Jim,
     
     One of the main differences between the Japanese and US markets is 
     that in the US, material is cheap and labor/process is expensive, but 
     in Japan labor/process is cheap and material is expensive.  Japanese 
     tend to use more dense circuitry (and thus design-in the process to 
     easily achieve the higher density) and fewer layers.  Japanese 
     companies will generally employ any means necessary to gain an edge in 
     the market, especially from the down-size and dense pack perspective.
     
     I have found the plating process to be much more reliable and 
     efficient in Japanese suppliers (but the boards are also that much 
     more expensive).
     
     In addition, designers in Japan are more willing to accept lower 
     percentages of auto-routing of circuitry allowing the boards to be 
     manually routed more densely.  In the US, designers prefer to accept a 
     sparser circuit board with more layers to achieve a higher level of 
     auto-routing.
     
     Roger Held
     Hitachi Computer Products


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Additive technology
Author:  [log in to unmask] at Internet-HICAM-OK
Date:    2/15/96 11:08 AM


I have just recently returned from a trip to Japan in which I was guided 
through many of the largest capitive PWB fabrication facilities in the 
country. I need not say who these companies are, but let me just say that 
most of the multilayer boards I saw, were going into the electronics that we 
use virtually every day of our lives. 
     
Why is the majority of what I saw being done with additive techniques? 
     
My understanding is that throughout N. America and Europe we are using 
subtractive technology. I realize that there are the few companies who have 
licensed SLC etc., Does anyone have a feel for what percentage of North 
America and Europen PWB fabs employ Additive technologies?
     
Does anyone feel that there is major trend towards additive? How many years 
away is it?
Do we really need to employ additive to get to 0.003"/0.003" or 0.002"/0.002" 
in high volume production?
     
I see an obvious difference in markets here. I am trying to figure out how 
geographical areas can employ such different techniques. (Maybe readily 
available cash and long term investment strategies is the real difference?)
     
I would appreciate any input that I get. Thanks much in advance,
     
Jim Morrison