These applications require enormous quantities of high-quality laminates, reducing the production capacity available for traditional industrial and automotive applications. The number of layers in the PCBs used in AI servers is three to five times greater than in conventional designs. As a result, the demand for high-quality PCB materials is increasing substantially throughout the entire supply chain.
Industry experts predict that demand will remain very high, or continue to grow, at least until the end of 2026. A particular challenge is the simultaneous shortage of several key raw materials needed for PCB manufacturing. In addition to copper-clad laminates (CCL), supply pressures are increasingly affecting copper foils, prepregs (especially PP1080 and PP2116), high-performance resin, and other materials such as tungsten carbide, used in drilling and milling tools.
Regarding fiberglass fabrics, industry experts do not foresee a significant improvement in supply constraints before 2028. The consequences include higher prices, longer lead times, less predictable prices, and stricter allocation measures at various points in the supply chain. At the same time, the flexibility to respond to short-term demand fluctuations is decreasing, as many manufacturers' production capacities are already committed long-term.
As a result, the market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The era of freely available materials is increasingly being replaced by an allocation-based economy. Companies lacking long-term supplier relationships, reliable forecasts, or approved alternative materials will face not only higher costs but, in extreme cases, the risk of total supply disruptions. Therefore, security of supply is becoming a key competitive factor
Today, proactive procurement strategies, reliable demand forecasting, stable ordering patterns, and close collaboration across the entire supply chain are essential. At the same time, the approval of alternative materials and forward-thinking project planning are becoming even more important.
“Thanks to our close collaboration with customers, material suppliers, and technology partners, we gain early insight into changes in material availability, manufacturing capabilities, and the stability of global supply chains. This transparency allows us to respond proactively to new developments and offer the best possible support to our customers,” says Manuel Mairhofer, Member of the Board of Management of Würth Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG.
Daniel Jacob, CEO of STARTEAM GLOBAL, adds: “Our strong network across the entire supply chain helps us identify trends and challenges at an early stage. Together with our partners, we develop sustainable solutions that enable us to successfully meet the demands of the markets of the future.”
About the collaboration between STARTEAM GLOBAL and Würth Elektronik:
STARTEAM GLOBAL and Würth Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG are committed to promoting technological exchange within the sector beyond their core manufacturing activities. This includes, among other initiatives, STARTEAM GLOBAL's integration of technologies from Notion Systems and Peters Group into FST Italia, as well as joint participation with Würth Elektronik and Peters Group in the s.mask initiative.
The goal is to drive innovation in printed circuit board (PCB) technology and foster the open exchange of knowledge across the entire PCB ecosystem. Following a successful presentation tour in the days leading up to the Productronica trade fair in Munich, the s.mask initiative continued its activities in late 2025 with numerous discussions among technical experts. These discussions focused on current challenges in PCB manufacturing and approaches to enabling smarter and more flexible production. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration among industry partners and help make the PCB industry more resilient to future market changes.
Currently, STARTEAM GLOBAL and Würth Elektronik maintain their joint commitment to actively promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and collaboration across the PCB industry.
