With the maturing of the LED lighting market, medium-power LED demands have heated up. LED packaging manufacturers have recently begun entering into production of mid-to-high-powered EMC (Epoxy Molding Compound) frames. However, some industry insiders pointed out that EMC frames and PPA (polyphthalamide) frames have a vastly different production process. Considering it from an equipment facility point of view, industries are more willing to use PCT (polycyclohexylene-dimethylene terephthalates). The use of PCT in 1.5W LEDs is in overdrive and advances have already begun for 2W.
It is no surprise that EMC frames are the focal point for packaging manufacturers this year. EMC frames due to 1-2W LEDs quick development to 2-3W and rapidly falling prices, have threatened the market that once used low-powered PPA frames and high-powered ceramic substrate. However, frame experts believe that EMC frame production process and semi-conductors are similar. Using semi-conductors as a substrate manufacturer has benefits. Compared with changes in the need to increase equipment purchases and production process for LED markets specializing in lead frame manufacturing and packaging manufactures in the past, today faces more financial pressure.
Manufacturers that had once specialized in PPA frames have been shifting one by one towards the PCT frame market. Frame industries currently use PCT frames on 1.5W LEDs and are moving towards over-driving the LED to 2W. With PCTs entering into the medium-power LED market and PCT prices continuing to drop, most LED packaging manufacturers have a positive outlook for PCT frame and EMC frame development.
Many LED packaging manufacturers have begun entering into the EMC market. Taiwanese LED packaging manufacturer Everlight and Unity Opto as well as Chinese LED packaging manufacturers Refond and San’an’s subsidiary Lightning Opto have all opened EMC packaging component production capabilities. Similarly, South Korean LED manufacturers Samsung, Seoul Semi-conductor, LG Innotek have also entered into EMC packaging technology. While Taiwanese manufacturers are currently evaluating whether or not EMC production can continue expanding, South Korean LED manufacturers have jumped head first into EMC production.
