November 2, 2026 / SemiMedia / — PC manufacturers are struggling to secure printed circuit boards for future products as AI infrastructure orders absorb production capacity, according to industry executives cited in a Nikkei Asia report.

Some suppliers said lead times had doubled, with certain orders taking as long as 30 months. Another supplier said newly placed orders would not ship until late 2028. These examples concern particular products and suppliers rather than an industry average.

The constraints extend upstream to copper clad laminates and specialized glass fiber materials. The report described sharp laminate cost increases and a leading supplier with orders extending into 2030, even as it plans a substantial capacity expansion.

AI servers, accelerators and chip substrates are attracting investment in more complex boards and materials. Expansion by board and substrate suppliers could add capacity, but delivery depends on material availability and the time needed to bring new facilities into operation.

Engineering recruitment is another constraint. Industry executives reported pay increases of 20 to 30 percent to retain skilled staff. For PC makers, the resulting supply pressure could complicate product schedules and raise costs even without growth in overall PC shipments.