News
The electronics interconnection group at National Physical Laboratory (NPL, Teddington, UK) is making progress in its current research projects.
The use of AC signals instead of DC in surface monitoring of process residues, such as flux, is yielding startling results. The new methods, dubbed surface insulation impedance (SII), show that some fluxes appear to provide variations in loss of signal in an AC environment orders of magnitude higher than predicted by traditional DC surface insulation resistance (SIR) techniques. Ongoing work continues to validate the findings, which could have important implications for AC circuit reliability. For more information, contact: alan.brewin@npl.co.uk.
Over 170,000 electronic component joints have been built with two isotropic conductive adhesive materials at NPL. These samples are now in seven different accelerated environments comprising damp heat, dry heat and thermal cycling. The next steps will involve analysis of joint conductivity, shear and drop test data to compare the reliability performance of the adhesive joints to that achievable with solder. Contact martin.wickham@ntlworld.com for further information.
Work to improve solderability wetting balance tests by including a pre-heating process for the component is showing significant rewards. The use of pre-heat with focused IR energy allows for a lower solder globule or bath temperature and better representation in the test to the reality of wave of reflow soldering conditions. The improved method is likely to reward users with a better prediction of defect rates if parts are used in production. For more information, contact: alan.brewin@npl.co.uk.
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
UP Media Group Inc. (UPMG, Atlanta, GA) has announced the final schedule of events for the thirteenth annual PCB Design Conference West (PCB West). The West Coast conference and exhibition for PCB engineering, design and manufacture professionals will be held March 16-18 in San Jose, CA.
"This year, we've kicked things up a few notches," said UPMG president Pete Waddell. "The complete Professional Development and Technical Conference program boasts a terrific selection of more than 35 courses--over half of which are new to PCB West. Plus, attendees of the full-day tutorials and two-day Design Excellence Curriculum (DEC) courses that make up our new Professional Development Certificate Program will each receive certificates of completion following the show. I'm also pleased to announce that we've added a new low-cost conference package, the Lecture and Workshop Package, which is one of the best bargains we've ever offered at a PCB Design Conference."
The PCB West three-day Technical Conference takes place March 16-17 and includes 27 short courses. The Technical Conference is bracketed by 10 Professional Development Certificate courses: six full-day tutorials and four two-day DEC courses.
Dr. Walden C. Rhines, CEO of Mentor Graphics Corp., will give his keynote address, "Breaking the PCB Design Process," to kick-off the conference on March 16. The exhibition will begin immediately following the keynote. Three special events will also take place back-to-back on March 16: the Opening Night Reception, book signings and the Pot O'Gold Party and Giveaway at the headquarters hotel, the Fairmont San Jose.
Registration for the two-day exhibition and most special events is free.
UPMG publishes Printed Circuit Design & Manufacture and Circuits Assembly, and produces PCB Design Conference West and PCB Design Conference East in the Boston, MA, area. UPMG also hosts the PCB Design Conference Road Series of courses in cities throughout the U.S.
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
Celestica Inc. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), an electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, has announced that Eugene V. Polistuk, chairman and chief executive officer, has decided to retire, effective immediately.
Polistuk has led the company since its establishment in 1994, when Celestica was established as a standalone subsidiary of IBM. Onex Corp. acquired Celestica in 1996 and the company subsequently went public in 1998.
The Board of Directors understands and accepts Polistuk's decision to retire and appreciates the contribution he has made to Celestica's success.
"I believe the 'tech storm' is over and Celestica is very well positioned to share in the outsourcing trend that is gaining considerable momentum as end markets show positive signs of recovery," said Eugene Polistuk. "At this juncture, I feel it is time for me to pass the leadership of Celestica on to new and very capable hands so that I may re-focus my priorities on family and personal interests."
Robert L. Crandall, who has been a director of the company since 1998, has been appointed to the position of chairman of the board. The board has established a search committee to select a replacement for Polistuk. Candidates from both within and outside the company will be considered.
In the interim, Stephen W. Delaney has been appointed chief executive officer. Delaney has been with Celestica since 2001, most recently as president of Americas operations. Prior to joining Celestica, Delaney held executive and senior management roles in operations at Visteon Automotive Systems, AlliedSignal's electronic systems business, Ford's electronics division and IBM's telecommunications division.
J. Marvin MaGee will remain in his current position as president and chief operating officer, Anthony P. Puppi will continue as executive vice president and chief financial officer and R. Thomas Tropea will remain vice chair, worldwide marketing and business development.
The company also announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2003. For the fourth quarter, revenue was $1,915 million, up 17% sequentially from the third quarter of this year. Net loss for the quarter was $165 million or ($0.80) per share, which includes a $106 million charge associated with the company's non-cash impairment of long-lived assets and previously announced restructuring activities. This compares to a net loss of $435 million or ($1.90) per share for the same period last year.
Adjusted net earnings was a loss of $4 million or ($0.04) per share, compared to earnings of $39 million or $0.15 per share for the same period last year. The results compare with the company's guidance for the fourth quarter, which was announced on Oct. 23, 2003, for revenue of $1.70 - $1.85 billion and adjusted net loss per share of ($0.01) to ($0.09).
For the fiscal year, revenue was $6,735 million compared to $8,272 million last year. Net loss was $266 million or ($1.22) per share up from a net loss of $445 million or ($1.98) per share in 2002. Adjusted net loss for 2003 was $7 million or ($0.11) per share compared to adjusted net earnings of $222 million or $0.87 per share last year.
Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.
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