Flexible PCB makers both in Taiwan and Japan recorded strong performance in the second quarter indicating that the global FPCB industry is moving forward in a positive direction, according to industry sources.

   Taiwan-based FPCB maker Career Technology saw its gross margin advance to 27.24% in the second quarter from the 22.61% in the first, while peer company Flexium Interconnect saw its gross margin climb to 26.18% from 21.48% during the same period, according to data released by the companies.

   Another FPCB maker Taiflex Scientific posted an EPS of NT$2.22 in the second quarter with a gross margin of 24-24.5%, the company noted.

   NOK Corporation, the largest FPCB maker in Japan, has posted operating income of 2.765 billion yen (US$32.93 million) for first-quarter fiscal 2010 (April-June 2012) compared to substantial losses posted a year earlier.

   Japan-based PCB material supplier Arisawa recently revised its guidance for the entire year of fiscal 2012 to a net profit of 490 million yen from a loss of 220 million yen projected previously.