What do you see as the big issue for 2018?
My focus in staffing is on Embedded and Hardware Engineers. I think 2018 will bring even more requests for HW design in the IoT space. Robotics/ Automation will push forward more advanced motion control designs and upgrades. Aerospace including drones and autonomous vehicles are driving demand for new and more cost-effective board designs. Our need for faster, more power-efficient and smaller boards will create opportunities for innovation. Back in the IoT space I think we will see an emergence of new leaders in the industry that will begin to bring more standardization to the market.
What do you see on the horizon?
I see IoT continuing to be a huge market driver for PCB's. Eventually the circuit developers will sync with the "Big Data" side and begin to work on more coalesced product offerings. This should drive demand for more new board design and manufacturing. Once the data guys get with the HW people they will urge CFOs to make more investments in PCB and flex circuit design. This could be huge for the flex circuit market!
Also I see lidar and other components needed for autonomous vehicles will continue to see a push to lower printed circuit board manufacturing costs. This should create a demand for more efficient PCB design and design PCBs for more form factor conformance, like Flex Circuits.
Dave Neville, specializes in placing Electrical Engineers both HW & SW. NewTown works with IoT, Aerospace, Medical, Consumer and Defense companies. He also is the founder and President of Minnesota Innovates, a non-profit helping early stage Entrepreneurs. His passion for technology and helping others provides a unique insight into the PCB market.
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