IBM Engineer Looks at Lead-Free Successes, Failures in Quest to Develop Better Supply Chain Practices

As the electronics manufacturing community struggles with high-reliability issues associated with lead-free processes, Matt Kelly, an IBM engineer, hopes his work will be a catalyst for sharing knowledge in a horizontal supply chain.

SMTAI: What is the Value of an SMTA Membership?

Indium President Greg Evans believes the SMTA not only features a strong technical training focus , but that the association helps his employees become stronger leaders. Find out why a major assembly materials suppliers continues to support this grass roots organization.

Nepcon South China: Interview with P. Kay Metal's Hardy Huang (Chinese)

Hardy Huang, the Sales Manager for P. Kay Metal China, sits down with EMS007's Edy Yu to discuss the company's work in China. In addition, the two talk about the IP issue in China and how P. Kay Metal handles these issues.

Nepcon South China: A Different Approach to China's SMT Capital Equipment Business

What happens when an industry veteran recognizes that Chinese equipment makers can become competitive with global brands? China Direct's founder, Todd La Marche, and his colleague, Olivier Grascoeur, explain how their company has bridged that perceived gap.

Nepcon South China: Behind the Scenes at the SMTA China Conference

SMTA China Conference Chairman Michael Wong reveals how the latest conference was put together. His passionate interview also offers a better understanding of the challenges SMTA China is facing and how it is differentiating between technical and vendor presentations.

Nepcon South China: Electronics Assembly Material Needs in South China

EMS007 China Editor Edy Wang chats with Kelly Huang of Indium Corporation about what materials issues South China EMS and ODM customers are facing.

Nepcon South China: Shifting Product Development from R

Yearly product introductions are tough for some companies to achieve, let alone dual product introductions within six months. ECD introduced a product last spring with R&D in mind. This fall, the company is introducing the V-M.O.L.E., a thermal profiling unit that takes what was developed last spring from a lab tool to one that meets performance needs in a high-volume setting. Vice President of Marketing and Sales Grant Peterson takes viewers through his company's NPI process and reasoning.

IEEE 1149.7 Standard Cuts Space, Cost for Embedded Systems

(September 2, 2008) HOUSTON — The IEEE working group for standard 1149 developed a two-pin compact test and debug solution to reduce strict pin-count, package size, and power constraints. Texas Instruments Inc. is driving ratification on IEEE 1149.7.

Dell Offers Information to Supply Chain in Hopes to End Lead-Free Hassles

Dell Senior Manager Dr. Randy Schueller needed to address server board field failures. His research led him to the realization that lead-free HASL, a seldom-used surface finish, was the best way to solve Dell's problems. His 2007 award-winning paper was written not only to document his work, but to help his suppliers better understand why they might benefit from investing in lead-free HASL. Schueller also discusses his company's perspective on immersion silver.

Evolving Technologies Summit Looks at Embedded and Solderless Technologies

Verdant Electronics President Joe Fjelstad relates some of the topics covered in SMTAI’s Evolving Technologies Summit. Are embedded technologies finally becoming commercially viable? Will solderless assembly emerge from the lab into production? Keynote Speaker Fjelstad offers his observations and opinions.

2008 SMTA Hutchins Grant Awarded to PBGA Reliability Student

(August 28, 2008) MINNEAPOLIS — The 2008 Charles Hutchins Educational Grant recipient, Lei Nie, a graduate student in the field of mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland, has been selected by the SMTA Grant Committee for her project entitled "Reliability of Reballed and Reworked Plastic Ball Grid Arrays in SnPb and SAC Assembly Process."

SCS Debuts Adhesion Promotion Technology

(August 28, 2008) INDIANAPOLIS — Specialty Coating Systems (SCS) announced a new adhesion promotion technology, AdPro Plus, developed to improve adhesion of Parylene conformal coatings to various substrates. Strong adhesion of Parylene is critical to enable the coating to provide maximum benefit to the application.

electronicIndia 2008 to Showcase Over 1,000 Exhibitors

electronicIndia 2008 is scheduled for September 2-5, 2008 in Bengaluru, India. The major unique selling proposition (USP) of the exhibition is that it is a complete electronics show.

July Book-to-Bill Steady

(August 27, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries released its monthly North American PCB Statistical Program report, showing that the combined rigid and flex PCB industries posted a 0.94 book-to-bill ratio in July, maintaining a higher rate of activity than the same time last year.

Allied Adds Next-day Kitting Service

(August 27, 2008) FORT WORTH, Texas — Allied Electronics has expanded its value-added services to include next-day kitting service. Customers can now order kitted products, such as Amphenol Industrial 97 Series connectors, and have them shipped within the next business day.

Essemtec Premiers Automated Printer with Sideways-moving Loading Drawer

(August 27, 2008) AESCH, Switzerland — Essemtec AG debuted SP200-AV2, a new model of its automated stencil printer SP200. The printer is an advanced version of the previous-generation system and reportedly offers increased robustness, precision, and ease of use.

Seica, Corelis Partner for Test Integration

(August 26, 2008) STRAMBINO, Italy and CERRITOS, Calif. — Seica Inc. and Corelis Inc. formed a partnership to deliver and support an integrated system based on Seica's Pilot flying probe system and boundary scan products from Corelis. Seica Pilot and Corelis ScanExpress system integration is the partners' initial offering.

Solar Cells Fueling Electronics Industry's Future?

Celestica Manager of Advanced Process Development, Irene Sterian, organized an Alternative Energy symposium during SMTAI that drew strong interest. Presentations were given from industry companies already making their presence felt in the photovoltaic field. Find out what transpired and why keynote speaker Jeff Doubrava, of Prismark, believes electronics manufacturing companies must not ignore the solar market when making plans for the future.

Will the Indian Plasma TV Market Survive?

Sony has stopped selling plasma TVs in India, while other TV producers cut prices just to boost sales.

Indium Corporation Announces Promotions

Indium Corporation announces the promotions of Anita Brown to Marketing Communications Manager for its worldwide operations and Andy Seager to the position of Sales Channel Partner Manager.

Industry Says 'No Way' to Fay at SMTAI in Orlando

Despite the worst efforts of Tropical Storm Fay, which included cancelled flights at Orlando International Airport, SMTAI proved that a strong international conference can overcome just about any obstacle.

From the Show: SMTAI Exhibits Floor

(August 20, 2008) ORLANDO, Fla. — SMT checked in with many of the busy exhibitors at SMTAI in Orlando to find out what products they carry to suit the high-reliability/high-mix southeastern U.S. market, as well as the many national and international attendees walking the show floor.

Fein-Lines: Copper Dissolution Interview, Part III

Dan Feinberg concludes his interview with Michael Carano, Global Business Development Manager of Cleveland, Ohio-based OMG Electronic Chemicals, tackling the topic of copper dissolution with lead-free solder--an issue that is certainly not new to the industry.

A Video Mulligan: The SMTA/CCA Annual Golf Get-Together

Players from both the SMTA Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter and the IPC CCA converged on Seal Beach in California for a day of fun, friends and favorite charities. Watch this exclusive coverage of this one-of-a-kind networking event.

Cal-Comp's Net Earnings Decline 7% in 1H08

Thailand-based EMS company Cal-Comp Electronics saw its after-tax profits decline 7% on year to 1.24 billion baht (US $36.77 million) in the first half of 2008, according to the company.

Advanced PCB Industry Report 2007–2008

(August 15, 2008) MONTREAL — This report details the global activity in PCB production, with particular focus on China. Advanced PCB manufacturers, including those producing high-density interconnect (HDI) boards, embedded memory, and other formats. It lists top producers and development trends in key end-use industries.

Woody to Keynote Day Two of IPC/SMTA High-Performance Electronics Assembly Cleaning Symposium

Industry-leading associations IPC and SMTA announce that Linda Woody will keynote day two of the jointly sponsored High-Performance Electronics Cleaning Symposium at the Crowne Plaza Chicago in Rosemont, Illinois on October 28-29, 2008.

Essemtec Flex/Film Placement Machine Gains Twin Vacuum Table

(August 14, 2008) AESCH, Switzerland — Essemtec developed a dedicated twin vacuum table for its FLX2011-MKL placement machine to facilitate handling of flex boards and film substrates. The table also is able to double productivity.

IIT Develops Prototyper for Double-sided PCBs

(August 14, 2008) POST FALLS, Idaho — Integrated Ideas & Technologies Inc. launched a prototype assembly tool that allows manufacturers to assemble double-sided surface mount PCB assemblies at their desks. The AssemblyPro fixture is designed to complement the IIT Desktop stencil, eliminating use of screen printers.

HP Senior Engineer Discusses Lead-Free Issues, SMTAI Symposium

Dr. Gregory Henshall discusses lead-free alloy questions and an SMTA International symposium that will address some of these issues, including new solder alloys and long-term reliability concerns.

Plexus to Close Massachusetts Plant

Plexus Corporation announced its intention to close its Ayer, Massachusetts manufacturing facility. The company plans to transition products manufactured in this facility to other Plexus facilities, primarily in Neenah, Wisconsin.

Inovaxe to Demonstrate INOKIT at SMTA International 2008

Inovaxe announces that it will demonstrate INOKIT software in booth 819 at the upcoming SMTA International.

The Gold Record: SMTAI Solar Symposium to Shed Light on Industry's Future

Celestica’s Manager of Advanced Processes, Irene Sterian, speaks with Steve Gold about a Solar Symposium she is leading in Orlando, Florida on August 18, 2008. Sterian believes it is critical for industry leaders to participate in this unique event, especially as the electronics and photovoltaic industries converge.

Virtual Industries to Showcase Key Technologies and Products at SMTA International 2008

Virtual Industries announces that it will exhibit TV-1000 TWEEZER-VAC, DTV-2000 TWEEZER-VAC and VSPT series of small parts tips in booth 326 at the upcoming SMTA International 2008.

VJ Electronix to Display Vertex Series-CT X-Ray System in Orlando

VJ Electronix announces that it will showcase its Vertex Series-CT X-Ray System in booth 825 at the SMTA International 2008.

IPC Launches Online Exhibits

(August 5, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries introduced the IPC Midwest Online Exhibit Hall — Beyond the Show Floor. The virtual exhibit hall takes visitors beyond the show floor with special features that provide relevant industry information in an easy-to-access and navigate format.

Christopher Associates Intros Low-cost Solder Dross Recovery

(August 5, 2008) SANTA ANA, Calif. — North American distributor Christopher Associates debuted the KDS-101 benchtop solder dross recovery system from Koki Tec Corporation (Saitama, Japan). The KDS-101 reportedly offers a safe, simple, and inexpensive method to recover purified solder from dross in all soldering operations, especially PCB fabrication and assembly.

Valor Intros Software Collaboration with EMS Providers

(August 5, 2008) YAVNE, Israel — Valor Computerized Systems Ltd. is launching an initiative promoting the development of software for improvement of electronic design and manufacturing, titled "The Valor Innovation Circle."

Semicon West 2008: ECI Expands Packaging Presence, Enters Solar Market

ECI President and Chief Executive Officer, Marianna Rabinovitch, discusses her company's Semicon West 2008 advanced packaging product offerings and the company's push into the photovoltaic market.

Photo Stencil Names Interim CEO

(August 4, 2008) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Photo Stencil announced the resignation of CEO Keith Favre, and the appointment of its chief operating officer (COO), Todd Woods, as interim CEO.

Industry Veterans Form Solar Group

(August 4, 2008) DANBURY, Conn. — Marc Chason; James J. Hickman, Ph.D.; and Gene H. Weiner formed Quantum Solar Group LLC to help members of the PWB, SMT, and electronic assembly industries and their suppliers of chemicals, materials, and equipment understand the burgeoning photovoltaic industry and the new commercial opportunities provided through variations of familiar processes and technologies.

Auto Electronics Focus of electronica 2008

(August 4, 2008) MUNICH, Germany — electronica 2008 will be a world showcase for automotive electronics, with an expected 1,200 automotive electronic exhibitors, an automotive conference, and discussions on the "Ultra Low Cost Car (ULCC)" concept.

Semicon West 2008: DEK Introduces New Wafer Coating Process

DEK has introduced a new printing machine that aims to compete with the more costly dry film lamination process. Jeff Schake, Senior Advanced Technology Specialist, explains to Steve Gold the system's advantages--including that the entire wafer backside coating process utilizes standard equipment.

India to Develop $10 Laptops

The India Ministry of Human Resources Development plans to develop a very low-cost access, low-power device designed to link Indian technology and other institutes.

Intel's Barrett Sees No Slowdown in World PC Market

Intel Corporation expects no slowdown in global demand for personal computers despite economic problems in the U.S. and in other countries, Intel Chairman Craig Barrett said on Wednesday.

China Invests in Zambia's Copper Belt

(July 31, 2008) LUSAKA, Zambia — Chinese investment in Zambian copper mines and smelting plants has led much speculation into the availability and cost of this raw material used in copper-clad laminates (CCLs), lead-free solders, bonding wires, PCBs, and other essential electronics production materials.

Report: 2008 Worldwide Component Distribution

(July 31, 2008) MONTREAL — In 2006, the market for electronic components supplied through distribution grew in all regions of the world. For 2007, although this growth continued, it was not reflected in all countries. It was, as a whole, a difficult year for the distribution market, asserts market analyst firm Electronics.ca Publications.

Test Socket Targets Small Pad Sizes

(July 31, 2008) ROSENHEIM, Germany — Multitest released a new generation of test socket, nanoKelvin, available in standard and plunge-to-board design without limitations for its Kelvin capability.

Asymtek Executives Discuss New Product, Manufacturing Methodology at Semicon West

John P. Byers, President of Asymtek, and Greg Wood, Vice President, Sales, discuss their latest product release and what measures the company is taking to remain competitive while manufacturing equipment in Southern California.

REACH Out of Reach?

Like a bolt of lightning, the results of a recent survey from IPC on REACH Preparedness in the North American and European Interconnect Industry are striking--revealing that more than 40% of manufacturing and purchasing personnel have no understanding of the REACH regulation as it affects their companies.

Stadium Asia Achieves Medical Manufacturing Approval

Stadium Asia has achieved a significant manufacturing approval for the medical market at its China manufacturing facility. ISO 13485:2003 focuses on maintaining product safety, risk management, inspection and traceability, documentation and validation of processes for sterile medical devices.

Advisory Board Update: Hwang Joins Committee on Forecasting Future Disruptive Technologies

(July 28, 2008) WASHINGTON — Jennie S. Hwang, Ph.D., was appointed to the newly established Committee on Forecasting Future Disruptive Technologies, organized by NRC, National Academies, and the U.S. DoD.

Semicon West 2008--Jabil Opening New Markets

The Vice President of Global Business Units for Jabil, Tony Allan, speaks with EMS007 Editor Steve Gold about entering the medical market and what high-mix, low-volume means to his assembly operations.

Rigid PCBs Down, Flex Up in June

(July 25, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries found that the monthly North American PCB Statistical Program data shows the rigid PCB book-to-bill ratio dipping again to 0.94, while the flex industry ratio climbed again to 1.02. The combined industry ratio fell to 0.95.

BPM Improves Flashstream Programming

P. D. Circuits Discusses Supply Chain Challenges

David Wolff, President and Founder of P. D. Circuits Inc., discusses the company's 'from the ground up' approach to managing supply chain data.

First 'Meet the Bloggers' Event Held at Semicon West 2008

Indium Corporation used Semicon West as a place to bring bloggers and their readers together. This video interview with Director of Marketing Communications Rick Short details the merits of blogging and what happens when cyberspace is replaced by a physical meeting place.

Up Close with Paul Walter of Dage at Semicon West

Steve Gold speaks with Paul Walter, Managing Director of Dage Corporation, at Semicon West about current market conditions and how EMS suppliers must rely on finding innovation and new products to overcome obstacles.

DEK Names President

(July 22, 2008) WEYMOUTH, U.K. — DEK International appointed Michael Brianda to the position of company president, with immediate effect. Previously serving as global sales & marketing director, Brianda has been with DEK for 12 years.

Entry-level Ultrasonic Stencil Cleaner Series

(July 22, 2008) CANOGA PARK, Calif. — Smart Sonic launched a line of lower-cost ultrasonic stencil cleaners, designed for SMT assemblers cleaning low volumes of stencils. The Series 500 stencil cleaners target more consistent cleaning of fine-pitch stencil apertures and reduced stencil damage caused by manual cleaning.

Ticona Intros Eco FR Polyesters

(July 21, 2008) FLORENCE, Ky. — Ticona Engineering Polymers, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, added two Riteflex thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPC-ET) grades to its portfolio of XFR halogen-free flame-retardant polyesters for use in eco-friendly applications.

KRA Increases Value-added Capacity, Capabilities

(July 21, 2008) DENVER — Distributor K.R. Anderson Inc. (KRA) increased value-added capacity and capabilities through its Andfab Division. The company added staff and equipment to the fabrication services business.

Elcoteq Cuts 2008 Forecast

The main reasons for the change in the forecast are the weaker than expected development in manufacturing volumes in the Personal Communications Business Area and a temporary decrease in volumes during the third quarter due to changing customer structure.

ACI Adds Samsung Stencil Printer

(July 18, 2008) HORSHAM, Pa. — Samsung and Dynatech Technology have added the Samsung SMP400 stencil printer to the American Competiveness Institute's (ACI's) EMPF demonstration factory. The six-sigma capable printer joins the Samsung SM421 advanced flexible mounter with STF100S feeder.

Corelis Finalizes Transition to EWA

(July 18, 2008) HERNDON, Va. — The appointment of George B. La Fever as Corelis president and CEO finalizes the transition of the boundary scan/JTAG/in-system test system provider Corelis Inc. into EWA Technologies Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the EWA corporate family of high-technology companies.

ACI Provides Navy's Benchmarking and Best Practices

(July 18, 2008) PHILADELPHIA — Scientific R&D providers the American Competitiveness Institute (ACI) received a five-year, $100 million contract from the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) to manage and operate the "Benchmarking and Best Manufacturing Processes Center of Excellence."

Michael Brianda Appointed DEK President

DEK International has announced that Michael Brianda has been appointed to the position of company President. Previously serving as Global Sales and Marketing Director, his new role sees him continue an impressive career trajectory that began at DEK over 12 years ago.

EMRISE Wins Navy's Testing Equipment Contract

(July 17, 2008) RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — EMRISE Corporation, a multi-national manufacturer of defense and aerospace electronic devices and communications equipment, received the initial production release and plans immediate shipment of the first $300,000 of its Halcyon telecommunications test equipment under the terms of a previously announced $800,000 supply contract with the U.S. Department of the Navy.

Survey: Green Initiatives in the Supply Chain

(July 17, 2008) FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — A survey conducted by market intelligence firm IDC showed that manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution industries are demonstrating growing commitent to the environment. The analysts found that, from surveying 250 decision makers at small and midsize enterprises, commitment toward the adoption of applications that would support more environmentally friendly supply chain initiatives is on the rise.

Semicon West 2008 Report--Flextronics Pushing into Solar Market

In this video interview with Steve Gold, Flextronics Industrial Division President E.C. Sykes sheds light on the push into providing equipment for the photovoltaic manufacturing market.

Manncorp Debuts "Hi Output" Turnkey Assembly Line

(July 16, 2008) SAN DIEGO, Calif. and WILLOW GROVE, Pa. — Manncorp is offering an automated turnkey line for mid- to high-volume flexible SMT assembly. The Hi Output Line assembly line includes a four-head pick-and-place system, in-line automatic stencil printer, an eight-zone reflow oven, and pass-through conveyor system.

Sono-Tek Ends Q'01 Up 31%

(July 15, 2008) MILTON, N.Y. — Sono-Tek Corporation announced sales for the three months ending May 31, 2008, increased 31%. Sales increased versus last year in spite of softness in some markets.

Krayden Offers LED Products

(July 15, 2008) DENVER — Distributor Krayden Inc. added a line of Dow Corning products for LED lighting manufacturers, including LED protection and assembly products, LED packaging products, and LED thermal management. Dow's products for LED assembly range from adhesives and encapsulants to conformal coatings.

Free E-Book a Practical Guide to Lean Manufacturing

BR Publishing has launched its latest e-book, Survival is not Mandatory: Everything a CEO Needs to Know about Lean, by Steven Williams of Plexus Corporation. This book, is now available as a free PDF e-book download to anyone who wants one. Once downloaded, the e-book can be printed, e-mailed to friends or saved on hard drive for future use.

PROMATION, OMTEC Partner for Custom Handling

(July 14, 2008) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — Handling solutions provider PROMATION and OMTEC, a manufacturer of pop-up ball transfer solutions, partnered to create a progressive line flow solution for a premier computer manufacturer. The solution required PROMATION to design and build a moderately priced system that would accept and transfer carriers weighing up to 80 lb between assembly stations.

iNEMI Roadmap Workshop Seeks Participation from the Industry

The foundation of all iNEMI activities is its roadmap, and this is an initiative in which anyone in the industry may be involved -- membership is not required. The 2009 Roadmap is currently in development and iNEMI is hosting a roadmap workshop in Shanghai on July 28, 2008.

IEC Electronics Receives $3.7 Million Military and Defense Order

IEC Electronics Corporation reports that it has received an order from one of its military and defense customers valued at more than $3.7 million. Deliveries will commence during the company's fourth quarter ending September 30, 2008 and will be completed by April 2009.

REACH: Going Beyond The EU

RoHS, the EU Directive on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances, was a European requirement that became a de facto international standard for electronic parts and products. Even with many exemptions including some major product categories, the supply chain changed and RoHS became the international norm. A similar occurrence will happen for REACH.

Audio Interview: Matt Holzmann's JPCA Show Wrap-up

In this week's Gold Record, Matt Holzmann shares his observations on the new PCB fabrication and assembly equipment unveiled at JPCA.

LaBarge Awarded $2.7 Million Contract From BAE Systems

LaBarge, Inc. has been awarded a $2.7 million dollar contract from BAE Systems to continue to produce the Ethernet Switch Unit (ESU) for its A3 Bradley Combat Systems vehicles. The ESU functions as a router and a switch for electronic data sent to devices in the vehicle's local area network (LAN).

PMCI Presenting SMTAI EMS Tutorials

(July 8, 2008) ORLANDO, Fla. — Powell-Mucha Consulting Inc. (PMCI) will present tutorials focusing on EMS branding and strategic planning at the upcoming SMTA International Conference in Orlando on August 21.

Lead-Free Lesson...Definitely Not Free

As the electronics industry struggles though its second year of RoHS and the lead-free mandate, it is clear that definitive answers to many of the more significant challenges of lead-free are not yet here. In fact, targets continue to move as newer problems make their presence known.

KIC Intros Nine Thermocouple Profiler

(July 7, 2008) SAN DIEGO — KIC introduced a new profiler model to the KIC Explorer platform. The KIC Explorer 9 channel uses the modern KIC Explorer hardware and features a total of nine thermocouples using standard type-K TC connectors.

Dynasil Acquires RMD Assets

(July 7, 2008) WEST BERLIN, N.J. — Photonics supplier Dynasil Corporation of America acquired the stock of Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. and specific assets of RMD Instruments LLC for approximately $20 million including $12.5 million of cash and 4.6 million shares of Dynasil common stock.

Water-free Defluxing Agent

(July 7, 2008) MANASSAS, Va. — ZESTRON America introduced a solvent-based defluxing agent for water-free and low-temperature cleaning applications. ZESTRON DS 100 is designed to remove flux residues at low temperatures from electronic assemblies, ceramic hybrids, power modules, and leadframes in self-regenerative closed-loop cleaning systems.

Dan Hoz Appointed as Valor CEO

The new leader will be expected to grow the company organically while also developing acquisition strategies.

IPC Conducts Online Survey on Industry's Readiness for EU REACH Regulation

The IPC -- Association Connecting Electronics Industries is conducting a survey to gauge industry's readiness when it comes to the EU REACH regulation.

Decrease in EMS Division Sales May Pull Down IPTE Overall 2Q Sales and Profit

IPTE expects a decline in sales and profits in the second quarter of 2008. Turnover was already down between 10 and 15 percent in the first quarter, the company said.

Henkel Launches Research and Failure Analysis Center with Shanghai University

(July 1, 2008) IRVINE, Calif. — To promote electronics material advancement in the burgeoning China region, Henkel and Shanghai University, in conjunction with several leading research universities, entered into an agreement to form a Shanghai Region Joint Electronics Research and Failure Analysis Center.

May Book-to-Bill Slips Below Parity

(July 1, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC found that the combined rigid and flex PCB book-to-bill ratio fell below parity, breaking a trend of climbing ratios. The flexible circuits segment experienced some growth, ascending to 1.01

Nextreme Awarded "Green" Grant

(June 30, 2008) DURHAM, N.C. — Nextreme Thermal Solutions received a grant from the North Carolina Green Business Fund to enhance the efficiency of its thin-film thermoelectrics used to convert waste heat into electricity in electronic systems.

Report: R&D Globalization

(June 30, 2008) CERRITOS, Calif. — More than two-thirds of U.S. companies expect to deploy some R&D personnel in India this year, according to a report by Amritt Ventures. China ranked next among emerging economies with over 40% of respondents reporting plans to deploy R&D personnel there.

Epoxies, Etc... Brands UV-cure Materials

(June 30, 2008) Cranston, R.I. — Epoxies, Etc... announced the IllumaBond brand group for its UV-curable adhesives, potting compounds, coatings, and any other electronics assembly materials cured with UV technology.

ASK Chooses PDR at NEW

(June 27, 2008) CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX, U.K. — U.K.-based ASK Technology selected PDR, through its distributor Parkheath, as their vendor of choice for BGA rework systems.

Cleaning Equipment, Products Test Compatible

(June 27, 2008) MANASSAS, Va. — Austin American Technology Corporation (AAT) and ZESTRON America completed extended compatibility experiments for cleaning equipment and products.

Gold-plated Bellows for Test

(June 27, 2008) CEDAR GROVE, N.J. — Servometer — PMG LLC introduces Gold Plated Bellows Contacts, an alternative to spring-loaded test pins for next-generation high-frequency test applications.

Unitech PCB, Taiflex Produce Solar Cells

(June 27, 2008) TAIPEI, Taiwan — To fend off sales recession in the PCB market, Unitech Printed Circuit Board Corp. and Taiflex Scientific Co., Ltd., both Taiwanese makers, ventured into production of solar cells to drive up profit performance, according to China Economic News Service (CENS).

VECAP Update on Brominated Flame Retardants

(June 27, 2008) BRUSSELS, Belgium — The brominated flame retardant industry releases its third annual report on the Voluntary Emissions Control Action Programme (VECAP). The key findings in the report include that about 90% of packaging residues of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are controlled effectively in Europe, via regulated disposal.

Understanding the Requirements of a Mass-Imaging Platform: The Impact of Interconnect Miniaturization

As the frontiers of feature size and interspace between devices become increasingly challenging, the industry must reevaluate the performance of the toolsets used in the SMT arena.

TTM to Provide PCBs and PCB Assemblies for Military Thermal Weapon Systems Program

TTM Technologies, Inc. announced that it has received a contract valued in excess of $8.0 million from BAE Systems for printed circuit boards and printed circuit board assemblies used in the Thermal Weapons Systems Program.

Leading EMS Companies Endorse Innovative Test and Design Approach

ELCINA, in association with National Instruments, recently concluded a workshop on Test and Measurement in Electronic Manufacturing in Kanchipuram, India. The workshop provided a platform to share domain knowledge and best practices in the Test and Measurement domain.

Participate in SMTA Events

(June 24, 2008) MINNEAPOLIS — The SMTA is requesting papers for presentation at Pan Pac and the Symposium on Avoiding, Detecting, and Preventing Counterfeit Electronic Parts. The association's Boston chapter also will be hosting a technical presentation and demo.

HP Selects Flextronics for High-volume Notebooks

(June 24, 2008) SINGAPORE — Flextronics' computing segment has been chosen by HP to design and manufacture a high-volume consumer notebook computer for its notebook business unit of the personal systems group.

Flextronics Chosen as Manufacturing Partner of BTI Systems

BTI Systems, a provider of packet enabled fiber optic systems to expand network fiber capacity, has announced that it has selected Flextronics as its global partner to manufacture its Packet Optical Edge systems.

P.D. Circuits Expands China Operations

(June 23, 2008) HAMPSTEAD, N.H. — P.D. Circuits Inc. completed Phase 2 of the development of its China PWB Supply Chain operations. In the second year of expansion, the company added approved manufacturing sources and staff.

Basel e-Waste Conference Convenes

(June 23, 2008) BALI, Indonesia — Representatives from 170 countries kicked off a five-day informal meeting on Bali to discuss how to manage the trans-boundary traffic of hazardous waste. Indonesia's Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar opened the conference, which will focus on the impacts of hazardous waste on human health and livelihoods.

Accu-Cure UV Offers Cool Curing Control

(June 23, 2008) CHICAGO — Accu-Cure UV curing units from A.W.T. World Trade are engineered for high-speed curing of PCBs and other flat and rigid panel substrates. By minimizing the level of heat transmission, the Accu-Cure UV's computer-designed cooling system protects substrate and belt.

Berwind Acquires Specialty Coating Systems

(June 20, 2008) INDIANAPOLIS — Specialty Coating Systems Inc. (SCS) was acquired by Berwind Corporation of Philadelphia. Berwind purchased SCS from Bunker Hill Capital L.P. (BHC), which had acquired the company in December 2005 from Cookson Electronics for $55.5 million.

Ascentec Acquires Datum Dynamics

(June 20, 2008) SHERWOOD, Ore. and PORTSMOUTH, R.I. — Ascentec Engineering acquired Datum Dynamics USA of Portsmouth, boosting its Northeast operations. The process tooling company supplies PCB assembly tooling and fixtures, and will join Ascentec's PCB process tooling services portfolio.

Vietnam Poised to Become the Next EMS Hub

Frost & Sullivan reports that Vietnam's low cost of labor, availability of a trainable local population and favorable government policies are attracting global EMS/ODM companies to set-up operations in the country.

Cookson Launches NPI Stencils Initiative

(June 19, 2008) SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. — Cookson Electronics Assembly Materials is launching its "First-Time-Right" new product introduction (NPI) stencils Initiative for ALPHA "Engineered Products." The stencil product line will target assemblers and prototyping houses aiming to reduce their NPI cycle times.

Report: Global Portable Electronics

(June 19, 2008) MONTREAL — Continuous technological development, digital options, and declining price points are among reasons for the growth of portable electronic products globally, according to "Global Portable Electronics Market," by Electronics.ca Publications.

Short Stories: Impressions from Nepcon Vietnam, Semicon Singapore

This new occasional series of personal travelogues offers first-hand impressions of both the inaugural Nepcon Vietnam and the lastest Semicon Singapore.

Teknek Opens Design Firm

(June 18, 2008) RENFREWSHIRE, Scotland — Teknek is setting up a product design company, Meso, which will be operated and overseen by two Glasgow School of Art graduates.

Prism Electronics Highlights the Changes in the EMS Industry

Commenting on the event David Bance said: "Outsourcing in electronics manufacture is changing and some recent trends are reversing, including off-shoring manufacture among smaller OEMs. Manufacturing is now being brought back closer to home.

Rockwell Collins Honors AVX

(June 17, 2008) MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — AVX Corporation received the 2008 "Resistor/Capacitor Commodity Supplier of the Year" award from Rockwell Collins. The honor is based on quality, delivery, total cost of ownership, lead time, and customer service.

Manncorp Updates Benchtop Stencil Printer

(June 17, 2008) SAN DIEGO, Calif. and WILLOW GROVE, Pa. — Manncorp debuted an improved version of its Model 5500 benchtop stencil printer, which includes true vertical separation of the stencil from the PCB prior to the lifting of the stencil frame, designed for ultra-fine-pitch solder paste printing.

Agilent Intros High-density Matrix Modules

(June 17, 2008) SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Agilent launched new modules for its 34980A multifunction switch/measure unit. They are designed for aerospace/defense, consumer electronics, computers and peripherals, communications, semiconductor, and automotive industries routing low-frequency signals between stimulus, DUT, and measurement equipment when designing high-pin-count tests.

GW Equity Announces Sale of Houstech to Private Investor

GW Equity, announced the sale of its client Houstech Inc., a Houston, Texas-based company specializing in the assembly of PCBs, to a private investor based in Houston.

Avnet Receives KEMET's Sales Award

(June 16, 2008) PHOENIX — The Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas business region of Avnet Inc. received KEMET Corporation's "Top Sales Growth" award, recognizing Avnet for achieving the highest percentage of sales and highest gross sales for KEMET year-on-year in the Americas during fiscal year 2008.

Webinar Targets Controlled Medical Device Manufacturing

(June 16, 2008) CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Camstar Systems will host a Webinar for medical device manufacturers on June 26, outlining how manufacturers can extend their SAP ERP and manufacturing applications into the plant floor with Camstar's packaged composite solution.

Exhibition Space at SMTAI 2008 Going Fast

The SMTA announced that booth space is limited for SMTAI 2008. The exhibition will be held in Orlando, FL, August 19-20, 2008 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and Convention Center.

Zuken Ramps Up Support of FPGA Technology

(June 13, 2008) MUNICH, Germany and WESTFORD, Mass. — Zuken released a simulation kit for Altera's low-cost Cyclone III FPGA family of products, bolstering support of programmable devices in board designs. The kit is free to download for users of Zuken's CR-5000 advanced modular and robust electronics systems and PCB design suite.

SMTA, Koh Young Present on Solder Paste Measurement

(June 13, 2008) BOSTON — The SMTA Boston Chapter will host a technical presentation, titled "Advanced Solder Paste Measurement Techniques and Equipment" and live demonstrations on Koh Young solder paste measurement equipment, July 8^th at Textron Defense Systems in Wilmington, Mass.

Catalyst Enhances Service Offerings; Acquires RAMP Industries

The deal enhances Catalyst's service offerings and gives the company better access to RAMP's customer base, Catalyst Chief Executive Officer James Matthews said in a prepared release.

La Barge Receives $1.5 Million Contract from Northrop Grumman

LaBarge, Inc. has received a $1.5 million contract from Northrop Grumman to continue to produce electronic assemblies for the AN/ALQ-135 radar jammer system.

Celestica Announces the Winners of its 2007 Total Cost of Ownership Supplier Awards

The awards honor suppliers who embrace Celestica's innovative approach to supply chain management and best support Celestica in the delivery of end-to-end product lifecycle solutions that accelerate its customers' success.

Zestron Qualifies Stencil Cleaner for Global Customer

(June 10, 2008) MANASSAS, Va. — A leading global contract manufacturer recently evaluated numerous cleaning agents to significantly improve its current stencil cleaning process. Upon an extended on-site cleaning evaluation, VIGON SC 200 was tested and confirmed to exceed the customer requirements.

CIMTEK's China Office Doubles in Size

(June 10, 2008) BOSTON — With more than a 60% increase in the customer base at its China quality lifecycle management (QLM) solutions facility, CIMTEK has doubled its staff to meet the growing demand for global quality control.

Digi-Key Named Atmel's Distributor of the Year

(June 10, 2008) THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. — Digi-Key Corporation has been awarded Atmel Corporation's Distributor of the Year Award for outstanding performance in 2007. A presentation was made at Atmel's annual sales conference.

Report: China's IC Market

(June 10, 2008) DUBLIN — Research and Markets released an overview of the Chinese market for ICs, with focus on four key emerging markets: Shenzhen, Suzhou, Tianjin, and Chengdu. The report includes the three IC segments: design, manufacturing, and packaging & testing.

VISION Squeegee Blade Debuts

(June 10, 2008) GREELEY, Colo. — Fine Line Stencil brought its SMT VISION Award winning Slic Blade product to market in the U.S. The squeegee blades are created with solid, electroformed nickel to increase precision and fine-pitch print accuracy.

European Workshop to Review Drafts of 2009 iNEMI Roadmap Chapters

The deadline is approaching to register for iNEMI's European workshop for the 2009 Roadmap, scheduled for June 18, 2008 at IMEC headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. The European workshop is one of three being held worldwide to solicit industry input and feedback.

Mouser Distributes Teridian ICs

(June 9, 2008) MANSFIELD, Texas — Mouser Electronics Inc. signed a global distribution agreement to carry Teridian Semiconductor, a supplier of mixed-signal integrated circuits used in energy, automation, networking, and secure access systems.

ACI Hosts Lead-free Workshop

(June 9, 2008) PHILADELPHIA — The American Competitiveness Institute (ACI), along with SMT and Indium Corporation, will host the free workshop "RoHS and Lead-free Updates, a Day with Dr. Ron Lasky," June 25 at ACI's campus in Philadelphia. The workshop will cover an update on the EU's RoHS law and critical issues in lead-free assembly.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Launches EDS X-Ray Microanalysis System

(June 9, 2008) MADISON, Wis. — Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. unveiled the Thermo Scientific NORAN System 7, an advanced EDS X-ray microanalysis system. NORAN System 7 is equipped with a high-throughput pulse processor, spectral imaging capability, and a sophisticated software suite.

Environmental Responsibility: Step-Up the Eco-Efficiency of Your Entire Process

The European Union's (EU) integrated product policy has shifted emphasis from management of site-specific environmental impact to minimizing the environmental impact of each product throughout its lifecycle.

Low-cost Regions Lead Electronics Output

(June 6, 2008) MONTREAL — Electronics manufacturing in the U.S., Japan, and Western Europe accounted for less than 50% of electronics output for the first time in 2006 as the migration of volume manufacturing to low-cost locations continues, according to market analysts at Electronics.ca Publications.

Zestron Selects Gen3 Contaminometer

(June 6, 2008) MANASSAS, Va. — Zestron America sourced and took delivery of the Gen3 Systems CM-60 contaminometer for final testing and verification after PCB defluxing with Zestron high-precision cleaning agents.

SMTA Calls for Papers on Counterfeit Parts

(June 6, 2008) MINNEAPOLIS — SMTA and CALCE of the University of Maryland will host the "2^nd Annual Symposium on Avoiding, Detecting, and Preventing Counterfeit Electronic Parts," September 9–10, 2008 at the University of Maryland, and are requesting papers on solutions to the counterfeit problem.

FINE LINE Adds Electroformed Laser-cut Stencils

(June 6, 2008) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — FINE LINE STENCIL, a division of FCT Assembly, announced ElectroLaser electroformed laser-cut stencils, made using a hybrid technology with laser-cut apertures and electroformed nickel surfaces.

Genesis Electronics--How to Maneuver the Road to Success

Scott Mauldin runs his Tampa, FL-based business like he drives his car. The president of Genesis Electronics Manufacturing Inc. occasionally glances in the rearview mirror, but he also looks out over the hood to see what lies ahead.

VJ Electronix Appoints Director, Global Sales and Marketing

(June 5, 2008) LITTLETON, Mass. — VJ Electronix named Ronald Lindell as its director of global sales and marketing. Prior to joining VJ Electronix, Lindell served as the North American and global sales manager for the assembly test division of Teradyne.

From the Show: SMT/HYBRID/PACKAGING Goes Automotive

(June 5, 2008) NURNBERG, Germany — The highlight of SMT/HYBRID/PACKAGING 2008 was a demonstration line for automotive electronic assembly that moved a PCB assembly through its paces from bare board through to conformal coating steps.

From the Show: SMT/HYBRID/PACKAGING's International Integration

(June 5, 2008) NURNBERG, Germany — Long considered to be the second largest electronics tradeshow by Germans — second only to biannual Productronica — but a smaller local event by the rest of the world, SMT/HYBRID/PACKAGING 2008 succeeded in changing that perception.

Juki Releases High-speed Dispense System

(June 5, 2008) MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Juki Corporation introduced the KD-2077, a new model of its high-speed dispensing system for a wide range of components. The KD-2077 features three standard dispense heads for dispensing at 0.1 sec./shot.

IEC Expands Business; Completes Acquisition of Val-U-Tech

IEC Electronics Corp. announced it has completed the acquisition of Val-U-Tech Corp., a privately held manufacturer of wire harness assemblies located in Victor, NY for approximately $10 million.

NEPCON Malaysia to Feature 536 Participating Companies from 30 Countries

The ninth edition of NEPCON Malaysia will showcase a comprehensive range of products and services for the electronics manufacturing industry and feature 535 companies from 30 countries.

Laird Deploys Ansoft Simulation Tool

(June 3, 2008) ST. LOUIS — Laird Technologies Inc. implemented Ansoft Corporation's HFSS advanced 3D simulation tool for rigorous design tasks on complex mobile devices and advanced antenna systems.

FINE LINE, LPKF Partner for Laser-cut Stencils

(June 3, 2008) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — FINE LINE STENCIL, a division of FCT Assembly, introduced a line of laser-cut stencils in partnership with LPKF. The laser-cut stencils accommodate designs with aperture pitches down to 0.4 mm.

Universal Brings AdVantisX to Asia

(June 3, 2008) BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Universal Instruments introduced the newest platform in the Advantis pick-and-place series, AdVantisX, to the Asia market, for customers interested in low-cost, repeatable performance.

MYDATA Acquires German Distributor

(June 3, 2008) BROMMA AND STOCKHOLM, Sweden — MYDATA has acquired its German distributor Royonic, an established partner to the equipment manufacturer in the German SMT market. The acquisition is part of MYDATA's strategy to develop and expand business in Germany.

EFD Debuts Vacuum Pickup for Manual Assembly

(June 2, 2008) EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — EFD, a business of Nordson Corporation, released the ProcessMate PM100 vacuum pickup system to safely lift and position small or delicate parts in benchtop assembly processes.

Creative Materials Launches Reworkable Adhesive

(June 2, 2008) TYNGSBORO, Mass. — Creative Materials Inc. introduced a flexible, reworkable, electrically conductive adhesive that adheres to most silicone and fluorinated substrates. The product, named 102-32, boasts good low-temperature performance and broad application.

atg/LM Intros Octal-density Grid Tester

(June 2, 2008) WERTHEIM, Germany — atg Luther & Maelzer GmbH, in cooperation with the Capital Equipment Group (CEG) of Everett Charles Technologies, launched the LM800 Picomat universal grid tester for bare boards. LM800 Picomat is an octal density (35 mil) universal grid tester for high-technology PCBs.

Call for Papers: APEX 2009

(June 2, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries invites researchers, academics, technical experts, and other industry leaders to submit abstracts for the 2009 IPC APEX EXPO, to be held in Las Vegas, March 29 through April 2, 2009.

SMTA Chooses San Diego, CA to Host SMTAI 2009

The SMTA has announced that the highly respected SMTA International Conference and Exhibition will be held in San Diego, CA, October 4-8, 2009. The SMTA Board of Directors felt that to meet the needs of all members it was important to periodically have a presence on the West Coast.

Endicott Interconnect Technologies Hosts IPC Technology Interchange Event

Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc. (EI) hosted an IPC sponsored event entitled, "Will You Be Ready?: An Endicott Technology Interchange," on Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

Balver Zinn Offers Cobar Lineup in Germany

(May 30, 2008) BREDA, Holland — Cobar solder paste, fluxes, other soldering chemicals, as well as technical support, are now available directly through the Balve, Germany, installation of its parent company, Josef Jost GmbH & Co.KG (Balver Zinn), in addition to Cobar Europe's existing distribution network.

IPTE Debuts In-line Test Handler

(May 30, 2008) GENK, Belgium — IPTE added to its multifunctional test handler line, introducing the Multi Test Handler for parallel operation for test or flash programming. The system offers reportedly flexible automation settings to integrate with existing test equipment at line rates.

Connectronics Romania Expands, Opens New Plant

Connectronics Romania, a part of the Belgian Connect Systems Group, has opened a new production plant in Oradea. The new plant can accommodate more than 1,000 employees.

SMTAI Hits Both U.S. Coasts

(May 29, 2008) MINNEAPOLIS — The SMTA will bring its SMTA International Conference and Exhibition (SMTAI) to San Diego, Calif., October 4–8, in 2009, moving from the 2008 Orlando location. The plan for the immediate future will be to alternate SMTAI between the East and West Coasts.

JTAG Releases ICT-integration Module

(May 29, 2008) EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands — JTAG Technologies, an Aeroflex technology partner, launched the JT 2147/AGP boundary-scan interface for use with Aeroflex high-performance in-circuit test (ICT) platforms.

MSI Reportedly Considering Sale of OEM Motherboard Business to Flextronics

Micro-Star International (MSI) is reportedly considering the sale of its motherboard manufacturing business to Flextronics, while keeping its brand motherboard business.

Mara Technologies Increases Capacity, Adds Assembleon Machines

Electronics manufacturing solutions provider, Mara Technologies Inc., has bought four additional Assembleon pick-and-place machines as a base for its latest expansion.

April Book-to-Bill Continues Positive Track

(May 27, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC's combined (rigid and flex) industry book-to-bill ratio reached 1.01 in April 2008, representing a steady positive in 2008, which began in January with a 0.97 book-to-bill ratio. The book-to-bill numbers are holding steady at a higher level than 2007, confirmed Denny McGuirk, IPC president.

NEPCON Tradeshows Begin in Vietnam

(May 27, 2008) BANGKOK, Thailand — In early May, Reed Tradex, a member of Reed Exhibitions, opened the first NEPCON event in Vietnam, joining the series of NEPCON events in Asia. NEPCON Vietnam is purported to be the country's only electronics manufacturing technology trade exhibition and conference.

Datapaq Data Logger Boasts 12 Channels

(May 23, 2008) CAMBRIDGE, U.K. — Datapaq's Q18 data logger provides 12 channels in a narrow footprint. It is said to use robust standard thermocouple (TC) connectors, for maximum ease of use and minimum cost of ownership for users.

DEK Upgrades Horizon Family

(May 23, 2008) WEYMOUTH, U.K. — DEK released a host of performance and productivity improvements across its entire Horizon product line. Upgrades affect accuracy, verification, and productivity, according to the company.

Nordson Corporation's 2Q Sales Grow 22% to $294 Million

"Nordson again experienced volume growth in every region where we operate. The largest increases came in Asia Pacific, the U.S. and Europe, where our strong local positions enable us to provide customers with leading technological solutions and unsurpassed support," continued Campbell.

EMRISE Receives Harsh-environment Contract

(May 22, 2008) RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — EMRISE CORPORATION received a $700,000 follow-on production order for electronic subassemblies from an existing international customer for use in a harsh-environment offshore drilling application.

PartnerTech: Contract Manufacturers Free Up Energy and Capital for Medical Device Companies

Medical device companies often want to focus on the development, sale and marketing of new applications. To revitalize this process, while ensuring that capital is not tied up unnecessarily, the companies may outsource production to contract manufacturers like PartnerTech.

ACE Debuts Nitrogen Peel-Off Jet

(May 21, 2008) SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — ACE Production Technologies Inc. introduced a nitrogen peel-off jet that can improve fine-pitch selective soldering results. It is said to mitigate wettability and bridging issues that occur with lead-free solders in wave and selective soldering systems.

IPC Initiates Scientific Dialogue on Proposed RoHS Expansion

IPC is urging all technical experts from member companies, and other stakeholders in the electronics industry, to participate in a special meeting June 18, 2008, in Brussels to discuss concerns about RoHS expansion.

Zetex Launches Bipolar Gate Drivers

(May 20, 2008) HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — Zetex Semiconductors released the ZXGD3000 series of bipolar gate drivers, a lower-cost device that is designed for faster charging and discharging of gate capacitances than gate driver ICs.

Indium Promotes Santhanasamy

(May 20, 2008) CLINTON, N.Y. — Indium Corporation promoted Damian Santhanasamy to senior technical engineer. Based in Johor, Malaysia, Santhanasamy provides technical support to target accounts in Malaysia and Thailand.

Laird Nabs GM Award

(May 20, 2008) ST. LOUIS — Laird Technologies Inc. received the General Motors 2007 "Supplier of the Year" award for its significant contributions to GM's global product and performance achievements. The 16^th annual award, themed the "Best of the Best," was presented during ceremonies in Jacksonville, Fla.

2008 Sees UMDs Rising

(May 20, 2008) SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ultra mobile devices (UMDs) will grow by 72.6% in 2008, encompassing ultra mobile PCs, mobile Internet devices, a percentage of high-end smartphones, and a percentage of high-end personal media players (PMPs). The technology sector is growing as other areas, such as desktop PCs, slow in the face of macro-economic downturns, reports In-Stat.

Ovation Appoints MacRaild President

(May 20, 2008) BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Ovation Products added Neil MacRaild to the company as president. He will lead Ovation in product line expansion and growing its sales channels and global presence.

LaBarge's Tulsa Electronic Manufacturing Facility Generating Strong Sales

Ron Falk, general manager of LaBarge Inc. in Tulsa, has been in the electronic manufacturing services industry for 27 years and said their recent growth has been amazing, and running the opposite direction from most of the industry.

Global Innovation Selects Cimnet ERP

(May 19, 2008) INDIANAPOLIS — EMS provider for high-end commercial and military OEMs Global Innovation Corp. chose Cimnet Systems to provide ERP solutions to optimize its engineering operations.

IPC Counters RoHS Expansion Discussion

(May 19, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC sent a call for all technical experts in the electronics industry to participate in a special meeting on June 18, 2008, in Brussels to discuss their concerns about a proposed RoHS expansion. Plans call for representatives of the European Commission to attend.

Asymtek Launches Spectrum S-822 Dual-Shuttle Dispenser

(May 19, 2008) CARLSBAD, Calif. — Asymtek, a Nordson company, introduced the Spectrum S-822 dispensing system with dual-shuttle stages to increase the productivity achieved in CSP underfill and other advanced electronics applications. The S-822 is a stand-alone system with controlled precision dispensing capabilities.

Ten Minutes After

The IPC Printed Circuits Expo, APEX and the Designers Summit 2008 had barely opened on its first day before Charlie Capers became the unofficial first purchaser of the week. Find out what Trilogy Circuits purchased, why they purchased it and how small businesses approach spending at a trade show.

Zoiss Keynotes SMTA Harsh Environments Workshop

(May 16, 2008) MINNEAPOLIS — Edward J. Zoiss, director of R&D for Harris' Government Communications Systems and the Defense Communications and Electronics organizations will keynote the AIMS workshop, August 18 and 19 in Orlando.

EoPlex Expands for Antenna Manufacture

(May 16, 2008) Redwood City, Calif. — EoPlex Technologies disclosed $4 million additional funding to build its first full-scale production plant for the manufacture of advanced cell phone antennas. The investment brings the total for EoPlex's C-round to $12 million.

KIC Trying New Sales Approach

Freddie Chan, KIC International Sales, Inc.'s Vice President, Asia Operations, explains how his company is employing a new strategy for placing thermal profilers in reflow ovens. The company provides data that allows buyers to decide whether the price they are paying for a new oven is actually worth it according to the data procured.

Chinese Domestic Equipment Copies Can't Replace High End

The second floor of Nepcon China's main hall contains lower priced equipment, everything from pick-and-place and reflow ovens to AOI and screen printers. One printer even reportedly cost $2,500. Is this a threat to companies like Speedline? Not so, says Asia Vice President Kho Lik Wai. He explains that though these products are improving, they cannot compete for higher-end, higher volume customers.

Competing in a Crowded X-Ray Inspection Field

Less than a year after its acquisition by Nordson, YESTech introduced a new 3-D x-ray inspection system. X-ray inspection is becoming more popular as both a test protocol and among inspection suppliers. YESTech President Don Miller offers his insights into the marketplace, why x-ray inspection is becoming easier to accept among contract manufacturers and how key differentiators separate vendors.

Tyco Electronics Sells RF Unit

(May 13, 2008) PEMBROKE, Bermuda — Tyco Electronics Ltd. entered into a definitive agreement to sell its radio frequency (RF) components and subsystem business to Cobham Defense Electronic Systems, a subsidiary of Cobham plc, for $425 million in cash.

1-Source, ChipChecker Offer Anti-Counterfeit Service

(May 13, 2008) HONG KONG — Under a mutual interest in mitigating the growing problem of counterfeit and defective parts, 1-Source and ChipChecker teamed up to provide a suite of material management services for wholesale buyers of electronic components, the L-15 inspection and third-party testing service.

An Innovative Approach to Thermal Profiling

A new thermal profiler, ECD's Mega M.O.L.E. 20, promises to optimize reflow oven profiling for engineers while making life very simple for operators. While selling higher technology solutions in China has been difficult due to the focus on cost, ECD Vice President of Sales & Marketing Grant Peterson believes current market conditions will help his company's cause.

Nihon Superior Singapore Celebrates 20 Years

(May 12, 2008) OSAKA, Japan — Nihon Superior Co. Ltd. will celebrate subsidiary Nihon Superior Trading (S) Pte. Ltd.'s 20^th year of business, marking the occasion on May 24 in Singapore.

Sumitomo Creates Fine-pitch COF Process

(May 12, 2008) TOKYO — Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. (SMM) is preparing for full-scale production of chip-on-film (COF) boards made using a new method that can accommodate a wiring pitch as narrow as 20 µm. The decision to boost production capacity in COF aims to respond to today's increasingly higher-definition LCD televisions, SMM reports.

PROMATION Upgrades Buffer Software

(May 12, 2008) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — PROMATION Inc. released an enhanced software interface for its SCBL-77 vertical buffer system with last-in/first-out and first-in/first-out (LIFO/FIFO) capabilities.

Xtreme Beats the Heat

Brian Toleno, Director Technical Service for Henkel Corporation, discusses the company's PowerstrateXtreme dispensable (PSX-D) thermal interface material--an IPC Innovative Technology Center winner--other company offerings and the IPC Printed Circuits Expo, APEX and the Designers Summit's move to Vegas.

ZESTRON Expands Asia/Pacific Staff

(May 9, 2008) MANASSAS, Va. — ZESTRON added to its sales and technical support organization in the Asia/Pacific, hiring Tiow Ping Sim as South Asia sales manager.

Indium Expands Pacific Sales

(May 9, 2008) CLINTON, N.Y. — Indium Corporation added Sherwin Kobak as regional sales manager in the Pacific region. Sherwin, based in Portland, Ore., is responsible for the sales growth of Indium's soldering products throughout northern Calif., Ore., Wash., Idaho, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Kyzen Presenting Globally

(May 9, 2008) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kyzen Corporation will present research information and exhibit cleaning products at shows around the U.S. and internationally, including Sweden and Canada, in May 2008. Charles Pitarys and Mike Bixenman will give talks as Kyzen representatives.

VJ Electronix Hosts Open House, SMTA Forum

(May 8, 2008) LITTLETON, Mass. — VJ Electronix will open its doors for an open house, coinciding with a technical presentation on advancements in BGA rework and X-ray inspection. The event is scheduled for 5:30 to 9 PM, Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

High-Mix U.S. EMS Chinese Subsidiary Facing Changing Market

Circuit Service Inc.'s China subsidiary, Changzhou CSI, is facing several challenges in a toughening Chinese market. Senior Manufacturing Engineer Michael Serio, a Changzhou resident, offers his opinions on the pace of business in China and the "marriage" of two vastly different cultures on the Nepcon show floor.

Jisso North America Coming to Atlanta

What is Jisso and why is it important to our industry? Technical Editor Bob Neves interviews Denny Fritz, Energy Consultant for MacDermid, about Jisso North America, scheduled for this month in Atlanta, GA. Task Groups are to discuss coordination of roadmaps, standardization of technology, the status of embedded components and optoelectronics and sensible environmental regulations.

Samsung Techwin, Valor Partner

(May 6, 2008) YAVNE, Israel — Samsung Techwin and Valor Computerized Systems Ltd. established a technology partnership for integration of Samsung Techwin's pick-and-place machine interfaces into Valor's software products.

Live EDGE 2008 Launches With Tree Ceremony

(May 6, 2008) CHICAGO — Premier Farnell plc and its companies Newark, Farnell, Premier Electronics, CPC, Farnell-Newark, and MCM launched its international competition Live EDGE — Electronic Design for the Global Environment, now in its second year. This year's competition includes a full-time student category, as well as open field.

Flextronics Shares Investigational Findings on PoP and Large Format Assembly

Jenson Lee, Staff Engineer with Flextronics, delivered two papers at the SMTA China East Conference, held in conjunction with Nepcon China 2008. His first paper dealt with package-on-package as it relates to the hand-held and mobile devices market, the other with large format assembly--a process still in its infancy in China.

Essemtec Provides LED-on-Flex Line

(May 5, 2008) AESCH, Switzerland — Essemtec launched a batch manufacturing solution for customers producing sensor strips on flex PCBs with LED components. Pick-and-place LEDs and UV curing of the adhesive occur on a FLX2010-based module.

Nordson Intros UV Cure Products at RadTech

(May 5, 2008) WESTLAKE, Ohio — Nordson Corporation is debuting several UV curing technologies at RadTech UV/EB. They include low- and high-power systems, cooler operation and environmental safeguards, and technology to protect heat-sensitive substrates.

NPL's New Approach Predicts Lead-Free Solder Joints Lifetime

NPL has developed a new approach to the gathering of materials data necessary for FEA modelling of lifetime prediction for new lead-free solder joints.

Blending Eastern and Western Engineering for New Product Development

Chris Harvey, Electrolube's Technical Sales Manager, Far East Asia Export, reveals to Steve Gold how his company takes a different approach to R&D globally. Find out how the company blends Western creativity with Eastern market demands and engineering talent.

Corelis/EWA Name President and CEO

(May 2, 2008) CERRITOS, Calif. and HERNDON, Va. — George B. La Fever will take the helm as Corelis president and CEO, finalizing the transition of Corelis Inc. into EWA Technologies Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the EWA corporate family of high-technology companies.

TFI Upgrades ODM Forecast, Lowers EMS

(May 2, 2008) ALAMEDA, Calif. — Technology Forecasters Inc. (TFI) issued a mid-year update to its five-year growth predictions for electronics manufacturing, with the actual 2007 data replacing estimates. TFI revised downward the forecasts for total available market (TAM) and EMS sector growth, and revised upward the forecast for ODM sector growth.

SMTAI Program Boasts 100 Tech Papers

(May 2, 2008) MINNEAPOLIS — The SMTA announced the program for its 21^st annual SMTA International (SMTAI) conference, August 17–21 in Orlando, Fla. This year's program allows the attendee to choose from 24 courses, 100 technical papers, four focused symposia, and numerous free offerings throughout the conference.

Embedded ESD Technology Partnership Ready to Ramp Up

Steve Gold sits down with Lex Kosowski, President and CEO of Shocking Technologies; Robert Carter, Senior Marketing Manager with Oak-Mitsui Technologies; and George Dudnikov, Senior Vice President of Sanmina-SCI to discuss their quest to commercialize a new technology that embeds ESD protection into printed circuit boards.

TRUMPF Opens New Laser Factory in Connecticut

(May 1, 2008) FARMINGTON, Conn. — TRUMPF Inc. opened its new laser building, the Laser Innovation & Technical Excellence (LITE) Building, for research and manufacturing of new lasers and expanding production of laser resonators.

IPC, Jisso Sponsor Advanced Interconnect Seminar

(May 1, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC — and the Jisso International Council (JIC) are sponsoring a technical seminar, "Implementing Advanced Interconnect Technology Solutions," May 21–22, 2008, in Atlanta. Hosted by Georgia Institute of Technology, the event will provide information on the latest trends in interconnection technologies, led by speakers from JIC and the industry.

Lite-On Transfers Displays to Wistron

(May 1, 2008) TAIPEI, Taiwan — Lite-On Technology's Board of Directors approved the transfer of its digital display business to Wistron for around NT$9.2 billion. The transaction mostly involves the transfer of sales, assets, liabilities, inventory, equipment, IP, long-term investment, accrued warranty, and personnel.

Walking the Walk with Lean Manufacturing

Steve Williams, the Printed Circuit Board Commodity Manager for Plexus Corporation, gives some insights into lean manufacture, why it is important and how he sees it implemented (or not) among his suppliers.

Living in a Lead-Free World

Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall of ITM Consultants speak with Steve Gold about the courses they taught at APEX--including a new course that addressed what OEMs wanting leaded assemblies must watch out for in an increasingly lead-free electronics manufacturing world.

Essemtec Forms JV with Reprint

(April 29, 2008) AESCH, Switzerland — Essemprint (UK) Ltd., a joint venture of Essemtec and Reprint, will take over product rights for the SP900/Spectrum lines. The company targets functionality improvements and cost reductions in printing systems.

Unimicron Expands Taiwan Capacity

(April 29, 2008) TAIPEI, Taiwan — Unimicron Technology Corp. will spend approximately NT$4 billion ($131.6 million U.S.) on expanding its Taiwan PCB fabrication plant's capacity, according to the China Economic News Service (CENS). Unimicron cited environmental and tax laws in China as pressures undermining expansion on the mainland.

ASSET Develops Tools Ahead of IJTAG Standard

(April 29, 2008) RICHARDSON, Texas — Anticipating ratification of a final internal JTAG (IJTAG) standard, ASSET InterTech Inc. is developing and will bring to market open embedded instrumentation tools based on the preliminary IEEE standard, P1687 IJTAG.

Laird Opens India Production

(April 29, 2008) CHENNAI, India — Laird Technologies Inc. opened its first manufacturing facility in India with a dedication ceremony. U.S.-based Laird, a unit of the U.K.-based Laird Group PLC, employs over 14,000 employees in more than 40 facilities located in 14 countries. The Chennai facility will host 1,000 to 1,200 employees.

Straight Shots from a Solder Soldier

Indium Senior Technologist Dr. Ronald Lasky offers his candid opinions on key solder issues. Find out what Dr. Lasky thinks about lead-free solder reliability, the need for a SAC 305 replacement, and why halogen-free might become the biggest industry issue of 2008.

ACE Develops Lead Tinning System

(April 28, 2008) SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — ACE Production Technologies Inc. introduced the LTS200 lead tinning system, which converts components from tin/lead to lead-free, or vice versa, for high-reliability or RoHS-compliant products.

March Book-to-Bill Returns to Parity

(April 25, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC announced that March findings from its monthly North American PCB Statistical Program showed the book-to-bill climbing back to parity at 1.00. Shipments and bookings are up roughly 10% from March of last year.

EMS Splits from Scanfil

(April 25, 2008) SIEVI, Finland — Following similar moves by other EMS companies Nam Tai, BenQ, and Elcoteq, the board of directors at Scanfil will carry out a split of the contract manufacturer's business, with its electronics contract manufacturing business becoming a wholly owned sub-concern, Scanfil EMS Oy.

Misumi Intros Engineering Blog

(April 24, 2008) SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Misumi USA, Inc. launched an engineering blog on its Website, www.misumiusa.com. The blog focuses on the latest mechanical component trends for assembly automation.

Hankuk Valence to Distribute Valor

(April 24, 2008) SHENZHEN, China — Valor Computerized Systems Ltd. appointed Hankuk Valence, a Korea-based electronics manufacturing solutions provider, to distributed its process engineering and manufacturing monitoring and control platforms in Korea.

Zollner Installs Additional Agilent AXI

(April 24, 2008) SANTA CLARA, Calif., and ZANDT, Germany — The Zollner Group, a global EMS provider, selected the Agilent Medalist x6000 automated X-ray inspection (AXI) system to enhance its test-and-inspection capabilities.

Laird Signs Distributor Altron

(April 24, 2008) ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Laird Technologies Inc. added German-based distributor Altron to sell its thermal interface, EMI, and signal integrity products.

Asymtek Intros Slider Valve for Solder Paste

(April 24, 2008) CARLSBAD, Calif. — Asymtek launched the SV-100 slider valve for solder paste dispensing. It is reportedly up to 20% faster than standard auger dispensers. For solder paste types 4, 5, and 6, it dispenses dots of less than 300 µm.

Henkel Purchases National Starch Adhesive & Electronics Materials Units

Watch exclusive video coverage of Henkel Global Marketing Manager Doug Dixon at his press presentation during APEX announcing a 3.8 billion euro acquisition. Alan Syzdek of National Starch will lead the combined businesses, which include 18 product development and 21 manufacturing sites spanning the globe.

Patch Antenna Performs with Two Frequency Bands

(April 23, 2008) FAIRVIEW, Pa. — Spectrum Control Inc. launched a single-element patch antenna that receives and/or transmits two frequency bands in one 45-mm package. This dual-frequency patch antenna is designed for space and cost savings compared to using two single-frequency patch antennae.

The Gold Record: Nepcon China, California Become Battlegrounds

Both exhibitions and environmental legislation can cause blood to boil. Find out why with a look at skirmishes taking place in both Shanghai and California.

Thin Metal Parts Adds Marketing Manager

(April 22, 2008) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Thin Metal Parts (TMP) hired Jeremy Hancock as product marketing manager, focused on increasing the market presence for TMP's expanding product capabilities through industry research, target account identification, and prospect/account analyses.

Camtek Launches High-density PCB AOI Series

(April 22, 2008) MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel — Camtek Ltd. unveiled its Mustang line of automated optical inspection equipment targeting high-density PCBs used in mobile consumer products, such as cell phones and digital cameras. Mustang systems track defect types during inspection and handle a range of panel sizes and types.

Research and Markets Report: Printers

(April 22, 2008) DUBLIN, Ireland — Research and Markets Ltd. released its study on the global SMT screen printer market, including trends, challenges, geographic distribution, and other data. The report forecasts revenue in screen printers by region and by printer type.

Balver Zinn Enters Chinese Market

Business Development Manager Paul Salmon discusses his company's first foray into the vast China market. Find out how the privately held company is taking a measured approach to its Chinese venture.

Henkel Launches Harsh Environment Silicone

(April 21, 2008) IRVINE, Calif. — Henkel launched its Loctite 5210 fast cure thixotropic silicone material for devices in harsh environments. With improved production throughput, operating temperature flexibility, and storage, Loctite 5210 offers a reportedly cost-effective alternative to traditional hot-melt glues or other silicones.

Macrina Joins Microscan

(April 21, 2008) RENTON, Wash. — Microscan Systems Inc. appointed John Macrina as global VP of sales and service, effective at the beginning of May 2008. In January 2008, Jeff Timms (formerly of Siemens) joined Microscan as president.

Morey Corp. CTO Keynotes PCB East

(April 21, 2008) WOODRIDGE, Ill. — The Morey Corporation's chief technology officer (CTO), Emad S. Isaac, will keynote PCB East 2008, May 11 to 16 in Tinsley Park, Ill. He will address how an electronics manufacturing and assembly company identifies inherent design problems and develops best practices for communicating upstream to improve layout and manufacturability, along with other issues facing assemblers.

SMTA Boston Hosts XRF Summit

(April 21, 2008) BOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The SMTA's Boston chapter will bring together presenters from various inspection companies to discuss handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) devices at its meeting in Boxborough, Tuesday, April 22. The technical presentation, "Understanding and Effectively Using Handheld XRF Technology for Components and Materials Inspection," will include information on WEEE and RoHS substance levels, speed and accuracy of analyses, and system features.

Instructor Bob Willis Takes a Look at the Latest Assembly Issues

Noted industry technologist Bob Willis details some of the pressing questions his students asked during his classes at the IPC Technical Conference.

TRI, ASSET Integrate Test Solutions

(April 18, 2008) RICHARDSON, Texas and TAIPEI, Taiwan — ASSET InterTech Inc. will integrate its boundary scan test solutions into Test Research Inc.'s (TRI's) in-circuit test (ICT) systems. The partnership targets reduced test costs for equipment manufacturers because boundary scan tests can be reused throughout every phase of a product's life cycle.

The Best of the EMS Industry: IPC Innovative Technology Center Winners

We're highlighting the EMS industry winners of the IPC Innovative Technology Center Award--find out why each won this exciting recognition.

IPC Names Global Board Members

(April 17, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC revealed its recently elected Board of Directors. New chairman Nilesh Naik, CEO, OneSource Group (Texas), was elected. The new members — Rex Rozario, executive chairman, Graphic Plc (U.K); Zhou Xin, senior director, advanced technology R&D, Huawei Technologies (China); and Robert Black Jr., president and CEO, Juki Automation Systems, Inc. (N.C.), represent the global membership and global marketplace IPC serves.

Chinese Domestic Equipment Copies Can't Replace High End

The second floor of Nepcon China's main hall contains lower priced equipment, everything from pick-and-place and reflow ovens to AOI and screen printers. One printer even reportedly cost $2,500. Is this a threat to companies like Speedline? Not so, says Asia Vice President Kho Lik Wai. He explains that though these products are improving, they cannot compete for higher-end, higher volume customers.

Competing in China on One's Own Terms

Rather than submitting to the "grab market share at any cost" mindset many competitors seem to embrace in China, Europlacer Group Managing Director Derek Gaston explains how his company is employing the same model it uses for profitability in the western world in the Chinese market.

SMTA Partners with MentorNet

(April 15, 2008) MINNEAPOLIS — The Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) formed a partnership with MentorNet to facilitate mentorship opportunities for its student members. The partnership allows members of the SMTA privileges to resources offered by MentorNet such as its one-on-one program, easy matching to SMTA members, and the resume database for students.

Cool Polymers Launches Heatsink Line

(April 15, 2008) WARWICK, R.I. — Cool Polymers Inc. introduced its next-generation thermally conductive injection-mold thermoplastics for heatsinks and thermal management solutions. The proprietary CoolPoly grades provide no antenna effect as metal heatsinks can, and are said to be up to 50% lighter than aluminum designs.

Microelectronics Center Opens at EI

(April 14, 2008) ENDICOTT, N.Y. — The Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing (CAMM), located at the Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. facility in Endicott, was inaugurated in late March, in a ceremony attended by business, political and community leaders. A collaborative effort by Binghamton University, Endicott Interconnect Technologies and Cornell University, the CAMM will pioneer microelectronics manufacturing research and development in a roll-to-roll format.

Video - Are Mid-Sized Chinese EMS Companies Being Squeezed?

Speedy-Tech Electronics was recently acquired by IMI, a multinational EMS company. IMI's Alex Kot explains his compaany is trying to overcome several challenges, including retention of employees and reduced government incentives.

After Divestiture, Universal Plans Focused Approach to Global Market

CBA Croup Chairman and CEO Dr. Jean-Luc Pellissier joins EMS007 Editor Steve Gold for a discussion of the Vitronics-Soltec divestiture, the company's re-focusing effort, and how the R&D legacy in Binghamton must be relied upon for future growth to occur.

SMT China Hosts 2^ndVISION Awards

(April 10, 2008) SHANGHAI, China — "China, despite the competition from neighborhood countries, appreciation of the RMB, tightening of government regulations; China's GDP is still growing at double digits," said Adonis Mak, group publisher, SMT China, during the magazine's presentation of its second annual VISION awards at Nepcon China. Winners received honors in SMT equipment, excellence in a specific metric, and China-centric awards. Following are the winners.

HP Consolidates Facilities Globally

(April 10, 2008) PALO ALTO, Calif. — HP will implement a major consolidation of facilities and security vendors for most of its worldwide facilities. This is expected to save tens of millions of dollars over the life of the new contracts, according to HP representatives.

Video: Dr. Ron Lasky Discusses RoHS, Halogen-free and Lead-free Solders

WEEE, RoHS and Green are here to stay. Interest in halogen free solders and assembly continues to grow, even in spite of the controversy of whether or not it is a valid green issue for solder.

Nepcon China Kicks Off in Shanghai

(April 8, 2008) SHANGHAI, China — Nepcon China, April 8–11 in Shanghai, will feature China-based and international exhibitors targeting the evolving Asia manufacturing base. Traditional low-mix/high-volume, medium- to high-mix/high-volume, and test-and-inspection are the focus of many exhibitors in this market. Following are some top products to look for at the show.

Moscow Event Draws International Exhibitors

(April 8, 2008) MOSCOW — ExpoElectronica exhibition and conference will take place April 15–18, 2008, in Moscow. ExpoElectronica is an officially audited tradeshow targeting electronics assembly operation in Russia and Eastern Europe. The show drew exhibitors from 21 countries in 2007. Following are some of the product highlights for the 2008 event.

Plexus - Walking the Walk with Lean Manufacturing

Steve Williams of Plexus gives some insights into lean manufacture, why it is important, and how he sees it implemented (or not) among his suppliers.

Mentor, Agilent Pair Up for RF Design

(April 7, 2008) WILSONVILLE, Ore. and SANTA CLARA, Calif. — PCB design tool provider Mentor Graphics Corp. and Agilent Technologies Inc. jointly developed an RF design solution to improve productivity for the design of RF circuits on PCBs. The partnership targets shorter PCB design cycle times with increased collaboration, particularly in mixed-technology designs, which incorporate RF, analog, and digital components.

From the Show: IPC News Wraps Up APEX

(April 4, 2008) LAS VEGAS — IPC Printed Circuits Expo/APEX/Designers Summit, this week in Las Vegas, provided an international platform for diverse launches — in technology, collaborations, and products. IPC also unveiled several initiatives and awards at the show, including a joint symposium with the SMTA, volunteer and corporate honors, and best papers. APEX 2008 has come to a successful close, and IPC will return the show to Las Vegas in 2009.

Flextronics R&D Pushes Industry Forward

Dr. Dongkai Shangguan and Aaron Unterborn sit down in the Real Time with...IPC studio for an update of Research and Design activities Flextronics over the past year and the content of an award-winning technical conference paper.

Henkel Purchases National Starch Adhesive and Electronics Materials Units

National Starch's Alan Syzdek will lead the combined businesses, which include 18 product development and 21 manufacturing sites spanning the globe. The move also strengthens Henkel's Asian presence--a key factor in combining the purchase of both the Emerson & Cuming and Abelstik product lines.

From the Show: Henkel Acquires Adhesives Businesses

(April 3, 2008) LAS VEGAS — Henkel Corporation announced at APEX that they've acquired Ablestik and Emerson & Cuming for approximately $6 billion from National Starch. The companies will become part of Henkel's adhesives group, bringing in die attach, board-level interconnect, and related materials, along with intellectual property (IP) and a global manufacturing base.

Video - Susan Mucha: EMS Selling Strategies

Susan Mucha discusses her presentation and how EMS providers must choose their customers wisely. She also discusses the release of a new book detailing EMS sales strategies.

From the Show: Designing for U.S. Volume Manufacturing

(April 2, 2008) LAS VEGAS — The standard mantra of the electronics manufacturing industry is that any volume of manufacturing will head overseas, and prototyping and new product introductions will stay domestic. While that argument holds true in many cases, certain exhibitors at the IPC Printed Circuits Expo/APEX/Designers Summit, taking place this week in Las Vegas, are introducing methods to keep larger-volume manufacturing in the U.S. and Europe.

From the Show: Inspection Takes on Limited Access

(April 2, 2008) LAS VEGAS — Test-and-inspection is a key segment of functional, successful SMT operations. At this year's IPC Printed Circuits Expo/APEX/Designers Summit exhibits, inspection-and-test equipment providers are displaying new solutions to deal with miniaturized components, leadless and BGA packages, and RoHS/anti-RoHS screening requirements.

From the Show: APEX Opens

(April 1, 2008) LAS VEGAS — The IPC Printed Circuits Expo/APEX/Designers Summit opens today, April 1, with new product introductions, partnership announcements, and live product demonstrations taking center stage.

ANSYS Acquires EDA Provider Ansoft

(March 31, 2008) SOUTHPOINTE, Pa. and PITTSBURGH — ANSYS Inc. will buy Ansoft Corporation for approximately $832 million in a mix of cash and ANSYS common stock, leading to a combined software provider with trailing 12-month revenues of $485 million. The acquisition of Ansoft is ANSYS' first foray into the broader EDA software industry.

From the Show: APEX Cleaning & Alternatives Subcommittee

(March 30, 2008) LAS VEGAS — The exhibition hall doesn't open until Tuesday, but the IPC APEX technical conference is underway today, with the Cleaning and Alternatives Subcommittee taking place from 8 to noon. Mike Bixenman, DBA, Kyzen and William Kenyon, Ph.D., Global Centre Consulting, host the session, part of the Standards Development Meetings at the tradeshow in Las Vegas. Following is a brief description of the committee goals.

EI, Unimicron Partner in Organic Substrates

(March 28, 2008) ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. (EI) entered into a sales and manufacturing agreement with Unimicron Technology Corp. to produce CoreEZ organic substrates at one of Unimicron's Taiwan facilities. The PCB maker will supply high volumes of CoreEZ products under EI specs and requirements.

February Book-to-Bill Rises to 0.99

(March 27, 2008) BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries found that the February book-to-bill ratio for rigid and flex PCBs rose to 0.99, near parity. A rise in rigid PCB bookings drove the increase from 0.97 in January.

Jabil Reports Second Quarter Results, Lowers Expectations for 2008

"We expect revenue in the second half of fiscal 2008 to be consistent with the first half of the year, resulting in a year of modest growth but below our previous expectations. It appears the slowdown in end markets will reduce our growth rate and impede margin expansion for the next quarter or two."

Technical Highlights: APEX

(March 25, 2008) LAS VEGAS — Technical presentations will take center stage at IPC Printed Circuits Expo/APEX/Designers Summit, April 1–3 in Las Vegas. Following are previews of select presentations taking place at the show, as well as links to other aspects of the technical program.

P. Kay Metal Sharpens China Sales Strategy

A video interview with China Sales Manager Hardy Huang discusses why dross removal chemistry can succeed in a cost-conscious Chinese market.

Agilent Launches Blended Test Technology

(March 24, 2008) SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Agilent Technologies Inc. will demonstrate a hybrid boundary scan and VTEP vectorless test solution, Cover-Extend, at APEX in Las Vegas, April 1–3 and Nepcon China in Shanghai, April 8–11, launching under its VTEP v2.0 Powered suite. Cover-Extend technology allows in-circuit test (ICT) without physical test points, recovering up to 50% of test node access and protecting assemblies.

Siemens Divests Electronics

(March 21, 2008) FRANKFURT, Germany — Thomson Financial reports that a spokesman for Siemens AG confirmed the company's plans to divest its electronic assembly systems unit by the end of this year. EA makes assembly machines for electronic components and circuit boards.

ITW Completes Vitronics Soltec Acquisition

(March 21, 2008) STRATHAM, N.H. — Illinois Tool Works (ITW) acquired Vitronics-Soltec from Francisco Partners, adding the soldering equipment company to other holdings in the SMT space, such as Kester and Speedline. Financial amounts were not disclosed.

Celestica Announces Two Senior Leadership Appointments

Appointments will position Celestica for future success and enable the company to deliver an integrated, end-to-end supply chain solution to its customers

IPC Launches PCB Assembly Show in Shanghai, China

Partnering with Messe Munchen, the IPC Assembly Show will become part of Productronica China co-located with the CPCA Show and Semicon China.

Intel Honors 13 Companies with Supplier Quality Awards

(March 19, 2008) SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Intel Corp. has named the 13 winners of the company's most prestigious award for suppliers: the Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement (SCQI) award. The honor, bestowed for outstanding commitment to quality and performance excellence in 2007, recognizes companies that provided products and services deemed essential to Intel's business success. Intel has also given thirty-five 2007 Preferred Quality Supplier (PQS) awards.

Novagard Releases Potting, Encapsulant, Conformal Coating Series

(March 19, 2008) CLEVELAND — Novagard Solutions released RTV 800 Series UV/dual cure and UV gels for use in potting, encapsulating, and conformal coating of delicate components, PCBs, lighting assemblies, and various wiring/current-carrying electrical devices. Cure speeds can be less than 3 sec.

Nunes Offering Green SMTAI Keynote

(March 18, 2008) MINNEAPOLIS — The SMTA Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at SMTA International (SMTAI), August 20, 2008, in Orlando, Fla., will feature a keynote presentation by Sharon Nunes, Ph.D., VP, Big Green Innovations, IBM Systems & Technology Group (STG). In her talk, Nunes will discuss IBM's approach to environmental challenges globally, and highlight ways that IBM is helping to tackle some of these important issues.

YESTech Names Regional Sales Manager

(March 18, 2008) SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — YESTech Inc., a business of Nordson Corporation, added Scott Roberson as a regional sales manager, responsible for managing sales activity in the southern U.S. and overseeing YESTech's AOI product line for microelectronics applications.

Valor, Nagoya Partner on Inspection

(March 18, 2008) YAVNE, Israel and TOKYO — Valor Computerized Systems Ltd. established a technological partnership agreement with Nagoya Electric of Japan, which develops advanced automatic inspection equipment. The companies will integrate ODB++ PCB modeling and Valor's Part Library (VPL) onto Nagoya systems to shorten inspection setup times.

Matheson Tri-Gas Acquires Five Star Gas

(March 18, 2008) BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — Matheson Tri-Gas Inc. completed its purchase of Five Star Gas & Gear, adding five branches in southern California. The acquired company will become a part of the Matheson Tri-Gas Industrial Gas Group business unit. The move is in line with Matheson Tri-Gas's strategy to expand in the U.S. as a vertically integrated gases supplier, said William J. Kroll, chairman, president, and CEO, Matheson Tri-Gas, and executive director, Taiyo Nippon Sanso.

Oeko-Institut Calls for Industry Input on RoHS Review

The Oeko-Institut e.V., which is under contract to the EU for the review of the RoHS, has drawn up a list of 46 substances for scrutiny, and is calling for industry input regarding the list of substances to be further analyzed.

Screaming Circuits Blog Hits 200 Articles

(March 17, 2008) CANBY, Ore. — Screaming Circuits has reached the 200-article mark on its design engineering blog, blog.screamingcircuits.com. The blog was created as a resource to help electrical design engineers solve board layout and assembly problems.

ECT Manager Receives the Patriot Award

(March 17, 2008) POMONA, Calif. — Joe Burns, operation manager, contact products group (CPG), Everett Charles Technologies (ECT), was honored with the Patriot Award during a ceremony at ECT's Ostby Barton division in Warwick, R.I.

Custom Connectors Use FR4

(March 17, 2008) SAN DIEGO — Autosplice will provide a custom connector fabrication service to prototypers through volume manufacturing, incorporating FR4 headers rather than special moldings. The company asserts that FR4 optimizes flexibility, costs, reliability, and lead times. Connectors are panelized and available in various thicknesses and with a range of pins/terminals.

Nepcon China Approaches

(March 17, 2008) SHANGHAI, China — Nepcon China, April 8–11 in Shanghai, will feature recent product releases from Chinese and global companies. Following are product previews from Kyzen, Kester, and a host of other exhibitors, as well as program previews from SMTA China, who will run events in conjunction with Nepcon.

Viscom Opens Applications and Training Center in Mexico

(March 15, 2008) DULUTH, Ga. — Viscom opened an applications and training center in Guadalajara, Mexico. The center, which features an AOI and X-ray applications lab, as well as training facilities and a demo room, was established to meet increasing demand in the Mexican electronics market.

RMD Expands Americas Representation

(March 14, 2008) WATERTOWN, Mass. — RMD Instruments LLC formally appointed Southwest Systems Technology Inc. as its manufacturing representative for La., Okl., Ark., N.M., and Mexico. The company named Advanced Precision Sales/WittcoSales as its manufacturing representative for territories within southern Calif./Baja.

SME Reveals Innovations Initiative

(March 14, 2008) DEARBORN, Mich. — The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) announced a member-driven initiative, "Innovations That Could Change The Way You Manufacture," to outline emerging technologies that are making a positive impact on manufacturing, provide an educational framework for SME members and manufacturing practitioners to keep up-to-date on the industry's latest, and showcase advancements.

Textron Hosts SMTA Tour

(March 14, 2008) WILMINGTON, Mass. — Textron Defense Systems will host an SMTA technical presentation, "Understanding and Effectively Using XRF Technology for Components and Materials Inspection," including XRF demo, definition of capabilities, and an SMT facility and product showcase tour. Attendance is limited to the first 70 registrants.

YESTech Expands in China

(March 14, 2008) SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — YESTech Inc. opened a new location in Shanghai, China, co-located with parent company Nordson's China facility at the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Pudong. The 8,000-sq.m. facility houses around 200 employees and operates as a "Center Of Excellence." Each division hosts a specialized customer demonstration lab.

KSR Adds Genesis Platform

(March 14, 2008) BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — KSR International selected the Genesis GC-120Q placement platform from Universal Instruments to meet objectives for in-house assembly speed and flexibility in a high-volume environment. KSR designs and manufactures electronics modules, controls, and closures for the transportation industry.

CTS Corp Acquires Orion Manufacturing

"Orion has built a solid track record of providing competitive, on-time quality manufacturing services. Its business model complements CTS' EMS business and enhances our ability to add value in our target markets."

Assembléon, Valor Form Technology Partnership

(March 13, 2008) VELDHOVEN, the Netherlands and YAVNE, Israel — Assembléon BV and Valor Computerized Systems Ltd. have established a technology partnership, beginning by integrating Assembléon's pick-and-place machine interfaces into Valor's software products. Enhanced machine interfaces are available for Valor's process engineering control tool vPlan on Assembléon's A-, M-, and X-Series machines.

SMTA China Helps Raise Overall Competency Level of SMT Industry, Sponsors Engineer Certification Program

SMTA China announces that it will sponsor the upcoming SMTA Certified SMT Engineering Course and Examination from 8-10 April 2008 in Shanghai in conjunction with NEPCON China 2008.