Digital Cameras Driving Flex

摘要

When the volume production of consumer flex circuits started in Japan during the 1970s, camera manufacturers consumed more than a third of flex manufacturing capacities. The flex circuit market in Japan grew 100 times larger in the past 30 years. The camera manufacturers' flex market share became smaller, but they are still major customers for the flex circuit manufacturers. There have been two significant changes in the camera industry in the last decade. First, digital cameras nearly took over the film camera market in the last several years. Next, camera cell phones began to proliferate. Fortunately for the flex manufacturers, new digital cameras are consuming more flex circuits and the flex manufacturers have been enjoying a growing business.