A comment in old friend Dominique Numakura’s weekly newsletter prompted this audacious thought.

First, though, the background. Dominique has been detailing this year’s JPCA 2010 Show.  As he points out in his June 13 issue, there was a new exhibition focused on large-scale electronics. In it, it was revealed how market demand for massive flat panel TVs, digital signage, photovoltaic cells and surface light sources creates
concurrent demand for large PCBs. And he notes how, while suppliers like the trend — more volume sold — PCB makers aren’t necessarily embracing it because of the bigger boards require tooling changes and capital equipment investments. 

But (!) — and this is where Dominique leaves off and audacious Mike comes in — big boards are what North America traditionally has done well. Could it be that this trend, primarily for industrial and certain consumer electronics — might actually spark a modest return to prominence for domestic fabricators?