About Sumitomo Electric's FPCs
Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits, including its predecessor, began manufacturing FPCs at the Osaka Works of Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. in 1969 and has been researching, developing, and producing FPCs for over 50 years. Our FPCs have three main features.
- The first is our proprietary material development technology. For example, while material development manufacturers and FPC manufacturers are generally separate entities, we work in collaboration with Sumitomo Electric's R&D Group to develop and manufacture materials themselves and advance the development of our own high-performance FPCs.
- The second is the synergy effects of the Sumitomo Electric Group. Sumitomo Electric and its group companies have a long history and accumulated experience in a wide range of businesses. By collaborating with these Sumitomo Electric Group companies, we develop and produce highly functional, high-performance FPCs.
- The third is our global support system. With our sales and manufacturing sites around the world, we are able to support our customers globally.
Our own material development technology
Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits works in collaboration with the R&D Group of Sumitomo Electric on a daily basis to research and develop new materials.
Generally, material manufacturers and FPC manufacturers are separate entities, but in order to develop cutting-edge technologies and products, it is often necessary not only to develop the technology for manufacturing flexible printed circuits (FPCs) but also to go upstream to the materials themselves and take on the challenge of creating new materials. This material development is not carried out by Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits alone but by the combined strength of Sumitomo Electric and the Sumitomo Electric Group, successfully leading to mass production. This is a strength and unique feature of Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits' FPC business.
Generally, material manufacturers and FPC manufacturers are separate entities, but in order to develop cutting-edge technologies and products, it is often necessary not only to develop the technology for manufacturing flexible printed circuits (FPCs) but also to go upstream to the materials themselves and take on the challenge of creating new materials. This material development is not carried out by Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits alone but by the combined strength of Sumitomo Electric and the Sumitomo Electric Group, successfully leading to mass production. This is a strength and unique feature of Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits' FPC business.
(This illustration is just an example.)
Synergy effects of the Sumitomo Electric Group
At Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits, we propose and provide FPC products to customers not only with our own technical and development capabilities but also with the comprehensive strength of the Sumitomo Electric Group.
Sumitomo Electric is involved in a very wide range of business fields, including automotive, info-communications, electronics, environment and energy, and industrial materials. Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits values collaboration with each of these departments. For example, it collaborates on product development with other business groups (e.g. working with the automotive business on automotive FPCs) and develops products that combine FPCs with wiring materials such as electronic wires.
It also works with the R&D Group to develop and evaluate a variety of materials and technologies.
In this way, Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits works in cooperation with each division of the Sumitomo Electric Group to offer better products to customers based on its overall strength.
Sumitomo Electric is involved in a very wide range of business fields, including automotive, info-communications, electronics, environment and energy, and industrial materials. Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits values collaboration with each of these departments. For example, it collaborates on product development with other business groups (e.g. working with the automotive business on automotive FPCs) and develops products that combine FPCs with wiring materials such as electronic wires.
It also works with the R&D Group to develop and evaluate a variety of materials and technologies.
In this way, Sumitomo Electric Printed Circuits works in cooperation with each division of the Sumitomo Electric Group to offer better products to customers based on its overall strength.
(An example of collaboration with R&D Group)
Global support system
We have manufacturing and sales (including technical support) sites around the world, allowing us to meet the global needs of our customers.
How to choose wiring materials that take advantage of the features of FPCs
Sumitomo Electric offers a wide range of high-speed wiring solutions, from metal to optical. Below are some tips on how to differentiate and select metal solutions. You can select the optimal wiring material under various conditions, such as transmission speed/frequency, number of wires, length, thickness, component mounting, and so on. FPCs in particular combine the characteristics of both wiring materials and printed circuit boards and are expected to offer significant benefits in terms of thinness, light weight, great freedom in wiring and shape, and component mounting.
Inquiry on our products
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