A new supply chain report published today claims that flexible PCB firms Flexium Interconnect and Zhen Ding Technology are gearing up for mass production for Apple's next-generation iPad devices, while Compeq Manufacturing and Unitech PCB supply rigid-flex boards for the forthcoming AirPods, according to industry sources.

Apple is expected to introduce its new-generation iPad and AirPods series at an event on March 25, the sources said.

Both Zhen Ding and Flexium may see their shipments for Apple's upcoming iPad models offset a slowdown in iPhone shipments in the first half of 2019. Meanwhile, the availability of Apple's long-awaited AirPods 2 is seen as a boost to revenues at both Compeq and Unitech during the six-month period, the sources continued.

Apple had updated their 'AirPods' trademark back in November to cover wellness sensors. More specifically the trademark filing covered the following: "General wellness instruments, namely, health, fitness, exercise, and wellness sensors, monitors, speakers and displays for measuring, displaying, tracking, reporting, monitoring, storing, and transmitting biometric data, heart rate, body movement, and calories burned; hearing aids; medical apparatus and instruments; and more.

Whether Apple's next-gen AirPods will introduce new health-related sensors this time around is unknown at this time.

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