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Names in the News
July 17, 2009 |Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Following are the certification, new facilities, contract wins, and other announcements from global suppliers and electronics manufacturers from California to Bulgaria. BPM Microsystems, Isola, Victrex, High-Tech Conversions, Juki, ZESTRON, U.S. Circuit, Circuit Express, Molex, Newark, Vitronics Soltec, Horizon Die, Bliss Industries, Qualisystems, MIRTEC, Seratel, ACE Production Technologies, Kyzen, Cobar and DKL Metals, and Rogers Corporation share the news.
Deltacom Electronics Sofia, Bulgaria purchased a BPM Microsystems Helix FS -TR device programming system from supplier Etek Europe Ltd. Deltacom Electronics is a Bulgarian-based CEM predominantly focusing on the manufacturing, testing and assembly of satellite television STBs; supplying both the domestic market and the wider Eastern European markets. The company has integrated the BPM Microsystems Helix device programming system into its manufacturing process to eliminate the time-consuming, post-assembly device programming process step. Devices are now pre-programmed prior to SMT. BPM Microsystems' Helix programming system can be configured with either a precision-designed tube input/output handling system or a matrix tray input/output handling system as well as up to eight sockets for device programming. The operational sequence of the machine is to pick the part from the tube or tray, transfer to the programming socket, program the part and return to the programmed tube or tray. The precision tooling head requires no vision system for handling of fine-pitched parts and the handling system has an overall throughput maximum of 800 devices per hour. www.bpmicro.com, www.etek-europe.com.
Vitronics Soltec appointed Anglo Production Processes Ltd. (APP) and IPT Ltd. to represent and distribute Vitronics Soltec soldering machines throughout the U.K. and Ireland. APP and IPT will offer the entire soldering range from wave to selective from Vitronics Soltec. Vitronics Soltec European headquarters is nearby in the Netherlands for trials and application development work. APP and IPT will be responsible for sales, service and spare parts for Vitronics Soltec products, serviced from facilities in Bromsgrove, U.K. and Cork, Ireland. www.appelectronics.co.uk and www.vitronics-soltec.com.
Matt LaRontISOLA GROUP, SARL's Matt LaRont, current president of North America operations, will take on the additional responsibility of global supply chain officer. In his expanded capacity, LaRont will oversee the strategic supply plan for Isola Group, work closely with R&D to ensure NPI ramp is not supply-constrained, manage global supply contracts and supplier licensing, and have oversight of NWC goal attainment. LaRont fills a position vacated by Eric Seip, who accepted the position of VP of supply chain for a NYSE-listed corporation located in Chicago. Since joining Isola in 2004, LaRont has held positions in Global Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, and Operations, and has spent a great deal of time throughout the Asia Pacific. www.isola-group.com.
The new Victrex siteVictrex Polymer Solutions, a division of Victrex plc, launched its redesigned Website, www.victrex.com. The user-friendly and content-rich site offers easy and intuitive navigation with comprehensive product/application information directly accessible by industry or product name. Customers, including OEMs, engineers and processing partners, can access expert engineering and technical support, secure information about PEEK products available, and get personalized service throughout the development process. The new site is focused on providing customers with technically rich content; showcasing Victrex's application success stories with a focus on specific performance challenges within each industry; and creating awareness for recent promotions and upcoming events. The new site includes a section called "Ask the Expert," where users can identify criteria and application challenges then connect with an expert who can address their specific needs. The Victrex Library is accessible from every page of the website and contains datasheets, press releases, literature and more, with sort-functionality by industry or product. www.victrex.com.
High-Tech Conversion's new building.High-Tech Conversions Inc. moved to a larger corporate headquarters that will quadruple the size of its former facility. The location is modernized, efficiently planned, and has room for future growth. The new address for the headquarters in Enfield, CT is 1699 King Street. www.high-techconversions.com.
JUKI Automation Systems Europe launched a new Website at www.jas-smt.com. The site is easier to navigate than the previous site and better presents Juki's latest news, products, and customer references. The site features a download section with brochures, pictures and press, as well as designated areas for distributors and technicians. Under the media category, visitors can view company-related videos and photos. The site is available in English and German, featuring Juki's full product portfolio with detailed descriptions of all Juki products, as well as direct contacts for sales, service, marketing and order management, and the JUKI Automation Systems Europe's 24-hour service hotline. www.jas-smt.com.
ZESTRON renewed its ISO 9001:2008 certification with TÜV Management Service, an accredited third-party ISO registrar. TÜV conducted a thorough audit of ZESTRON's quality management system according to ISO 9001:2008 standards. Upon completion of the audit, ZESTRON received certification meriting that it has established and applies a quality management system for development, production and distribution of high-tech cleaning agents for the electronics manufacturing industry. www.zestron.com.
U.S. Circuit, CA-based manufacturer of bare printed circuit boards, received International Traffic and Arms Regulation (ITAR) certification. U.S. Circuit joins a group of approximately a dozen North American manufacturers to have obtained this important military certification. ITAR can also be required for commercial electronics. www.uscircuit.com.
Quick-turn/prototype PCB manufacturer Circuit Express Inc. achieved approved supplier status from Lockheed Martin Space Systems, after an exhaustive Special Process Survey and Quality System audit by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. This approval makes it possible for Circuit Express to immediately start work on Lockheed Martin's new Orion and other space programs. More than 35% of Circuit Express revenue comes from the mil/aero sector. The company has high ratings in quality and delivery for Lockheed Martin (Missiles & Fire Control. www.circuitexpress.com.
Molex Incorporated announced that 200 of its US-based fleet drivers have completed GreenDriver's online training and certification program. Molex is the first corporation to complete the GreenDriver program, which provides a viable solution for commercial and government fleets to reduce their CO2 and fuel spend. GreenDriver teaches drivers how vehicle maintenance, trip preplanning, and small behavioral changes can directly impact their carbon emissions and fuel consumption. Molex's ECOCARE initiative is a company-wide commitment to minimize the environmental, occupational health and safety impacts of its business activities, products, and services. GreenDriver, which is based on industry best practices and fact-based studies, provides practical, simple ways for drivers to operate their vehicles more efficiently. The online course takes approximately 90 minutes to complete and includes information on the impact of excess weight, proper ways to accelerate/decelerate, how and when to use cruise control, the importance of proper vehicle spacing, and other important measures. Based on data from Donlen Corporation, Molex's fleet management provider, Molex's sales and marketing teams drive approximately 3,700,000 miles, consuming approximately 260,000 gallons of fuel a year. By completing the GreenDriver program, Molex expects to reduce the fuel use by at least 10%, which equates to approximately 26,000 gallons of fuel and 230 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. www.molex.com and www.greendriver.com.
Newark, part of the global Premier Farnell Group, announced that its national metrology labs now meet ISO/IEC 17025:2005. This accreditation covers Newark's precision calibration services, processes, technicians, and data accuracy. As part of the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 certification, Newark's labs undergo a stringent external audit every 6 months to ensure that their processes, equipment and training continue to meet the high quality levels necessary for this accreditation. In addition, all phases of Newark's organization have been certified ISO9001 since 1996. Newark's capabilities include electronic, physical and dimension calibration for a wide range of test equipment and measurement instruments. Three-day turnaround, certifications with data and free second day return shipping are standard for all calibration levels: 9001:2000, ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994 and 17025. www.newark.com/calibration.
Horizon Die Company, Inc., a manufacturer of precision dies, lead frames, and metal stampings, recently recertified to ISO 9001:2008; a global standard for quality management practices and procedures. www.horizondie.com.
Bliss Industries Inc. appointed Torenko and Associates as its sales representative for Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana and parts of Mexico. Torenko is headquartered in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and will add Bliss material handling carts and racks for PCB assembly to its electronics assembly product lines. www.torenko.com. Bliss also appointed Horizon Sales as its rep for Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania. Horizon Sales is located in Brighton, MI; Cleveland; and Kokomo, IN. www.horizonsales.com and www.blissindustries.com.
QualiSystems Ltd. added a local branch in Shanghai, China, followed by a multi-million-dollar partnership agreement with a Chinese distributer. The branch will offer test automation to regional telecom and electronics giants. QualiSystems TestShell is a suite of integrated test automation applications that can be used for testing virtually any type of hardware, device or embedded system. Each application manages and automates certain aspects of the testing process and supplies data to a unified database. Together, they turn the testing process into a complete quality optimization solution. The new QualiSystems branch in China will provide the complete TestShell System, together with post-sales service and support, to the region. Kang Li leads QualiSystems operations in China. www.qualisystems.com.
MIRTEC was awarded contracts totaling more than $15 million with leading mobile solution manufacturers for its MV-7xi inline automated optical inspection (AOI) systems. The MV-7xi suits inspection of high-density PCBs associated with advanced mobile products. www.mirtecusa.com.
Continental Automotive Components Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. implemented Seratel's "Reel aMounts" counting and labeling system for electronic components at its factory in Penang, Malaysia. Reel aMounts allows Continental to count and re-label reels of surface mount components in 15 seconds or less, compared to four minutes with the previous manual counters. The operator scans a bar code on the reel to carry out the counting, and a second bar code to print a new label for the reel, including the new quantity, operator information etc. Seratel and Continental integrated Reel aMounts with Continental's SAP/Solo ERP system. When a reel is counted using Reel aMounts, inventory figures in SAP/Solo are automatically updated to include material used in production and both handling and placement attrition. All material is automatically tracked by a unique ID code for each reel. Reel aMounts links a computer, electronic weighing scales, bar code scanner, bar code printer and a database of component types to provide high speed counting for tape and reel components. All information collected is stored in a database. An extensive, web-based reporting system provides both management statistics and detailed analysis. Information can also be forwarded to most ERP systems, printed as reports or exported to Excel for further analysis. www.seratel.ie.
ACE Production Technologies Inc. appointed Europlacer Distribution to represent ACE selective soldering systems in France and French-speaking Switzerland, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. ACE and Europlacer Distribution entered into the exclusive sales and distribution agreement whereby Europlacer Distribution assumes all sales, service, installation, and ongoing support responsibility for ACE products in the aforementioned territories. www.europlacerdistrib.com and www.ace-protec.com.
Kyzen plans to open a sales and support facility in Malaysia, calling the country an important hub for the high value-added electronics and other high-technology manufacturing with a business friendly environment and highly educated, dedicated work force. Kyzen has had a staff in Malaysia for several years. Kyzen has completed site selection and is in the process of fitting out the facility. www.kyzen.com.
DKL Metals Ltd. signed an agreement with Cobar to sell their comprehensive line of products in the UK. Cobar products are now available direct from DKL Metals, based in West Lothian, Scotland. Technical staff at DKL Metals visited Cobar's laboratory in Breda, Holland to undergo a comprehensive training program. Cobar products include a range of solder, liquid fluxes, thinners, rework fluxes, cleaning agents, peelable solder mask, cobrush flux applicator and solder paste and cored solder wire. www.dklmetals.co.uk.
Rogers Corporation launched a new Chinese language website at www.rogerscorp.cn.com and also accessible from Rogers' English-lauguage homepage, www.rogerscorp.com, provides streamlined links from markets to applications to products. Chinese-speaking customers can search Rogers' materials and find technical data and design tools to help in their design process. Products include high-performance foams for sealing, cushioning and impact protection; advanced circuit materials for high-frequency applications; lighting solutions for electronics, signage and automotive interiors; customized power distribution systems; thermal management solutions, and more.