TARSUS GROUP ANNOUNCES NEW CHINESE INVESTMENT

Tarsus, the global B2B media group, has announced that it has entered into a partnership with the Hong Kong Printed Circuit Association (HKPCA) to be a supporting organisation and together with other organisers, jointly produce the world's leading printed circuit board event, the International Electronics Circuit Exhibition Shenzhen (The IECES Show) from 2022 onwards. Tarsus Group worked with Mayfield Merger Strategies on the investment which further strengthens the group’s presence in its Shenzhen hub and represents an additional move  into the fast growing and strategically important electronics sector for the business.

The IECES Show was first launched as South China International Printed Circuit & Equipment Fair in 2002 and is now one of the leading platforms for the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Electronics Assembly (EA) industries. The annual event showcases the latest technology, materials and production equipment solutions for the entire PCB industry supply chain. The 2021 edition will see the exhibition move to a new location, the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, where it will take place under the theme of "5G Connecting the World".

The PCB market has experienced steady growth in recent years, with China accounting for more than 50% of the world's PCB production. The 2020 event was an overwhelming success, attracting some 431 exhibitors covering an area of 52,500sqm and clocking over 48,000 visits in attendance; the impressive turnout in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the IECES Show's importance to the industry – the 2021 edition is set to bring the industry back together in even greater numbers.

The global market for PCBs is projected to reach US$78.7 billion by 2024 as demand remains strong mainly due to the roll-out of 5G and the continuous development of 5G infrastructure to the back-end consumer electronics devices, as well as the increasing use of PCBs in electrical equipment and connected vehicles. The market is also highly competitive with many larger companies focusing on expanding their customer base and operations across foreign territories, while mid-size and smaller producers are also increasing their presence by entering new markets thanks to ongoing product innovations.

Attracting even greater numbers of international attendees to the show, particularly in the wake of the pandemic as borders reopen, will be a key priority for Tarsus Group and their event partners. Tarsus will begin to implement the internationalisation strategy this year by co-locating the 2021 edition of its Touch China event – which was recently rebranded as Semi-e – with The IECES Show. The complementary events showcasing the PCB, semiconductor and display technology industries are set to attract exhibitors, brands and visitors alike.

“The HKPCA and the China Printed Circuit Association (CPCA) have jointly created and nurtured a hugely successful event,” said Tarsus CEO Douglas Emslie. “The Asia-Pacific region is dominating the global PCB and EA markets and we look forward to further develop and internationalise the event from next year onwards. Tarsus will deploy our experience, global resources and network to deliver growth and value for our partners and the industry as a whole.”