What should I check first when comparing flexible PCB manufacturers?

Ask two things before price: whether the supplier can confirm your stack-up within a documented process window, and whether the Gerber data is reviewed before the quote is issued rather than after the order is placed. Both answers tell you how much of the risk the supplier is carrying for you.

Is the cheapest flexible PCB quote always the worst?

Not automatically, but a quote that is far below the rest without an explanation of material, stack-up or finish is worth questioning. Ask what base material, copper weight and surface finish the price assumes, and whether panelisation and tooling are included.

Should I order a prototype before committing to volume?

For a new design or a new supplier, yes. A prototype validates the stack-up, bend areas and assembly before tooling and material commitments are made, and it gives you a physical reference to compare the volume build against.

What data should I prepare before contacting suppliers?

Gerber or CAD files, the stack-up, layer count, base material and copper weight, surface finish, quantity for both prototype and volume, and your target delivery. A BOM and assembly requirement should be included if the flex circuits will be populated.

How do I compare quality control between two suppliers?

Ask which inspection steps are routine on every order and which are optional extras, what documentation accompanies the shipment, and how a defect reported after delivery is traced. Clear answers are easier to verify than a certification list alone.

How do I start an RFQ?

Send your files and requirements through the contact page, including the intended application. The engineering team reviews the data, confirms the feasible construction and replies with the information still required and the quotation.

Home/How to Choose a Flexible PCB Manufacturer

How to Choose a Flexible PCB Manufacturer: 10 Questions + Checklist

Price matters, but the cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest board. Use these ten questions - and the checklist below - to compare flexible PCB suppliers on capability, engineering, quality and service.

What layer counts and board types do you make?

Confirm the supplier's range before you commit a design. As a reference, flexible circuits range from simple 1–2 layer parts to complex multilayer builds; confirm the limit for your specific stack-up. Fanjuda's currently published range is 1–6 layer FPC, including single-sided, double-sided, multilayer, stiffened and custom-shaped boards — see our flexible PCB page and send your files to verify fit.

Can you meet my trace width, spacing and copper requirements?

Trace width, spacing and copper weight must be checked against the supplier's process window. As a general industry reference, 0.075 mm / 0.075 mm trace/space is a common production level, and copper weights of 1/3 oz, 1/2 oz and 1 oz are typical. Confirm your values rather than assuming.

What hole sizes, thicknesses and panel sizes can you process?

Small vias, thin base material and large panels all push process limits. As an industry reference, mechanical drilling commonly starts around 0.15–0.2 mm, laser microvias around 0.1 mm, and PI base material is often 0.05–0.4 mm before stiffeners. Send your drawing and let the supplier confirm each dimension.

How will my prototype specifications transfer to volume production?

Sample boards made on a separate pilot line may not represent volume output. Buyers should confirm how prototype specifications will be transferred to volume production before committing to mass production.

Do you review my files before production?

A supplier that reviews Gerber files, BOM and stack-up before cutting material can catch issues early. Fanjuda reviews the submitted files and project requirements before confirming production feasibility and lead time. If you are still assembling the data package, our guide to preparing Gerber and stack-up for an FPC quotation lists what to include.

What information do you need for a quotation?

A complete RFQ saves time. Typically include: Gerber files or drawings, a BOM, target quantity, layer count, stack-up, material, copper weight, finished thickness, surface finish and any impedance or bend requirements. The more complete your files, the more accurate the quote.

What lead time should I expect?

Lead time varies with layer count, materials, stack-up, tooling and assembly requirements. A written schedule should be confirmed after engineering review, tied to your specific files and quantity.

Which materials and surface finishes do you support?

Polyimide (PI) is a common flexible base material, and finishes such as ENIG and OSP are widely used. “Common in the industry” is not the same as “available from this supplier” — ask for the supplier's actual options list and choose for your application.

How do you control quality?

Ask which inspection steps are routine and what documentation you receive with each order. Typical controls include engineering review, in-process inspection, AOI optical inspection and outgoing checks; reports are provided as agreed with the order. You can also see how quality is managed on our quality control page.

Do you offer SMT assembly support?

Coordinated SMT assembly support is available when required; assembly timing is confirmed separately with your order. Fanjuda is based in Chang'an, Dongguan, China. Assembled prototypes and volume builds are covered on the flexible PCB prototype page.

Supplier comparison checklist

Record the same eight answers from every supplier you approach. Filling this in side by side usually separates the quotes that are genuinely comparable from the ones that only look cheaper:

Capability range confirmed in writing for your specific stack-up, not a general “up to” figure
Whether engineering review happens before the quote or only after the order is placed
What the prototype and the volume build share — construction, material and process flow
Which inspection steps are routine on every order and which are optional extras
Which documents accompany the shipment, and whether they are agreed in advance
Who answers technical questions during production, and how quickly
What the written lead time is tied to: files, quantity, tooling and assembly
Commercial terms: minimum quantity, panelisation, tooling, freight and payment

Red flags when comparing FPC quotes

None of these is proof on its own, but each one deserves a follow-up question before you commit a project:

A price far below the others with no explanation of material, stack-up or finish assumed
A quotation issued with no engineering comment on the files at all
“We can make anything” instead of a specific answer about your drawing
A delivery date promised before the data has been reviewed
No written confirmation of base material, copper weight, finish or tolerance
Certificates or test reports that cannot be produced on request

How to run a first order with a new supplier

A first order carries more risk than the tenth. Sequence it so that each commitment is based on something you have already verified:

Send a complete data package — Gerber, stack-up, material, copper weight, finish, quantity and target delivery
Ask for engineering feedback before accepting the price, so you know what the quote assumes
Build samples and inspect them against your drawing and the agreed construction — see how to verify flexible PCB quality
Confirm which file revision and construction will be used for volume production
Release volume only against a written schedule, with the inspection items agreed

Does the supplier also cover rigid and rigid-flex boards?

Many products combine a flexible circuit with a rigid board or a rigid-flex section. If one supplier reviews both parts, the stack-up, materials and tolerances stay consistent and you avoid two suppliers disagreeing over the interface. Our PCB page and rigid-flex page explain how those enquiries are evaluated, or send the whole design through the contact page for review.

Related guides

FPC prototype cost — which factors drive the quotation, and how to compare two quotes on the same basis.
FPC prototype lead time — what affects the schedule and how to get a written date.
How to prepare Gerber and stack-up for an FPC quotation — the data package that avoids a round of clarification.
How to verify flexible PCB quality before volume production — what to check at sample, in-process and outgoing stages.
Flex PCB bend radius — what the radius measures, static vs dynamic bending, and the design rules that protect copper.
Flexible PCB HS code — how FPCs are classified for customs, the China layer-count split, and the declaration mistakes that cause delays.
Flex PCB material and stackup — PI vs PET, ED vs RA copper, coverlay, stiffeners and how to specify total thickness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I check first when comparing flexible PCB manufacturers?: Ask two things before price: whether the supplier can confirm your stack-up within a documented process window, and whether the Gerber data is reviewed before the quote is issued rather than after the order is placed. Both answers tell you how much of the risk the supplier is carrying for you.
Is the cheapest flexible PCB quote always the worst?: Not automatically, but a quote that is far below the rest without an explanation of material, stack-up or finish is worth questioning. Ask what base material, copper weight and surface finish the price assumes, and whether panelisation and tooling are included.
Should I order a prototype before committing to volume?: For a new design or a new supplier, yes. A prototype validates the stack-up, bend areas and assembly before tooling and material commitments are made, and it gives you a physical reference to compare the volume build against.
What data should I prepare before contacting suppliers?: Gerber or CAD files, the stack-up, layer count, base material and copper weight, surface finish, quantity for both prototype and volume, and your target delivery. A BOM and assembly requirement should be included if the flex circuits will be populated.
How do I compare quality control between two suppliers?: Ask which inspection steps are routine on every order and which are optional extras, what documentation accompanies the shipment, and how a defect reported after delivery is traced. Clear answers are easier to verify than a certification list alone.
How do I start an RFQ?: Send your files and requirements through the contact page, including the intended application. The engineering team reviews the data, confirms the feasible construction and replies with the information still required and the quotation.

Send your flex design for review

Contact us with your project requirements through the contact page. Our team will explain how to submit Gerber files securely for review, then confirm production feasibility, lead time and quotation.