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This paper aims to demonstrate the practicability of the liquid metal printer, developed in the authors’ laboratory, in the direct manufacture and assembly of circuit boards at the end customer side using GaIn24.5 alloy as printing ink at room temperature.

A practical procedure for printing a real designed frequency modulation (FM) radio circuit on flexible and transparent substrate using liquid metal printer was established. Necessary electronic components are then assembled on this circuit board. To enhance the mechanical stability of the FM radio circuit board, we further package the circuit board using room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber. Finally, an efficient way to recycle the liquid metal ink and electronic components is presented at the end of circuit board’s life cycle.

Methods of designing the circuit patterns that are applicable to liquid metal printer are similar to the conventional printed circuit board (PCB) designing strategies. The procedure of applying liquid metal printer for printing the circuits is entirely automatic, cost-effective and highly time-saving, which allows the user to print out desired device in a moment. Through appropriate packaging, the FM radio circuit board can be flexibly used. These PCBs own many outstanding merits including easy modification and stretchability. Nearly all liquid metal ink and components can be recycled.

The present end-customer-oriented liquid metal printing opens the way for large-scale personal electronics manufacture which is expected to initiate many emerging applications in education, design, industry, entertainment and more maker targets.

M & T Chemicals have announced the appointment of Mr David Smith as Director of PCB Systems and as a member of the company's Board of Management. Mr Smith, who was formerly Sales and Marketing Director of Lea Ronal (UK) Ltd, has had more than seventeen years experience in the printed circuit industry.

Trace Instruments have announced that Mr Tony Battaglia has been named central regional sales manager.

OMI International (GB) have announced that Allan Murray, one of the leading UK technologists in the field of plating through hole systems for the printed circuit industry, has recently joined the Company.

Robert Linsdell has been appointed Sales Manager by Dynachem, the Warrington‐based manufacturer of specialty chemicals for the printed circuit board industry.

PMD have appointed David H. Ormerod to the position of printed circuits products manager as part of their marketing organisation.

In August 2007, the European Institute of Printed Circuits produced a Technology Roadmap for the industry for the period 2007‐2017. The purpose of this paper is to give details of the roadmap, the aim of which is to provide information which underpins the aims of the EU‐funded ProSurf project, which are to strengthen European small‐to‐medium enterprises (SME) competitiveness in both the medium‐ and long‐term through increasing knowledge and awareness of high‐tech methods in these industries.

The approach is an outline of the ProSurf project which will enable SMEs to have a clear view of the trends that will affect their businesses in the coming decade, and be delivered in a way that is readily comprehensible.

The summary highlights the present market, the market characteristics, and the position of the European PCB industry today. General factors which influence market trends are listed, within which the demands for miniaturisation and weight reduction, and higher data transmission rates are notable. There are specific requirements of each market sector, viz military, consumer, and automotive electronics, and here the roadmap looks at design rules and manufacturing capabilities. Towards the end of the roadmap attention is paid to the environmental considerations.

The ProSurf technology roadmap is a unique document without peer, and is specific to the European PCB industry whilst having considerable influence in other global areas as the technology demands within Europe impact upon production elsewhere.

To give an introductory overview of the key issues that need to be addressed when manufacturing PCBs in China for the European market.

The paper gives an overview of key issues impacting manufacturers supplying printed circuit boards into Europe. The demand for higher performance and the need to comply with legislation such as the European RoHS Directive are posing significant challenges for non‐European fabricators. The paper introduces some of the key issues including materials substitution, the move to lead‐free assembly and new laminate requirements in the context of increasingly stringent quality and performance criteria.

Low cost manufacturers in China supply a large proportion of the PCBs used by the European electronics industry. If this supply is to continue as board complexities and performance requirements increase, PCB fabricators will need to pay careful attention to a wide range of issues including European legislation, choice of laminates, reliability and manufacture in compliance with industry specifications. Failure to meet these requirements will be costly and could result in the loss of European sales opportunities.

There are significant challenges for overseas board manufacturers wishing to supply an increasingly demanding European market. Strategic alliances with partners in Europe can offer one route for better understanding these demands and meeting customer requirements without incurring unnecessary costs.

The paper attempts to highlight some of the issues and potential problem areas that need to be addressed when using low cost manufacturing routes to supply high quality circuit boards into the European market.

This paper examines the size, scope and electronic equipment end‐market ‘drivers’ of the world printed circuit industry. Topics include general industry trends, the captive/merchant producer balance, semiconductors as they relate to PCB demand, regional comments on the European, Americas and Asia/Pacific markets, process consumable consumption and a detailed discussion of the relationship of electronic equipment to PCB demand.

TDS Circuits plc, the Blackburn based high‐technology manufacturer of multilayer printed circuit boards, has made two new senior management appointments. John W. Whybrow has been appointed Managing Director, and David Dickson becomes the new Sales and Marketing Manager.