News
December 31, 1969 |Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
SMTA International 2005 Packed with Opportunities
ROSEMONT, Ill. - SMTA International, organized by the SMTA and co-located with the ATExpo, is dedicated to surface mount technology, advanced packaging and related technologies. This year’s conference, scheduled for September 26-29, 2005, at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., will showcase technologies related to lead-free, SMT, RFID, process control, flip chip, chip scale, BGA, RoHS compliance and automotive electronics. With a heavy concentration on lead-free, SMTAI offers 13 short courses and nearly 60 technical papers to help prepare companies for the 2006 deadline. The technical conference will also feature two focused symposia across seven tracks, including manufacturing and assembly, advanced packaging, substrates, soldering, test/inspection/quality, process control and contract manufacturing/business issues.
In addition to the Emerging Technologies Summit and the symposia, STMAI offers 28 full-day (7-hour) and half-day (3.5-hour) educational courses. Led by industry professionals, the tutorials deliver focused, in-depth presentations on industry topics. Tutorials are applications-oriented and structured, combining field experience with scientific research. Offered on Sunday and Monday, the tutorials give attendees the opportunity to also attend conference sessions and walk the exhibit floor. SMTAI also offers various technical sessions, workshops, special events, including panel discussions and a job center. For an up-to-date conference schedule, visit www.smta.org/smtai.
PCB Book-to-bill ratioJune Book-to-Bill Ratio on the Rise
NORTHBROOK, Ill. - The IPC IMS/PCB book-to-bill ratio for June 2005 rose to 1.13, reflecting the month’s jump in flexible circuit bookings. Due to the divergence between the rigid PCB and flexible circuit segments of the industry growth rates and book-to-bill patterns, this combined ratio has become less important to analysts. IPC reports a book-to-bill of 1.01 for rigid PCBs and 1.51 for flexible circuits. For these segments combined, sales billed (shipments) for June 2005 increased 3.3% year-over-year, and orders booked increased 37.4% from June 2004.
June’s overall book-to-bill level rose from last month’s numbers, and orders booked for June 2005 rose 37.4% from last year.
Indium Appoints Marketing VP
CLINTON, N.Y. - Indium Corporation hired Greg Phipps as vice president of marketing. Phipps is a graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration (MBA) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in electrical engineering. Prior to joining Indium, Phipps has worked with the Boston Consultancy Group and RR Donnelly.
Companies Team in Lead-free Experiments
PALO ALTO - Agilent Technologies and Franklin, Mass.-based Speedline Technologies have teamed to offer lead-free process development and characterization of PCBAs. Speedline will use Agilent’s lead-free-ready inspection systems in a series of experiments to document best practices associated with the transition to lead-free manufacturing. Lead-free requirements are forcing manufacturers to use robust, lead-free processes. Significant manufacturing changes can increase defects, lower production yield and raise costs. Agilent and Speedline believe that monitoring and process control of the solder steps are needed to reduce resolve this. Experiments will include investigating and documenting the effect of different process aspects of the transition to lead-free. Using Agilent’s AOI verification of paste and component placements, results will help develop critical, lead-free process recommendations that the industry can use for quick process optimization. Results will debut at this month’s SMTAI conference.
COMET Expands in Stamford; San Jose
STAMFORD, Conn. - COMET has opened a Service and Repair Center at its expanded American headquarters. The facility will house test, repair and maintenance for COMET X-ray tubes, RF products and FEINFOCUS microfocus X-ray systems, with a turnaround time of 24 hours for the initial evaluation and analysis of a damaged X-ray tube or module. The Service and Repair Center features four certified service engineers, and will also provide failure analysis service for complex electronics devices and precision components.
The company also opened a 5,200-square-foot Technical Resource Center in San Jose, Calif., providing the ability to inventory a full line of products and perform on-site service and repairs. The San Jose facility features three inspection service labs using FEINFOCUS microfocus X-ray inspection systems.
Hover-Davis Names Distributor in Finland
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Hover-Davis appointed Sincotron Finland Oy (Espoo, Finland) as is distributor for Finland and the Baltic States. Sincotron Finland provides SMD placement, inspection, microelectronics, soldering, dispensing, screen printing, testing, software, profiling, tools and consumables services to the electronics industry.
IPCWorks 2005 to Debut in Las Vegas
BANNOCKBURN, Ill. - What the future holds for the electronics interconnection industry will be examined at IPCWorks 2005, scheduled for October 20-27, 2005, at the SandsExpo Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. “What’s in Your Future?” is this year’s theme, with conference topics focusing on lead-free, using materials declaration information to improve recycling, embedded technology and new materials. Visit www.ipc.org/IPCWorks, or call (847) 597-2861 for more information.
Dage Opens Demo Center and Applications Lab
HAVERHILL, Mass. - Dage Precision Industries opened an East Coast demonstration center and application lab. In a strategic alliance with Circuit Technology Center, Dage will showcase its digital X-ray inspection technology in Circuit Technology Center’s 30,000-square foot facility in Haverhill, Mass. Circuit Technology Center offers circuit board repair and rework services, skills training and a range of repair tools and materials. “Circuit board manufacturers throughout the Eastern portion of the U.S. will benefit from access to Dage’s next-generation of X-ray inspection technology,” said Charles Dennehy, president of Circuit Technology Center.
Online RoHS Knowledge Center
FORT WORTH, TX - Allied Electronics has launched an online RoHS Knowledge Center to help designers, purchasers and others in the industry meet emerging environmental laws, such as the EU’s RoHS Directive. Designed to keep customers abreast of RoHS and other legislation affecting the North American electronics industry, the Website (www.alliedelec.com/RoHS) will feature manufacturer updates and a complete listing of the company’s RoHS-compliant products, as well as a search function to display compliant products.