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Speaking of this Week — January 16, 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.
Here in New England, it hasn't been this cold in 100 years. How cold is it? Rumor has it that the beer at last week's Patriots game froze in its mug, and there's word that the commuter boats in Boston Harbor can't pass because of severe icing. But there's plenty to stay warm and fuzzy about this week in the news, what with all the progress, partnerships, personnel, trade show financial happenings, as well as an industry benchmark that spells positive things for 2004. On with the show:
- Progress keeps progressing: The Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York has picked a Jewel Box 70-T real-time X-ray inspection system from Randolph, N.Y.-based Glenbrook Technologies for use in its Surface Mount Technology laboratory, while Billerica, Mass.-based GSI Lumonics Inc. has received an order for multiple WaferTrim M310 systems from a U.S.-based IC manufacturer. In similar, military-themed news, Kissimmee, Fla.-based DiagnoSYS Systems has provided four PinPoint II testers, worth $485,000, which the U.S. Air Force projects it will turn into $13 million-plus in cost avoidance to rehost more than 100 previously developed software programs for repair of its AWACS fleet. The Air Force also has awarded Boston-based Teradyne Inc.'s Assembly Test Division a $67 million contract for test equipment to support intermediate-level maintenance of the B-1B Lancer Strategic Bomber. Finally, Freeport, N.Y.-based Shipley Co., part of the Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials group, has had its Freeport, Lucerne, Switzerland and Sasakami, Japan locations certified to ISO-9001:2000.
- In partnership and merger news: Herzlia, Israel-based Tecnomatix Technologies Ltd.'s Tecnomatix Unicam subsidiary has entered into a Europe-wide partnership agreement with ITOCHU SysTech GmbH, while Carlsbad, Calif.-based Dot Hill expanded its manufacturing agreement with Milpitas, Calif.-based Solectron Corp. In similar news, Kenosha, Wis.-based Pro-Mation Inc. has created a new sales relationship with DG Marketing, and Melville, N.Y.-based Nu Horizons Electronics Corp. formed an exclusive North and South American distribution and consignment agreement with Ichon, Korea-based Hynix Semiconductor Inc. Finally, in after-effects of a merger news, Helsinki, Finland-based Elcoteq Network Corp. has begun personnel negotiations regarding relocating the Espoo plant it acquired as part of the company's Tellabs International acquisition late last year. Elcoteq wants to relocate manufacturing from the plant by the end of August.
- Lots of personnel news: Santa Clara, Calif.-based Advantest America Inc. appointed financial controller Keith M. Hardwick as acting president after the resignation of Nick Konidaris, while Salem, N.H.-based StockerYale Inc. has a new COO in Ricardo Diaz. Meanwhile, St. Louis-based Watlow named Steve Bohnenkamp vice president of strategic accounts, and Bethlehem, Pa.-based FlexLink hired Rod Wood as an applications engineer.
- Northbrook, Ill.-based IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced several trade shows this week. The organization will hold its second annual Sacramento Day in early February, and its second annual Designers Council Summit with APEX/Printed Circuit Expo the last week of the month. IPC and JEDEC also plan on three International Conferences on Lead-free Electronic Components and Assemblies in the U.S., Europe and Asia in 2004. Finally, NEPCON East/Electro and Assembly East will take place in May instead of its traditional June, and will feature Deborah Nightingale, Ph.D. of the MIT Lean Aerospace Initiative as keynote speaker on the last day of the show.
- A smidge of financial news: Wilsonville, Ore.-based Mentor Graphics Corp. announced record fourth quarter 2003 revenues and bookings, driven primarily by strength in the company's Calibre line. Mentor will officially announce fourth quarter and full year 2003 results on January 27.
- Finally, an industry metric: The Arlington, Va.-based Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA)'s monthly order index for electronic components fell in December, as it does every year, but Global Insight predicts that economic growth in 2004 will be the strongest since 2000. That's a strong statement. Let's hope it's true.
This just in: According to this week's Quick Vote, when asked what kinds of products their company makes, 55 percent of you said telecommunications electronics, 23 percent said aerospace/defense, 18 percent of you are into consumer electronics, 9 percent say automotive, and an additional 5 percent of you answered medical. Twenty-seven percent of you said none of the above.
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.