Why Choose China for Through-Hole PCB Assembly?

“Made in China” has been a familiar slogan due to the vast scale of manufacturing in China with tons of products exported daily across the world. One of the industries that stands out in China’s production is Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and electronics manufacturing. Top PCB manufacturers for both fabrication and assembly services are strategically headquartered in China for several reasons that are underscored in this article. Despite the blow of the pandemic and several supply chain issues, the country remained resilient and maintained its track record of being the frontrunner in the production of electronic devices and PCB products.

Along with the diverse PCB design requirements are two ways by which components can be attached and soldered into the PCB—Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Through Hole Technology (THT) PCB Assembly. Both methods were developed to fulfil various performance objectives. Smart manufacturing is well inculcated in China offering several advantages for customers that are looking for suitable partners for the assembly services. In this article, we will learn more about Through-Hole PCB Assembly and the reason why most companies choose China through-hole PCB assembly services.

What is Through Hole PCB Assembly?

Despite being an older assembly technique, Through-Hole PCB assembly is still prevalent in many PCB designs, especially for higher mechanical and power requirements. It involves inserting the leads of the components into the drilled holes of the printed circuit boards, contrary to SMT assembly wherein components are mounted directly on the PCB pads. Through Hole devices are characterized by long and straight leads to conveniently drill them into the circuit boards. The leads are cut and sometimes bent at a controlled distance and radius to insert them.

Through Hole PCB assembly utilizes wave soldering technology to fix the component leads on the boards. Wave soldering Through Hole PCB assembly requires a specific machine to solder the components. China through-hole PCB assembly services have established wave soldering techniques with extensive experience since the introduction of THT. A wave tank with molten solder allows the wetting of exposed leads.

In some cases, selective wave soldering is employed when there are only a few numbers of components that need to be soldered. A specialized fixture is used to cover pre-mounted devices that were soldered using reflow soldering. A post-cleaning is needed for soldering material containing fluxes to remove the residues that adhered to the boards.

What Makes China the Top Choice for PCB Assembly?

So, the question now is, why choose China through-hole PCB Assembly? We have listed down the most important explanations for why China is still the number one option for this type of PCB assembly technology.

• Low Cost. In the area of manufacturing, it is without question that China leads in providing products that have the lowest prices. The same goes for China through-hole PCB assembly services. Printed circuit board companies can establish long-term partnerships with existing customers and seal new deals with incoming investors due to very low costs that allow customers to earn high revenues with their products. Affordable prices are made possible for China companies due to cheap labour, easily available and accessible materials and very efficient assembly lines. Cost can even be further negotiated with a proper discussion of the requirements and openness to flexible payment terms and conditions.
• High Quality. With the help of upgraded capabilities of China through-hole PCB assembly lines, high quality is also expected on PCB products. Printed circuit boards are inspected by the machine while in process and after the assembly processes. These inspection processes ensure that parts are inserted and soldered correctly with sufficient adhesion and correct parts orientation. The stricter requirements especially for critical applications are considered during China through-hole PCB assembly by implementing in-line quality controls and stringent inspection criteria.
• Superior Technology. China PCB companies have very comprehensive technology for through-hole PCB assembly. They have mastered the technology with the ever-increasing productivity of automated machines despite varying designs and degrees of complexity. The benefits of automation have raised the bar in THT assembly with the rapid insertion of parts having different configurations such as radial and axial components. Superior China through-hole PCB assembly technology can eliminate the chances of errors arising from manual processes. Changeover times are reduced with flexible machine designs.
• Fast Lead time. With the advanced logistics infrastructures of China, through-hole PCB products are shipped fast with limited chances of delays. These infrastructures include railways, ports and digitalized systems for robust supply, also made possible with the support of the Chinese government. China through-hole PCB assembly technology companies offer the fastest lead time for high-volume products which helps customers build their end products more efficiently. The proximity between raw materials suppliers and logistics providers allows shorter lead times and most importantly, lower costs. Lead times of China through-hole PCB assembly can even further be expedited depending on the agreements of fees and conditions.
• Sustainability. Because of being a manufacturing powerhouse, China is also one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions worldwide. Recognizing this unwanted effect of modernization, PCB companies in China are also strengthening programs to curb carbon emissions to align with the country’s drive towards a green economy. Some examples of sustainable practices include energy conservation through the usage of renewable energy, proper and stringent waste management, and utilization of non-hazardous raw materials. These sustainability programs make PCB companies more appealing to local and foreign customers due to product compliance with international standards and regulations toward zero carbon emissions.

What are the Different Applications of China Through Hole PCB Assembly?

China through-hole PCB assembly services support the following market applications with their large production capacity capable of high-volume manufacturing and customization.

• Lighting. LED components loaded on printed circuit boards are inserted using through-hole machines. The advanced insertion machines of China through-hole PCB assembly companies produce highly reliable LED PCBs with minimal downtime and rapid component replenishment.
• Motherboards and Other Electronic Boards. Radial components of motherboards are easily programmed into THT machines for quick operations. Utilization is maximized due to non-stop operations and reduced set-up times.
• Consumer Electronics. With China through-hole PCB assembly technologies used widely, assembly yields are improved for PCBs intended for the escalating demand for consumer electronics. Quality is improved with the reduced risk of handling and defective issues with the help of vision systems and automated solutions.
• Power Applications. High-power devices requiring axial components heavily utilize upgraded machines with consistent and efficient performance. Online verification and inspection can be done to ensure components are correctly placed and inserted into the boards.