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Speaking of this Week — May 7, 2004
December 31, 1969 |Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
By Christine F. Della Monaca, Managing Editor, SMT
Speaking of this Week summarizes and analyzes events in the electronics assembly industry every Friday.
Sometimes, things are not as they seem, as evidenced by the March IPC Book-to-Bill Ratio. We've also got more personnel news than average, as well as progress, partnership and event news, some financial results, and some looks at various aspects of the industry. Read on for more:
- First, the March IMS/PCB Book-to-Bill ratio from Northbrook, Ill.-based IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries, which the organization reported as 1.12. Originally, IPC reported February's book-to-bill as 1.08, which would make this a jump, but later revised the February figure to 1.13, meaning the ratio actually fell slightly. At the same time, this number is still on a par with the best numbers of the year. The high for the past six months has been October's 1.18, and while this is a slight drop, it seems that growth may be leveling off slightly. I'm optimistic about good times ahead. In the meantime, the IMS/PCB Business Report saw the shipment index rise 15.3 percent, to 151.5, over February's numbers, while the booking index decreased 2 percent to 160.9. Take these numbers together, and it sounds like growth may have plateaued for now. Tune in next month for more.
- Personnel news came fast and furious this week. The Columbus, Ohio-based EWI named Yu-Ping Yang, Ph.D. as a senior engineer, while St. Louis-based Watlow appointed Dean McCaskill managing director of the Asia region. Melville, N.Y.-based Nu Horizons Electronics Corp. Chairman of the Board and COO Irving Lubman is retiring June 1, which means President and CEO Arthur Nadata will retain his CEO title and become chairman while current vice president and president of the company's NIC Components subsidiary Richard Schuster will take the reins as president and COO. On the sales side of things, Boca Raton, Fla.-based NRC Electronics appointed Michele Flaherty as international sales correspondent and Cory Dana director of product marketing, and AIM made Victor Madero technical sales manager for its Mexico offices. Finally, Londonderry, N.H.-based Polyclad Laminates Inc. has a new OEM marketing manager in Scott Trevino.
- In progress news, Redmond, Wash.-based Data I/O Corp. established a wholly foreign owned enterprise (WFOE) in China. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Technology Forecasters Inc. released Version 9.0 of the Global Pricing Workshop, which the consultant says gives pricing for electronics manufacturing and design services in almost 20 countries. The Midland, Mich.-based Dow Chemical Co.'s Epoxy Products & Intermediates business is raising prices on its epoxy resin products in North America, beginning June 1. And in other materials news, Midland, Mich.-based Dow Corning Corp. is moving into the specialty organic materials market with its launch of a new conductive silver ink.
- Just two bits of partnership news: Ogdensburg, N.Y.-based Cyber Technologies USA appointed two new manufacturer's representatives, Charles, Ill.-based Electronic Technology Corp. and Garden Grove, Calif.-based Production Technology for the Midwest and southern California, respectively. And Cambridge, Ontario, Canada-based ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. was selected to supply automated manufacturing systems to a major multinational health care company in a US $34 million order.
- Some event news: This week, SMT and Advanced Packaging Editor-in-Chief Gail Flower led a panel discussion at NEPCON East focusing on lean manufacturing. Participants discussed the concept of lean manufacturing from the equipment, EMS and software perspectives. Looking ahead, Des Plaines, Ill.-based Kester is commencing the second phase of its Kester University Program later this month at its headquarters.
- In financial news, Göteborg, Sweden-based FlexLink released its first quarter 2004 results, revealing an increase in EBITA of 42 percent year-over-year, as well as increased order intake in the U.S. and Asia. Similarly, Philadelphia-based Rohm and Haas Co. reported first quarter sales of $1.8 billion, a 14 percent increase over the same period in 2003.
- Finally, Palo Alto, Calif.-based Frost & Sullivan announced that revenue in the world SMT equipment software market totaled $236.9 million, and projects a rise to $425.4 million by 2010. Scottsdale, Ariz.-based In-Stat/MDR sees Bluetooth-enabled devices entering the mainstream, with manufactured Bluetooth-enabled equipment led by cell phones for the next four years.
This just in: According to this week's Quick Vote, an overwhelming 86 percent of you did not attend NEPCON East/SMTA Boston, while 14 percent were not sure if they would attend.
Have some insight on the industry? See something you don't agree with? Think I'm right on? Send it all to me at christinef@pennwell.com.