Top PCB Manufacturers in Germany

Introduction

The Printed Circuit Board’s invention can be traced back to an Austrian named Paul Eisler. Austria shared borders with Germany, so some people mistakenly attribute Germany as the origin country for PCBs.

It was in the 1950s that Germany started producing PCBs, which are called leiterplatte in German.

Today, German PCB companies specialize in advanced products, mostly used in the famous German automotive sector.

We name the top ten companies in this article for your convenience.

The PCB Manufacturing Industry in Germany

The PCB Manufacturing Industry in Germany

Circuit boards made in Germany have many similarities to circuit boards made in Europe.

These products are considered to be best-in-class, as they undergo stringent quality control.

As well, German companies are obligated to comply with numerous laws on environmental protection.

These include the German Emissions Control Act, steps to combat climate change, water protection, pollution prevention and control, and the Lieferkettengesetz, or sustainability for supply chains.

German PCBs are sought after by a niche market that is willing to pay top dollar for the best products because of these characteristics.

The Top Ten PCB Manufacturers in Germany

The leading circuit board producers in Germany are listed alphabetically below. They are assembled based on their applicability and persistence despite fierce Asian competition:

AISLER

AISLER

With its headquarters in Aachen, Germany, this company is proud in presenting “beautiful boards”. The main products they specialize in are HASL PCB, TG 140 PCB (using Technolam), Double Layer HDI PCB, and 4 Layer HDI PCB. They offer PCB stencil service with 100µm stainless steel specs, as well as customized PCB service. Their turnaround time is two days at the quickest.

Please visit the website.

Basista Leiterplatten GmbH

Basista Leiterplatten GmbH

Located in Bottrop, North Rhine–Westphalia, this company is capable of producing rigid and flex PCBs. Company information is limited, but they can make up to 24 layers of flexible PCB, which is extraordinary. The typical materials they use are FR4 for fiberglass epoxy resin. But they can also use advanced materials like Arlon, Rogers, Taconic, Dupont, and Panasonic.

BMK Group GmbH & Co. KG

BMK Group GmbH & Co. KG

This company is based in Augsburg, Bavaria. They sell advanced PCBs that support security products. They also specialize in helping customers make prototypes of new devices. You can hire them as your EMS service provider, as they have the capacity to make PCBs on a large scale. They have facilities in the Czech Republic and China.

Please visit the website.

Contag Ag

Contag Ag

With its Headquarters in Berlin, this company boasts unlimited speed when it comes to delivering PCBs. If you are not in a hurry, there is a standard speed for order delivery. The express service would mean you pay a premium price. The main products of this company are FR4 PCBs, with modified FR4 as an option, CEM-1 PCB, and Rogers 4003PCBs.

Please visit the website.

LeitOn GmbH

LeitOn GmbH

This company is also headquartered in Berlin. Its main products are Impedance Control, climate control PCB (for high temperature, and flex PCBs. The company also makes large-format PCBs, especially using aluminum. PCBs especially made for High-Frequency and/or HDI applications are another one of their popular items. They do have a minimum order requirement, so you cannot just order one piece of PCB.

Please visit the website.

Mektec Europe GmbH

Mektec Europe GmbH

The company is known for its unique offering, which is mechatronic modules. These parts are used in automotive works, particularly crimp connectors that follow VDA AK guidelines. For soldering, they offer iron soldering, which is not typical, compared to wave or reflow soldering. The physical location of this company in Germany is in Weinheim, Baden-Württemberg. It has factories in Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and China.

Please visit the website.

Neways Deutschland GmbH

Neways Deutschland GmbH

With multiple locations in Germany, Neways has a diverse portfolio of products that support advanced technologies. It is the best in class for PCBs used in smart homes, agriculture, EV vehicles, trains, and medicine. They have numerous plants globally, for instance, they have one in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and a huge facility in China.

Please visit the website.

Richter Elektronik GmbH

Richter Elektronik GmbH

This company calls itself the champion in PCB switches, flex PCBs, and rigid-flex PCBs. Aside from these, they specialize in IMS PCBs, metal core PCBs, and FR4 PCBs. The company offers PCB layout and design services, as well as prototyping. The company only does low to medium PCB production, as it is a medium-sized company compared to the rest on this list.

Please visit the website.

 

TQ Systems Group

TQ Systems Group

Another company that specializes in advanced solutions, TQ makes PCBs for robotics and automotive parts. Aside from this, the company makes PCBs for airplanes, automation (used in production facilities), medical gear, and wearable tech. They are the best in embedded PCBs and embedded modules. A separate product line dedicated to Electronic Vehicles (EV) and EV peripherals gets a lot of customers. This company is headquartered in Seefeld, Bavaria.

Please visit the website.

Zollner Elektronik AG

Zollner Elektronik AG

This company also has its headquarters in Bavaria but has since expanded after more than 40 years in the business. They have facilities in Tunisia and China as well as other EU countries. Their specializations are New Product Introduction services, PCB engineering, PCB design, and mechatronics. Their wide range of products and service sectors like healthcare, the military, and transportation.

Please visit the website.

Advantages of PCB Manufacturers in Germany

Advantages of PCB Manufacturers in Germany

German-made boards are preferred by customers in highly technical industries. This is relevant to the IoT industry, businesses that produce self-driving cars, aircraft, space equipment, and digital healthcare. For these clients, the following factors give the Germans an advantage in the PCB industry:

Patented PCBs and New Inventions

The Germans invest billions of euros in technology. This is in part done by the government and in part done by private corporations. German PCB makers invest in the newest PCB machines. Lately, they have been spending heavily on 3D PCB printing. Because they are the first to invent new types and functions of PCBs, they earn the patents necessary. Many customers would have no choice but to buy these proprietary PCBs for their end devices.

Recognized Leader in Microtechnology & IoT

Under the category of advanced applications in PCB are PCBs for microtechnology and IoT. These PCBs are used in any electronic parts that have ICs (semiconductors). Related to microtechnology, there are also nanotechnology applications for which German PCBs are used. Other fields in which Germans excel include robots in healthcare, smart homes, and self-driving cars. All of these applications need circuit boards to support them, and because these inventions are made in Germany, German PCBs are likely used for them exclusively.

They Care Deeply About the Environment

Environmental care is one of the most important things German companies care about. With this regard, the rules German PCB makers follow are used as examples all over the world. There are various rules for limiting pollution (e.g. soil, water, noise). German standards are stricter that EU standards in some cases. As a consequence, companies that need lead-free and eco-friendly PCBs are safe with German producers.

Highly Skilled Workforce

Working in Germany is a sought-after experience for many people. The reasons include favorable conditions for workers and very thorough training. German workers in the PCB industry are highly skilled. All of those who are employed by German PCB companies are competent in doing their jobs. The skilled workforce is the reason many Germans can make a lot of innovations in the field.

Challenges of PCB Manufacturers in Germany

Challenges of PCB Manufacturers in Germany

There are certain distinct benefits to using PCBs built in Germany, but there are also some challenges. These are what we might refer to as disadvantages of using German PCBs. Here, we detail them.

Cost

The largest obstacle to large-scale consumer purchases is the price of PCBs coming from Germany. Despite having some factories on German territory, several German corporations outsourced their PCB manufacturing activities to factories abroad. These businesses occasionally produce circuit boards for less expensive commonplace gadgets. The German factories then produce premium PCBs, typically in small quantities. In reality, many PCBs manufactured in Germany are built mostly in China. Most of the raw materials of PCBs have come from China too.

Time Constraints

Germans are very punctual, but they have very strict laws governing the hours workers can work. This can affect the time availability of sales support people. Compared to German workers, PCB companies in Asia, for instance, have dedicated 24/7 helplines. The stringent rules with work hours can also affect the time needed to produce the PCBs. German PCBs might take longer to make than those produced by Chinese manufacturers, but more likely not.

Limited Edition Only

Asian PCB makers make the typical PCB offerings. But these PCBs are the ones most often used in electronics. German PCB makers, however, concentrate on special PCBs. The problem with special products is that there is a limited number of them produced. When extras of these are needed, there is a long time to wait. Some savvy customers opt to use Reverse Engineering to reproduce PCBs instead of ordering from German companies in order to save costs.

Logistics and Raw Material Issues

Recent events trouble German PCB production. The most significant of these are logistic concerns and shortage of raw materials. These two matters are linked since Germany imports the majority of its raw materials for electronics from Asia or other EU countries. Logistics problems have reached their peak during the COVID pandemic, while there are existing problems today due to the hike in transport costs. China’s recent issues with COVID have also affected the supply of raw materials to German PCB plants.

PCB Capabilities of German PCB Manufacturers

German manufacturers produce a smaller selection of circuit boards than Asian/Chinese manufacturers. You must be willing to pay more for these high-end, limited-edition items. Here is a video to explain what advanced PCBs are (RF and Microwave PCBs):

German manufacturers are capable of producing PCB assembly, especially fine-pitch. For instance, PCBs made with the SMD technology, semiconductors, ICs, QFPs, QFNs, etc. Other items include:

• PCB with a fine pitch of less than 0.5mm for FPGAs
• Breadboards and prototype boards
• A power application for adapter PCBs
• Fiberglass PCB in FR4 and FR5 (not FR2 and FR1)
• Ceramic PCBs
• Higher pin-density PCBs
• High Tg PCBs with low thermal resistance

In short, German PCBs are usually specialized PCBs. Mid-volume production is the norm when you order these products. They are best suited to end devices with technical specifications that may not be met by Chinese PCB makers.

How to Choose a Good PCB Manufacturer

As a smart consumer, you may choose to buy top-quality German PCBs for your most sophisticated products.

Then, you can supplement the rest with a more affordable source from China.

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Conclusion

The Germans are innovators, investing heavily in PCB manufacturing to improve it. Aside from championing sustainability, German companies focus on products other nations’ manufacturers are reluctant to make. Meanwhile, Research and Development get a high value in German society, resulting in many establishments willing to test and test again to make the perfect circuit board, especially for a part. This kind of competence in PCBs is recognized internationally. However, customers might not be able to afford the high price point. This is the major reason why customers shy away from the technological giants that make up the top ten of our list.