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Speaking of this Week — February 13, 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.
There's a lot to love this week, what with partnership news, word of progress, financial announcements and results, looks at upcoming shows, two personnel announcements, and some looks at the industry. Take a break from finding something for your sweetie for tomorrow and read on:
- Binghamton, N.Y.-based Universal Instruments Corp. and Germany-based CeTaQ GmbH formed an agreement in principle to offer machine capability assessment services to SMT equipment users that require independent capability measurement and verification. Meanwhile, Des Plaines, Ill.-based Kester and North Billerica, Mass.-based BTU International co-hosted a lead-free seminar in Tampa Bay, Fla. this week, and San Jose, Calif.-based Sanmina-SCI Corp. became the first to enter into a worldwide licensing agreement under Nortel Networks' "Channel Routing" technology licensing program. In other partnership news, Tokyo-based Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. and West Haven, Conn.-based Enthone Inc. formed an agreement that will strengthen their precious metal plating process business in Asia, while Fort Myers, Fla.-based Fox Electronics added Tel Aviv-based Avnet Components Israel Ltd. to its network of global distributors. Finally, in acquisition news, St. Louis-based LaBarge entered into a letter of intent to buy East Pittsburgh, Pa.-based EMS provider Pinnacle Electronics LLC.
- Progress keeps progressing, and here's proof: Hollis, N.H.-based JPSA Laser launched an expanded Web site, while in other Web site news, Midland, Mich.-based e-epoxy.com is celebrating three years in business with special customer incentives. The Herndon, Va.-based NEMI also published its multi-pronged research priorities document. Finally, in a different kind of progress news, Lake Success, N.Y.-based Park Electrochemical Corp. discontinued financial support of its German wholly owned subsidiary, Dielektra GmbH, citing a weakened European market as the cause.
- In financial news and announcements, Herzlia, Israel-based Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd. announced increased year-over-year revenues for the fourth quarter of 2003, ended December 31, as well as full-year results that were improved over 2002's numbers. Atlanta-based Visiprise had similar good news, announcing that it had exceeded its financial and operating objectives in a year of milestones for the company. Meanwhile, Austin, Texas-based Staktek Holdings Inc. launched an IPO, and Milpitas, Calif.-based Solectron Corp. priced $450 million of its convertible senior notes, due 2034. In similar news, Helsinki, Finland-based Elcoteq Network Corp. exercised stock options to subscribe for 247,500 new Series A shares.
- News of upcoming trade shows included the announcement that the Minneapolis-based SMTA will co-organize the 2004 High-level SMT Technology Conference during NEPCON Shanghai/EMT China, taking place in late April. And addressing the white-hot lead-free solder topic was Northbrook, Ill.-based IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries and UK-based Soldertec Global who will team up to sponsor the International Conference on Lead-free electronics in Amsterdam, held in late June.
- Two bits of personnel news: With its quarterly results, Tecnomatix announced that it has a new CEO in Jaron Lotan, who was formerly president and COO. Former CEO Harel Beit-On will continue on as chairman of the Board of Directors. In the meantime, San Jose, Calif.-based Cadence Design Systems Inc. elected Lip-Bu Tan, chairman and founder of Walden International, to its Board of Directors.
- Finally, some looks at the industry: Soldertec Global published a summary of the results from its electronics industry survey, which focused on marking of hazardous materials. The survey showed that electronic assemblers want marks on all components and materials supplied, while component manufacturing suppliers do not plan to introduce a system to differentiate leaded from lead-free products. I smell trouble ahead. Meanwhile, the Arlington, Va.-based Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA) released its monthly component order index, which showed a definite uptick in activity.
This just in: According to this week's Quick Vote, 64 percent of you practice lean manufacturing, while 36 percent do not.
Have some insight on the industry? See something you don't agree with? Think I'm right on? Send it all to me at mailto:christinef@pennwell.com.