Typically most Soldermask Manufacturers keep track to their best of the Industries usage, unless someone on the Technet readily has this information.  Your best results will be contacting the Marketing/Sales Departments of the following Soldermask Manufacturers.

                                          TYPE ex:
1.    Enthone OMI               
2.    Dexter                        Hysol SR line
3.    Ciba Geigy                 Probimer 52
4.    Taiyo                          PSR4000
5.    Coates                        Imagecure

Noted above are some of the larger soldermask manufacturers.  These companies  produce and sell a wider scope of products to the PCB and PCA industries.
The numbers and contacts I have may not do you any good, so try the internet.

You will find there is a threshold to who uses manual screen coating methods and companies that use curtain coating methods.  You may want to reflect in your report the users by dollar amount <20mil, 30~60, 60~100, etc,.  You will find that smaller facilities do not have the monies to acquire the curtain coating lines.  If you looking at automated screen methods such as DP Lines, which are dual screen printers.  You will find these are the most widely used equipment in the industry to date.  Very few PCB suppliers can warrant the cost of a full curtain coat line.  The footprint ratio of an automated screen printer vs. curtain coat is 4:1 minimum.
From my history with working with a PE installing a curtain coating line, its a b--ch, maintenance is a nightmare, etc.,.  This was 10 years ago, so things may have changed, giving the process the benefit of the doubt.

The most comprehensive list for PCB related issues can be found at the PC Fab archives.  Years ago, I would solicit their list and use it extensively.  Request a hard copy list of archive articles pertaining to any topic and their may be a nominal charge for coping the article and mailing.

Good Luck,

John Gulley - Process QE Manager
INET Technologies Inc.
"A Smarter Vision"
 
 
 
 
 

Aaron Ondo wrote:

 Hello,

I am writing my thesis and I need some numerical data to include.  The information I am looking for is:

• Annual production of printed circuit boards in the World or United States in square miles or relevant unit.
• Annual usage of solder resist in the World or United States in gallons or relevant unit.
• Percentage of World or United States production that is done by using the curtain coating method.
• Percentage of World or United States production that is done by using the screen coating method.
• Citations for any information provided.

Any and all information to any of the above requests is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Aaron

--

Aaron A. Ondo
304-293-4372 ext. 13304
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