Rising Demand for Custom PCBs Spurs Growth in EMS Sector
- By Lipika Agarwal
- 30 Apr 2025
- Business
The worldwide shift towards ultra-compact, high-performance electronic components is causing a rapid growth in demand for customized printed circuit boards (PCBs)--a trend that is significantly increasing in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) sector. In the race for OEMs in their quest to make sure that they differentiate their product by using smaller, more efficient, as well as more effective designs, EMS companies are changing to become key facilitators of this shift.
Customization Becomes a Competitive Edge
Custom PCBs - designed for specific functions, forms, shapes, and operating conditions are essential in areas such as medical devices, automotive electronics, industrial automation, and consumer IoT. This demand for precision and flexibility is pushing EMS firms to expand capabilities beyond mass production into design-for-manufacturing (DFM), rapid prototyping, and low-volume, high-mix production.
“Customers today want more than off-the-shelf solutions,” says Meena Khurana, the VP of operations at Bharat Circuits. “They want custom PCBs that can give their products a competitive edge--whether that's in thermal performance, space optimization, or speed.”
Tech-Driven Innovation on the Factory Floor
To meet these specific needs, EMS providers are investing massively in advanced PCB manufacturing technology such as HDI (high-density interconnect), Flexible and rigid-flex PCBs, multilayer stack, and integrated embedded components. Smart factories that are equipped with AI-driven quality control, as well as automated inspection (AOI) systems, allow for greater precision and speedier turnaround times.
Furthermore, the integration of tools for design and simulation in EMS workflows has been shown to reduce design times and improve the first-pass rate of yield.
India and Southeast Asia Emerge as Key Hubs
While China is still the dominant market, India, Vietnam and Malaysia are witnessing a rising demand for custom PCBs due to favourable policies of the government and lower costs for production. In India, EMS players, particularly, are expanding their manufacturing and design capabilities to meet the demands of OEMs in the global market alike.
“The custom PCB segment is where a lot of value creation is happening,” says Sandeep Batra, Managing Director at SFO Technologies. “We're seeing increasing demand from industries like electric vehicles, drones, and healthcare diagnostics--all of which need robust and reliable custom PCBs.”
Sustainability and Supply Chain Strategy
As environmental issues and the cost of materials rise, Custom PCB makers are also making progress towards environmentally friendly materials, soldering without lead and recycled designs. EMS providers play an essential role in coordinating these developments with the global requirements of the supply chain and ensuring sustainability and compliance while also reducing costs.
Looking Ahead
As electronics become more sophisticated and complex, the demand for custom-designed PCBs is anticipated to grow even more shortly. EMS companies that are able to integrate advanced manufacturing and engineering know-how will be the most likely to benefit from the value.
In a time in which every millimetre counts and innovations are printed onto the PCB itself, custom-designed PCBs are no longer a niche; they are now the norm. Additionally, EMS companies are rising as the creators of the technology of tomorrow.
