Introduction
Metal core printed circuit boards (MCPCB) provide a thermally efficient packaging solution for high power LEDs and other electronic components. Selecting a competent MCPCB manufacturer is critical to ensure high quality boards.
This article profiles the top 15 MCPCB manufacturers in 2023 based on capabilities, experience, certifications and customer feedback.
What is an MCPCB?
An MCPCB consists of a dielectric insulating layer bonded to a metal core like aluminum or copper. Conductive copper tracks are patterned on the dielectric surface to connect components while efficiently drawing heat into the internal metal layer. MCPCBs are mostly used for thermal management of high power LEDs in lighting applications.
Benefits of MCPCBs
Some benefits of metal core PCBs:
- Excellent thermal conductivity spreads heat from components
- Allows higher power components in smaller sizes
- More reliable under high temperatures and current
- Can integrate advanced features like thermal vias
- Robust construction for mechanical rigidity
- Enables modular LED panel assemblies
Top 15 MCPCB Manufacturers
Here are the top 15 global MCPCB manufacturers in 2023:
1. RayMing Technology
Founded in 2005, RayMing provides advanced MCPCB capabilities tailored for low to medium volume, high mix LED lighting applications. They offer aluminum, copper and ceramic substrate MCPCBs.
Certifications: ISO 9001
Customers: Cree, Citizen Electronics, Lumileds
Volumes: 500 – 50,000 pcs/month
Location: China
2. AT&S
A European firm specializing in high-end PCBs, AT&S offers aluminum and ceramic substrate MCPCBs for lighting, automotive and industrial applications.
Certifications: IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001
Customers: Osram, Lumileds, Samsung
Volumes: 10,000 – 1,000,000 pcs/month
Location: Austria, India
3. TT Electronics
TT Electronics provides robust metal core PCBs in both low-medium volumes and high volumes geared for automotive lighting and other applications.
Certifications: IATF 16949, AS 9100
Customers: Dialight, Optec Technology, Stanley Electric
Volumes: 1,000 – 250,000 pcs/month
Location: UK, Romania
4. Avary Holding
Avary offers advanced MCPCB solutions for high power LEDs tailored for lighting and automotive customers.
Certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, UL
Customers: Osram, Lumileds, Cree
Volumes: 10,000 – 500,000 pcs/month
Location: China
5. Ventec International Group
Ventec provides robust metal core PCBs using a range of dielectric and substrate options. They focus on automotive lighting MCPCBs.
Certifications: IATF 16949, ISO 9001, UL
Customers: Hella, ZKW Group, Magneti Marelli
Volumes: 10,000 – 250,000 pcs/month
Location: Germany, China
6. Amitek
Amitek offers aluminum, copper and ceramic substrate MCPCBs tailored for high power LEDs and power electronics modules.
Certifications: ISO 9001
Customers: Cree, Citizen, Meanwell, Silergy
Volumes: 1,000 – 250,000 pcs/month
Location: China
7. Anwell Technologies
Anwell provides advanced MCPCB solutions for LED lighting, automotive and specialty electronics applications.
Certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, UL
Customers: Everlight, Epistar, Lextar, Lite-On
Volumes: 10,000 – 500,000 pcs/month
Location: China, Malaysia
8. Tripod Technology
Tripod manufactures capable MCPCBs on aluminum and ceramic substrates servicing powerful LEDs and modules.
Certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, UL
Customers: Cree, Epistar, Sharp, Toyoda Gosei
Volumes: 10,000 – 300,000 pcs/month
Location: Taiwan, China
9. GuoGuang Electric
GuoGuang offers robust MCPCB solutions for high power LEDs focused on lighting, automotive and signage applications.
Certifications: ISO 9001, UL
Customers: Citizen, Epistar, Everlight, Lextar
Volumes: 10,000 – 200,000 pcs/month
Location: China
10. Gold Phoenix PCB
Gold Phoenix delivers capable MCPCBs for a range of LED packaging and thermal management applications.
Certifications: ISO 9001
Customers: Cree, Nichia, Lumileds, Stanley
Volumes: 1,000 – 100,000 pcs/month
Location: China
11. Chin-Poon Industrial
Chin-Poon manufactures quality MCPCBs for power LEDs and modules primarily focused on lighting applications.
Certifications: ISO 9001, UL
Customers: Epistar, Lextar, Genesis, Ledvance
Volumes: 10,000 – 200,000 pcs/month
Location: Taiwan
12. San Francisco Circuits
A US-based manufacturer, San Francisco Circuits produces capable MCPCBs for a wide array of customers and applications.
Certifications: ISO 9001, ITAR, UL
Customers: Cree, Toyoda Gosei, MikroElektronika
Volumes: 1,000 – 50,000 pcs/month
Location: USA
13. Shennan Circuits
Shennan Circuits provides quality MCPCBs for LED and power modules primarily serving lighting markets.
Certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, UL
Customers: Citizen, Lextar, Ledman, Sunlike
Volumes: 10,000 – 300,000 pcs/month
Location: China
14. Guangdong Ruihong
Ruihong offers aluminum substrate MCPCBs tailored for high power LEDs used in lighting and display backlighting.
Certifications: ISO 9001
Customers: Citizen, Everlight, HC Semitek
Volumes: 10,000 – 150,000 pcs/month
Location: China
15. Star Circuit
Star Circuit manufactures capable MCPCBs on aluminum and ceramic substrates for high power LEDs.
Certifications: ISO 9001
Customers: Epistar, HC Semitek, Genesis, Fitipower
Volumes: 1,000 – 100,000 pcs/month
Location: China
Conclusion
Selecting the right MCPCB partner requires matching technical capabilities and certifications to the application requirements along with assessing customer feedback. The leading manufacturers profiled here offer the expertise to deliver high quality metal core PCBs for demanding markets like high power LED lighting, automotive and power electronics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the most popular MCPCB substrate options?
The most common MCPCB substrates are aluminum due to good thermal performance and cost, followed by copper which offers excellent thermal conductivity.
Q2. What are the typical MCPCB substrate thicknesses used?
Common aluminum core MCPCB thicknesses are 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 mm. Copper core MCPCBs typically use 0.8 to 2mm thickness.
Q3. What certifications are critical for MCPCB manufacturers?
Key quality certifications are ISO 9001, IATF 16949 for automotive, and UL for safety. Environmental compliance like ISO 14001 is also beneficial.
Q4. What tolerances are held on MCPCB geometries?
Critical tolerance parameters are held to +/- 0.1mm typically on MCPCB layout geometries. Electrical parameters are often tighter.
Q5. How many layers can be accommodated in MCPCBs?
While most MCPCBs are 2 layer, multilayer constructions with 4-6 layers are also possible, allowing embedding active and passive components.
