The ZVEI-Association PCB and Electronic Systems has analysed the turnover of the printed circuit board manufactures in Germany for November 2011. It was 1.6% higher than in October 2011 and approximately 14% below that of November 2010. The accumulated turnover for the first 11 months of 2011 exceeded the same period of the previous year by almost 6%. The orders received, compared to November 2010 climbed by 51% and around 44% compared to October 2011.

The cumulated order received, however, remained 18% below that of the previous year. The cause of the extraordinary large orders, according to ZVEI, was the floods in Thailand that affected important automobile manufacturers. The floodwaters in October 2011 had covered the production lines by up to 3 metres of water. It will probably take to the second quarter of 2011 until production everywhere returns to normal.

As the production of the automobile manufacture is still “Good to very good”, the circuit boards required by them are being sourced from the freed-up suppliers in Europe. The Book-to-Bill-Ratio – the relationship of the orders received to the turnover – was 1.39 in November 2011.

The number of employees in November 2011 fell by 1.5% in comparison to both the previous month as also the same month of the previous year, as the time contracts of some companies were not extended.