PCB manufacturers output has declined for a long time, in 2012 smartphones and tablet PC market showing a man staggering time of rapid growth, rigid printed circuit board suppliers are experiencing a very difficult period. Rigid PCB manufacturers into a fierce price war, resulting in decreased profits and revenues. Meanwhile, a large PCB companies believe that traditional rigid printed circuit boards do not have enough growth potential, so they began to turn their attention to flexible printed circuit boards and substrates. In 2013, almost all outside the rigid PCB manufacturers in mainland China are profitable, the profit margin in 2014 also increased significantly. In the future, large printed circuit board suppliers will focus on the flexible printed circuit board and substrate, rigid PCB for the status quo. The major manufacturers have welcomed the extension of the substrate Xing, SEMCO, LG Innotek, AT & S, Dade, Shennan Circuits, SIMM TECH. Moreover, some companies such as Zhen Ding technology, Young Pong and Dade GDS steering FPCB fields. Only Ibiden will continue to develop rigid PCB's. In addition, some large manufacturers directly into the EMS field, such as Tripod Technology and Hann Star Board, which two are the largest laptop supplier of printed circuit boards. This makes the future of traditional rigid printed circuit board supply and demand become more balanced, high-end arbitrary layer and HDI will significantly short supply. In 2014, to accelerate the recovery of rigid PCB industry also has another reason - Japanese printed circuit board business recession. In November 2013, Panasonic announced that it will significantly reduce the PCB production capacity in the world, to the first quarter of 2015, 90% of global production capacity by shutting down. In 2013, PCB Panasonic's business income, mainly related to the development of ALIVH (any layer interstitial via hole) smart phone applications, approximately $ 310 million. In March 2013, Matsushita reported has reduced its printed circuit board production capacity in Taiwan and Vietnam. In mid-March 2012, the company in Taoyuan County, Dayuan Township set up a factory, a move to compete for HTC orders. However, in 2013, HTC's shipments dropped sharply, leading to decline in capacity utilization, so decided to exit the market. Nevertheless, Japan's auto sheet suppliers CMK have followed suit, and in January 2014 announced that it would close its plant in Yamanashi SANKO4 PCB March 30, 2014 at the same time, will suspend production of the phone's multi-layer printed circuit board ALIVH products . Currently, it is Austria's AT & S is used alone ALIVH technology. Japanese printed circuit board also shows trends in mergers and acquisitions, in August 2013 NEC-TOPPAN acquisition of Kyocera. Fujitsu is also very likely to sell its PCB business. Daisho Denshi possible merger with Hitachi Chemical's PCB business.