Evolution of the PCB Timeline

We look at how the PCB has evolved from its invention last century to the present day. We look at how PCB manufacturer, Newbury Electronics Limited, has evolved with the PCB too.

1800s

Photosensitive coatings and photoengraving are invented.

1907

Paul Eisler born in Vienna, Austria.

1913

Arthur Berry patents the print and etch method.

1914 -1918

WWI

1936

Paul Eisler Invents the PCB.

1939

WWII begins.

Paul Eisler leaves Nazi Germany for England and continues PCB research.

1943

Paul Eisler creates a radio with a PCB. Files patent. Soon after, PCBs are integrated into the war effort and become widely used.

1945

WWII ends.

Post WWII - PCBs are adopted more widely. PCBs Evolve and begin to shrink in size, allowing inventions to become smaller.

1956

Newbury Electronics is established, producing manufactured circuit boards.

1957

The Institute for Printed Circuits is founded in US.

1978

Newbury begins to produce ‘plated through hole’ PTH circuit boards.

1979

First CNC drill and routing machine is installed.

1980

New Newbury PCB factory is built and opens at Faraday Road.

1987

CADCAM computer aided manufacturing commences. Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) for bare PCBs introduced.

1989

Multilayer circuit manufacture begins at Newbury.

1990

Laser plotting of PCB artwork is installed.

1992

Flying probe electrical test is installed.

1995

PCB assembly service commences at Newbury. US PCB Production reaches $7.1 billion.

1996

The first pick & place machine for component placement is installed at Newbury.

1997

Periodic reverse pulse plating is installed for electrolytic plating.

1999

The PCB Train online service is launched.

2002

Vacuum lamination multilayer multi-layer press is introduced.

2003

The PCB assembly division moves to new factory (Ampere Road).

2005

Inkjet printing of legends is introduced.

2006

AOI inspection of populated PCBs is introduced.

2010

Laser cut solder paste stencil manufacturing operations starts.

2012

The fifth automatic SMD placement line is installed at Newbury.

2014 and into the Future

Newbury will introduce direct laser imaging of copper plating and resist masks to its PCB production.