A Shortage of 2.2 Billion Units! AI Server PCBs Drive Material Innovation, PCD Diamond Micro Drills Become Essential, Six Core Suppliers Emerge

The explosion of computing power in the AI era fundamentally rewrites the technical standards for PCBs. Traditional server PCBs have only 4-6 layers, while the PCB layer count of NVIDIA’s Rubin platform has increased to over 40 layers, with some high-end products even featuring 22-layer HDI boards and 26-layer through-hole boards.More critically, material innovation is required. M9 grade copper-clad laminates use quartz fabric instead of traditional fiberglass, paired with HVLP4 grade copper foil, significantly enhancing hardness and grindability, causing the lifespan of traditional coated drill bits to plummet from 1000 holes to just 100-200 holes, increasing the replacement frequency by 40 times, severely restricting PCB production capacity.Therefore, it is necessary to switch to materials with a Mohs hardness significantly higher than silicon—carbon, specifically PCD diamond.The surge in PCD diamond micro drills is essentially an inevitable result of the demand for AI computing power. Institutions predict that from 2025 to 2027, global AI server shipments will maintain an annual growth rate of over 80%, driving a simultaneous surge in AI PCB demand. Each high-end AI PCB processing relies on PCD micro drills, which are priced 5-10 times higher than traditional drill bits, with high-end models even reaching dozens of times more,forming a golden pattern of “both volume and price rising.”In the context of AI server PCBs driving material upgrades, A-share companies possessing PCD diamond micro drill technology may become indispensable stocks in this wave of AI. Based on our analysis, the following companies are worth focusing on!Wolrd—PCD Diamond Micro Drill + Diamond ComponentsPCD micro drills have been sent for samples to leading PCB manufacturers in Shenzhen, compatible with M9 grade copper-clad laminate processing, with diamond heat sink prices expected to rise to 40,000 yuan.Si Fang Da—PCD Composite Sheets + Diamond Micro DrillsLeveraging petroleum composite sheet technology to enter the PCB micro drill market, products have penetrated the South Korean supply chain, suitable for drilling high-hardness materials.Ding Tai Gao Ke—Global Leader in PCB Drill BitsRanked first in market share globally, high-end high aspect ratio drill bits are in short supply, with production capacity expected to expand to 120 million per month by the end of the year.Fei Li Hua—Quartz Fabric (Q Fabric)The only Q fabric supplier verified by NVIDIA’s Rubin platform, a core substrate for M9 grade copper-clad laminates, monopolizing key upstream segments.Sheng Yi Technology—M9 Grade Copper-Clad LaminateThe only M9 grade copper-clad laminate supplier in mainland China for NVIDIA, with M8 products in bulk supply and M9 currently undergoing validation.De Fu Technology—HVLP4 Ultra-Low Profile Copper FoilOne of only two mass production companies globally, a key material for M9 copper-clad laminates, core components for reducing signal loss.Sheng Hong Technology—AI Server PCB ManufacturingOne of the first to mass-produce 6-stage 24-layer AI PCBs, first to apply M9 materials and PCD micro drill technology, with production capacity expanding simultaneously.