Introduction

Ceramic printed circuit boards (PCBs) provide high performance and reliability in demanding applications where standard FR4 PCBs fall short. With their superb thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and ruggedness, ceramic PCBs thrive in harsh environments.

As critical applications in industries like aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and industrial automation adopt ceramic PCBs, the number of manufacturers specializing in ceramic board fabrication has grown globally.

This article looks at 10 of the top ceramic PCB manufacturers in the world. For each manufacturer, we will examine their background, ceramic PCB capabilities, facilities, and target applications.

Top 10 Ceramic PCB Manufacturers

1. Rayming Technology

Founded in 2005, Rayming Technology is a leading ceramic PCB manufacturer located in Suzhou, China. The company focuses exclusively on producing high quality ceramic substrates and boards.

Rayming utilizes state-of-the-art production lines to fabricate complex multilayer ceramic boards. Their product line spans from single-sided ceramic boards up to 32-layer boards in a variety of ceramic materials.

Some details on Rayming Technology’s capabilities include:

• High volume production capacity of over 1 million boards per month.
• Fabrication of boards up to 24 x 24 inches (610 x 610mm).
• Thick film and thin film process support.
• Resistors, capacitors, and other passive components integrated directly into the ceramic PCB.
• Silver, gold, and copper metallization options.
• Laser drilling of microvias down to 65um diameter.
• Registration accuracy down to 10um.

Rayming holds several quality certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and IATF 16949 for the automotive market. Their ceramic PCBs serve customers globally in sectors like aviation, 5G telecom networks, LED lighting, semiconductor fabrication equipment, and more.

2. Hillmancurtis

Hillmancurtis is a UK-based PCB manufacturer that specializes in serving the defense, high reliability, and harsh environment electronics markets. Founded in 1959, the company offers both conventional and ceramic PCBs.

For ceramic boards, Hiilmancurtis utilizes aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride substrates and builds boards with up to 36 layers. Their in-house manufacturing capabilities include:

• Rigid and flexible ceramic PCBs.
• Precision drilling of vias down to 150um.
• Fine line traces and spaces down to 100um.
• Mix of surface mount and through hole component technologies.
• Silver thick film pastes.
• Component assembly and testing services.
• Conformal coating application.

Hiilmancurtis holds AS9100 and ISO 9001 certifications for their quality management system. Their ceramic PCBs provide solutions for applications including radars, satellites, UAVs, missiles, and other defense electronics operating in demanding environments.

3. Micro Systems Engineering, Inc. (MSE)

Micro Systems Engineering, Inc. (MSE), headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, develops ceramic, silicon, and liquid crystal polymer printed circuit boards for rugged applications. The company was founded in 1983.

MSE specializes in quick-turn prototype through mid-volume production of ceramic PCBs. Their capabilities include:

• Alumina, aluminum nitride, and beryllium oxide material options.
• Multilayer boards up to 38 layers.
• Line widths and spaces down to 4mils (0.1mm).
• Feeds and speeds for precision machining of ceramics.
• Assembly and testing services.
• 100% electrical testing.
• Flex and rigid-flex boards.

The company is certified to MIL-PRF-55110 and uses their process for commercial work as well to produce high reliability PCBs. MSE targets markets like aerospace, space, defense, and industrial.

4. CeramTec

Headquartered in Germany, CeramTec is a leading global manufacturer of technical ceramics. Founded in 1903, the company has a long history of ceramic innovation across several industries.

CeramTec’s PCB product line focuses on ceramic substrates customized for electronics applications. Their ceramic PCB capabilities include:

• Alumina, aluminum nitride, and borosilicate glass material options.
• Laser drilling and mechanical processing of ceramics.
• Multilayer boards up to 36 layers.
• Plating of vias and through holes.
• Complex board shapes.
• Flexible circuits on ceramic substrates.
• 100% electrical testing.

CeramTec supports prototyping in their application labs as well as volume production at manufacturing sites in Europe, North America, and Asia. Their ceramic PCBs provide thermal management, electrical insulation, and ruggedness for high-performance electronic designs.

5. Maruwa

Headquartered in Japan, Maruwa has specialized in ceramic substrate manufacturing since their founding in 1947. The company operates an advanced production facility with complete ceramic PCB fabrication capabilities.

Maruwa’s ceramic PCB expertise includes:

• Alumina, aluminum nitride, and glass ceramic materials.
• Single-sided to multilayer boards up to 30 layers.
• Laser via drilling down to 15um diameter.
• Fine line printing down to 15um lines and spaces.
• Plating of blind and buried vias and through holes.
• Ultra-thin lamination.
• Flexible ceramic boards.
• Chip embedding technologies.
• Protoyping services.

The company’s microscale patterning and thin substrate technologies serve applications from semiconductor probing to aerospace electronics. Maruwa also manufacturers ceramic components and ceramic-based IC packages.

6. Remtec

Remtec, founded in Silicon Valley in 1986, develops single- and multilayer ceramic PCBs using alumina and aluminum nitride substrates. The company’s products serve defense, space, telecom, semiconductor equipment, power conversion, and other advanced electronics markets.

Capabilities include:

• In-house fabrication including metalizlation, via formation, lamination, and firing.
• Protoyping, quick-turn, and volume production.
• Complex board geometries.
• Traces and spaces down to 2mil (0.05mm).
• Blind and buried vias.
• DBC (direct bonded copper) and AMB (active metal brazing) ceramic substrates.
• Assembly and complete box-build services.

Remtec fabricates microelectronics packages in addition to ceramic PCBs at their 40,000 sq. ft. California facility. They also provide advanced thermal management solutions for high-power applications.

7. International Micro Industries, Inc. (IMI)

Located in Colorado, IMI has specialized in ceramic PCB development and production for over 30 years. Their process expertise covers alumina, aluminum nitride, and beryllium oxide (BeO) ceramic PCB materials.

IMI’s capabilities include:

• High layer count multilayer boards up to 36 layers.
• Custom circuit design.
• Lines and spaces down to 2mil (0.05mm).
• Laser machining and drilling of vias.
• Plating of through holes and vias.
• Flexible circuits on ceramic.
• Chip scale packages.
• Testing and validation services.

IMI supports aerospace, defense, telecom infrastructure, and other high-reliability markets where performance and durability are critical. Their expertise in BeO ceramics provides solutions for thermal management challenges.

8. Shengyi Technology Co., Ltd

With headquarters in China, Shengyi Technology Co. manufactures a range of advanced electronic substrates including ceramic PCBs. Founded in 2001, the company operates a 700,000 sq. ft. facility with cutting-edge production capabilities.

Shengyi’s ceramic PCB technology includes:

• Aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride material options.
• Multilayer boards up to 36 layers.
• Blind and buried vias produced with laser drilling.
• Fine line metallization down to 8um traces/spaces.
• Thick film and thin film processes.
• Flex-rigid boards.
• Design, prototyping, and volume manufacturing.

The company holds AS9100 and ISO 9001 certifications. Their focus markets include aerospace, defense, telecom, medical, and automotive applications.

9. Eagle Electronics

Located in Schaumburg, Illinois, Eagle Electronics provides end-to-end design, prototyping, and manufacturing of ceramic and silicon PCBs. Founded in 1979, the company specializes in producing complex boards with high layer counts.

Eagle’s specific ceramic PCB capabilities include:

• Aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride substrates.
• Multilayer constructions up to 60 layers.
• Line width, spacing down to 2mil (0.05mm).
• Blind and buried vias produced with laser drilling.
• Thick film pastes and thin film metallization.
• Flexible circuits integration.
• Complete PCB assembly and testing services.

Eagle supports defense electronics, space systems, semiconductor capital equipment, and test and measurement industries with their advanced ceramic PCB technology.

10. Translator Corporation

Translator Corporation, headquartered in Greenville, Rhode Island, provides end-to-end design, engineering, and manufacturing of ceramic substrates and high-density interconnects. Founded in 1972, the company focuses on high-mix, low- to medium-volume production.

Translator’s ceramic PCB capabilities include:

• Aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride materials.
• Quick-turn prototype through mid-volume production.
• Soldermask and silkscreen capabilities.
• Plating of vias/holes with copper, gold, or silver finishes.
• Fine line traces and precision machining.
• Assembly of SMT, PTH, and mixed technology boards.

The company’s products meet demanding requirements for aerospace, defense, telecom, semiconductor equipment, and other advanced technology applications.

Choosing a Ceramic PCB Manufacturer

With this overview of 10 major global providers of ceramic PCB fabrication and assembly, selecting the right partner depends on your specific requirements, including:

• Material needs – Aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, glass ceramic, etc.
• Lead times – Prototype vs. volume production.
• Complexity – Layer count, density, hole sizes.
• Certifications – ITAR, ISO, AS9100, etc.
• Supply chain – Consolidating PCB fabrication, assembly, etc.
• Geography – Production locations relative to end market.

Thoroughly vet manufacturers’ specific capabilities relative to your ceramic PCB design needs. Establish process controls and quality metrics upfront to ensure high reliability and performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of ceramic PCBs?

Compared to standard FR4 PCBs, ceramic boards offer higher thermal conductivity, temperature resistance, electrical insulation, and ruggedness. These attributes suit them to harsh environments in aerospace, defense, and high-power applications.

What are the main ceramic PCB substrate materials?

Aluminum oxide and aluminum nitride are most common. Other options include glass/glass ceramic, beryllium oxide, and silicon carbide. Materials are chosen based on thermal, mechanical, and electrical requirements.

How is the manufacturing process different from FR4 PCBs?

Ceramic PCB fabrication involves pressed/fired layers, metallization, laser drilling, and lamination steps that differ from FR4 processing. Precise machining and drilling are required for microscale ceramic boards.

Why are ceramic PCBs more expensive than FR4?

The ceramic materials, fabrication techniques, and specialized processing increase costs substantially over standard glass-reinforced epoxy laminates. Lower production volumes also prevent economies of scale.

What thickness of ceramic PCBs can be produced?

Ceramic board thickness can range from ~0.25mm to over 2.0mm depending on layer count, material, and other requirements. Thinner constructions with more layers provide enhanced performance.