Combinational test solutions lead the way for PCB ATE
18 February 2009
News
Information from Frost & Sullivan
Printed circuit board (PCB) automatic test equipment (ATE) has evolved considerably in recent years. It now spans a wide range of test and inspection strategies aimed at enhancing the assembly process, improving product quality and cutting manufacturing costs. While there are a wide range of test options, combination testers have proved themselves to be the ideal option in terms of both productivity and cost effectiveness.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan has found that the worldwide market for printed circuit board automatic test equipment earned revenues of over $1,16 billion in 2007 and estimates this to reach $1,85 billion in 2014.
“In today’s electronic industry, it is imperative to have sufficient test coverage to reduce time-to-market and improve manufacturing yields,” says Frost & Sullivan research analyst, Sujan Sami. “Cost-effective and efficient test solutions will be the key, and the right combinational testers should play a major role.”
As PCB circuits become highly intricate with the use of high-density parts and multilayer PCBs, testing and defect finding is becoming increasingly complex. Though each of the testing options has its own unique capabilities, combination testers have proved to be the most versatile. Manufacturers are faced with the task of determining the most suitable combination of methods to meet specific applications in order to optimise yields.
“The need for more sophisticated products, especially in the extremely demanding automotive and medical industries, drives the need for better quality test equipment,” notes Sami. “The modular functionality of integrating various types of test equipment should surpass the need for individual hardware and software testing.”
One-stop solutions that offer a combination of functional testing and boundary scan testing are seeing widespread adoption. Though combinational testers are expensive compared to individual tester options, their effective usability provides adequate compensation by reducing the overall testing cost of the PCB.
For more information contact Patrick Cairns, Frost & Sullivan, +27 (0)21 680 3274, patrick.cairns@frost.com, www.frost.com
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