TOKYO – As reports emerge of disruption to the electronics supply chain, it remains unclear whether the region’s major printed circuit board fabricators have sustained damage.

Japan is home to three of the world’s largest PCB fabricators: CMK, Ibiden and Nippon Mektron.

Most of the PCB factories are in regions that were unscathed by the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, whose epicenter was Sendai, in northern Japan. However, in Gunma prefecture, which is south of Sendai and where CMK has three sites – a 500,000 sq. ft. plant, a 445,000 sq. ft. plant, and a separate 176,000 sq. factory, all in Isesaki-shi – some buildings were reported damaged. CMK also operates a 67,000 sq. ft. plant in Saitama, about 20 to 30 km north of Tokyo.

Most of Ibiden’s seven Japanese factories are in Gifu prefecture, which is south and west of Tokyo. It also has a plant in Aichi, which is on the Pacific Coast, but also south of Tokyo.

Nippon Mektron, on the other hand, did not avoid damage. The company’s Okubara production facility, in Ushiku City, Ibaraki prefecture, is 70% operational, and is expected to be at 90% by March 25. Volume manufacturing has begun again, the company said.

Not doing as well is the flex circuit maker’s Kashima plant in Kamisu City, which is expected to be 50% restored by March 25. However, part of the production facility appears “very difficult to repair,” said president Toshifumi Kobayashi, and material procurement may take some time. “The present production capability at its peak is expected to remain at about 80% of the pre-disaster level for some time to come.” He added that Nippon Mektron’s overseas subsidiaries are proceeding with alternate production to fill the gaps.

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