Surface-mounted components. In the electronics industry surface-mount technology has been widely used since late 1980s. Unlike the previous generation, the through-hole technology used in construction of printed circuit boards (PCB), the surface-mount technology uses components with small metal caps that are directly soldered onto the surface of a PCB. With this technology, much smaller components are used, allowing for much higher circuit density. Another benefit is an increased degree of degree of automation during assembly, reduced labor cost and greatly increased production rates.