Shanghai March 2017 Shows

March had a plethora of very busy shows in Shanghai: They included CPCA, SEMICON China, Productronica, FPDs, electronica China, LEDs, and a laser exhibit. April will see NEPCON China in Shanghai, too. See the March Weiner's World column for more detail.

Shanghai PhiChem Material, who recently acquired the EEMC operation of Eternal Chemical, exhibited the company’s IC packaging and surface mount potting compounds as well as a new line of solder balls at SEMICON China.

The expiration of some SAC alloy patents has spawned an increase in the number of companies in China trying to enter the lead-free solder marketplace.

At the show we were told that Schmoll sold over 500 drilling systems in China in 2016. They managed to get a 10% premium over the Taiwan drilling machine makers due to its “German quality”. They reportedly kept costs down by building subassemblies in nearby Eastern Europe then completing the systems in Germany. The Taiwan drilling system producers were said to have destroyed the pricing and in so doing virtually eliminated “foreign sources” from the marketplace.

It was interesting to note that there were no English language visitor guide pamphlets for Productronica, though there was one for SEMICON and for electronica China. The latter seemed to focus on the development of electric vehicles and automotive electronics as well as connectors and other components. Productronica had a surprising number (dozens) of Chinese fabricator exhibitors promoting their capabilities. Many of these were now offering new quick-turn services.