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Speaking of this Week — October 3, 2003
December 31, 1969 |Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
By Christine F. Della Monaca
Speaking of this Week reflects on events in the electronics assembly industry every Friday.
This week, it's back to normal from being at Assembly Technology Expo and SMTA International in Chicago last week, and more evidence of a return to profitability. The IPC Book-to-Bill skyrocketed for August, and there's tons of progress, good financial news, partnerships, new high-level personnel announcements, and news of two industry events later this month. Onward:
- It's been a crazy two weeks, but crazy means busy, and busy means things are looking up. The general atmosphere at the show I attended last week was extremely positive. Traffic was high, leads were good, and as one person told me, "I think attendees and members are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel of the manufacturing downturn." Meanwhile, that industry bellwether, Northbrook, Ill.-based IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries' IMS/PCB Book-to-Bill Ratio, was astounding for August. It hit a year-high of 1.14, also besting all of 2001 and 2002. All the talk we've heard about things looking up has finally translated into growth in the book-to-bill — or is it the other way around? It will be interesting to see where this roller coaster takes us in the last few months of 2003. Meanwhile, the IMS/PCB Business Report also was looking up for August, showing a shipment index of 101.5 percent, an 11.7 percent increase month-over-month, and a booking index of 126.6, a 29.2 percent rise over July numbers. Looking good!
- Progress by the bucketful: Atlanta-based Engent Inc., in accord with a recent trend in the industry, has created a Lead-free Deployment Solutions Program. In a similar vein, Boston-based Teradyne Inc.'s Assembly Test Division launched a self-service Web site for customers of its PCB test and inspection systems. Foxboro, Mass.-based Cookson Electronics launched its "Shared Intelligence" customer-focused education and marketing program, based on interviews with 100 customers. In another major initiative, San Jose, Calif.-based DEK installed stencil inspection capabilities in its advanced stencil manufacturing operations. In recognition news, Helsinki, Finland-based EMS provider Elcoteq Network Corp. was selected for membership in the new Kempen/SNS Smaller SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) Europe Index, while San Diego-based Kyocera Wireless Corp. announces its ISO 14001 recertification. The Herndon, Va.-based National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (NEMI)'s Tin Whisker Accelerated Test Project presented its recommendations for tin whisker testing at last week's show, while Kilofarad International (KFI) is a new trade association, formed in affiliation with the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association (ECA) to promote and represent the global ultracapacitor industry. Finally, Westmoreland, N.H.-based Polyonics Inc. launched "Label Interfaces," a new e-newsletter for the electronics industry.
- Some generally good financial news: Milpitas, Calif.-based Solectron Corp. reported fourth quarter 2003 total company sales of $3 billion, at the upper end of previously stated guidance, and net loss down to $179 million, translating to 22 cents per diluted share, compared with a GAAP net loss of $2.6 billion, or $3.21 per diluted share, in the comparable year-ago period. Meanwhile, total company revenues for 2003 were $11.7 billion, compared with $12.3 billion in fiscal 2002. Quebec City, Canada-based EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. also announced fourth quarter and year-end results for fiscal 2003. Sales decreased 5 percent to US $14.3 million from $15.1 million in the third quarter 2003 and 17 percent year-over-year, from $17.2 million in fourth quarter 2002. Overall for fiscal 2003, sales fell 9 percent over 2002 numbers. Finally, looking ahead, Angleton, Texas-based Benchmark Electronics reaffirmed its third-quarter guidance of revenues between $445 million and $460 million. We will see on October 23, when the company announces its results.
- A few partnerships: Medfield, Mass.-based Milara Inc. appointed WittcoSales as a manufacturer's representative, while Fort Myers, Fla.-based Fox Electronics Inc. and Avnet-Time, the European division of Avnet Inc., have partnered for Avnet-Time to represent Fox's frequency control products in Europe. Finally, Phoenix-based Duraswitch executed a license agreement with Japan-based Ishii Hyoki Co. Ltd.
- Two personnel announcements: Pleasanton, Calif.-based Advanced Interconnect Technologies' Board of Directors appointed Bruno Guilmart as president, CEO and board member, while Milford, Mass-based EMS contract manufacturer Milford Manufacturing Services named Douglas E. Voiland as vice president, general manager.
- Finally, some upcoming events: The Surface Mount Technology group at Frost & Sullivan will host its Exclusive SMT Industry Outlook Presentation next week, while Kester's Lead-free Assembly Seminars, part of Kester University, will launch mid-month in Bethesda, Md.
This just in: According to this week's Quick Vote, you are split four ways: a quarter of you went to SMTA International/ATExpo and said it was better than expected, a quarter said it was about what you expected, a quarter of you said it was worse, and a quarter didn't go at all.
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.