News
Cookson Electronics Assembly Materials (Jersey City, NJ) will implement a tin surcharge covering the dramatic increase in the cost of tin on all invoices for ALPHA solder paste when the London Metal Exchange price exceeds $9,500/metric ton. The surcharge calculation is based on official LME pricing (www.lme.co.uk) which confirmed that tin prices more than doubled in the last six months over the previous two-year average.
In May, the price of tin broached the $10,000/per metric ton psychological level. Adding to the upward price pressure on tin, some analysts and research groups suggest that the production of tin for 2004 will be approximately 6% less than the demand. Prices for other metals over the same period have also risen sharply with copper up 91%, lead up 128%, nickel up 146% and silver up 95%. The surcharge does not address the cost increases for these metals.
"This year-long run up in the cost of tin has hit us particularly hard," said David Zerfoss, president of Cookson EAM. "An example of its impact is that 63% of 90% of the solder paste we ship worldwide is tin...Given this severe cost increase situation and the importance of tin in the assembly process, we are forced to ask our customers to share the burden with us. As soon as tin prices drop below $9,500/metric ton, I will rescind the surcharge."
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
FEINFOCUS (Stamford, CT), a supplier of x-ray inspection systems and tube technology, announces two new additions to the application engineering staff: Dr. Guido Rademaker and Thomas Pukall. With the addition of Dr. Rademaker and Pukall, the company has substantially increased its applications staff.
Under the leadership of newly appointed director of technology development, Dr. Udo E. Frank, the application staff is responsible for identifying future market demands in the global electronics industry and tailoring an x-ray solution to fit each requirement.
The company also announced that Dr. Frank will be the keynote speaker for FEINFOCUS' global technical seminar series on x-ray inspection technology. The company is sponsoring this program in an effort to educate customers on the most recent advances in x-ray inspection technology.
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
The new Universal Instruments (Binghamton, NY) AdVantis AFC-42 placement machine is designed to reduce the cost of entry for manufacturers needing high mix capability, increased speed and greater accuracy. The machine leverages Universal's platform concept to deliver a low priced but scalable solution ideal for low-margin assembly applications. The machine also has a smaller footprint to occupy less shop floor space.
Like its predecessor, the new machine features a single-beam positioning system. However, it employs dual-drive lead screws as well as 1um linear encoders for accuracy close to that of the GSMxs linear motor based platform.
"All of the capability and functionality of high-end assembly has been transferred to the AFC-42, including high magnification cameras, flip chip algorithms, low force capability, heated spindles, fluxing, several feeder types and dispensing," said Richard Boulanger, vice president of the advanced semiconductor assembly division.
The company believes the placer will be attractive to high-mix and high-volume manufacturers whose markets demand the utmost cost-per-placement efficiency in order to sustain narrow margins.
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
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