Since 1994, Gatema PCB has been improving their own production and expanding our product portfolio. Thanks to this, they now supply PCBs almost all over Europe. But mostly to Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Poland and Slovakia.
Today, Gatema PCB is a key entity of the Gatema group, manufacturing PCBs for around 800 companies in fifteen European countries – including the largest distributors in the industry.
The company is accelerating and improving the production of prototype PCBs year after year. By investing in new production machines, improving processes and developing a production information system, in which Gatema PCB is involved in the development.
Quality and innovation are a matter of course
The company offers an exceptionally wide portfolio of PCBs and the technologies and materials used. Gatema PCB produces everything from basic double-layer to sophisticated flex-rigid boards in top quality. Every year they expand the portfolio with more and more types of printed circuit boards.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Gatema PCB: We produce prototype printed circuit boards (PCBs) of all types.
We use the latest technologies such as via filling, impedance control, via-in-pad, HF materials or production in IPC class 3 standard.
We are a Czech manufacturer of printed circuit boards focusing on prototype production and bespoken one-piece PCBs production. Whether you need a multilayer, HDI, flex PCB, flex-rigid, hybrid, double-sided, aluminum or specialty prototype board, you can always turn to Gatema PCB.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
Gatema PCB: The innovations that have been put into operation this year is chemical copper plating. This is necessary especially for really complex boards and special materials.
One of the biggest investments this year, which is also already in full operation, is the new MDI (Micromirror Digital Imaging). The move to the new generation of MDI has enabled Gatema to shift production so that it can produce a minimum track width/space of 0.075 mm. This technology also open new possibilities in individual marking of the boards.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
Gatema PCB: We produce prototype printed circuit boards (PCBs) of all types. We produce multilayer printed circuit boards and double-sided printed circuit boards too. We produce hybrid printed circuit boards. We have included the production of flexible printed circuit boards, so-called flex and flex-rigid PCBs. We produce flexible connections on one and both sides, with the possibility of stiffener support. Flex-rigid boards can have up to 6 layers in the rigid part and an inner or outer flexible core of 1L/2L.
We can produce high quality HDI board (High Density Interconnect PCB). Even in the production of HDI PCBs we use the latest technologies such as via filling, measured impedance, via-in-pad, HF materials, or production in IPC class 3 standard. Lamination 3+N+3, BGA min. 0.4 mm, burried vias, blind vias (0.15 mm drill), aspect ratio 1:1. For the motive and mask we use high-tech MDI (Micromirror Digital Imaging) technology.
We produce aluminum printed circuit boards. We produce IMS core PCBs single-sided in different thicknesses (standard 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm), with several levels of thermal conductivity and 50 µm or 100 µm dielectric.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
Gatema PCB: Our core of the business in prototyping multilayer rigid boards 4-10 layer. This is the fastest growing part of our business. Since our customers facing troubles in global supply chain for components there is much more prototyping and design reworks of PCB needed. On the other hand, current situation on the energy market postpones many new projects for later.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
Gatema PCB: We see strong pressure to return production back to the Europe, because of the problematic logistic, safety reasons and generally faster reaction if there is any change requested. Customers are not always searching for cheapest solution, but more likely for most reliable partner and long-term cooperation. One of the significant changes compare to the previous year is that EMS companies order boards only after they have complete supplies of components in their hand. This makes another pressure for the fast PCB production. Last significant trend are smaller batches. Again because of missing or postponed components deliveries some of the partners prefer to buy smaller batches more often rather than one-time bigger volume order. Because if needed they can do some revision or redesign and be more flexible.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
Gatema PCB: The PCB market is quite conservative especially in Central Europe region, so changes are rather continual than fast coming. Even flexible boards are known for some time and we have them in our production, flexible materials together with new 3D modeling of electronic parts and miniaturization shows in our portfolio the significant growth ever since last year. We expected to have comparable growth in high-frequency and microwave materials too, but even 5G technologies are the one of the most promoted topics the practical demand of the HF technologies are behind our expectations.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the rest of 2022?
Gatema PCB: Latest numbers show we can expect another growth till the end of this year we come to the last quarter with lot of respect. On one side we expect that expenses for energy should became more stable and get lower. On the other hand, we need to start new projects for another energy savings. Energies seems to be the biggest jeopardy for the next few months. And we want to make sure all suppliers can fulfil regular deliveries as usual.
