Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Current

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MANKATO, MN -- EMS provider Winland Electronics reported fourth quarter revenues rose 5% to $9.2 million year-over-year, led by new customer wins and expanding sales to current customers base. The company recorded a record $37.9 million in sales for the year.

For the period ended Dec. 31, net income fell 92.4% to $51,036, compared to last year.

AMSTERDAM – Royal Philips Electronics has taken its first steps toward divesting its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), selling about 887 million shares to financial investors in Taiwan for about 1.3 billion euros in cash.

The move was expected: Philips on March 9 announced a multi-phased plan to divest itself from TSMC.

The sale generated proceeds of approximately 1.3 billion euros, and will result in a non-taxable gain of approximately 725 million euros for Philips’ first quarter 2007.

Philips now holds approximately 3,301 million shares in TSMC, lowering its holding in TSMC from 16.2% to 12.8%.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – Rapid price reductions are boosting sales of large-sized LCD TVs, says iSuppli, which increased its forecast for shipments in 2007.

TAIPEI – Asustek Computer Inc. forecast an 80% rise in shipments of its branded laptops this year, the company said in March. In January the company had forecast a 58% increase in laptop shipments.

Last year, Asustek, which is also the world’s largest motherboard maker, sold 2.7 million units. Asustek also makes computers for Apple, Dell, and Sony Corp.

“Orders right now are pretty good, so we are confident of hitting this target,” Asustek Asia Pacific sales president Benson Lin said at a March press conference.

DURHAM, NH – Sales of wave soldering equipment hit $235 million worldwide last year, according to a new study by ITM Marketing (itmconsulting.org). (Disclosure: ITM founder Phil Zarrow is a regular Circuits Assembly columnist.)

The 75-page study, Worldwide Wave Soldering Market Study, is a comprehensive analysis of the equipment market from the supplier and end-user perspectives. It covers price to performance benchmarks, supplier perception ratings and supplier and user interviews.

In a press release, ITM Marketing managing director Bob Klenke said, “This study helps to identify the principle characteristics of wave solder machines and how the respective suppliers differ in terms of key specifications, features and capabilities.”

SANTA BARBARA, CA – Design Solutions Inc. has acquired Paradigm Manufacturing Partners, an EMS provider based in Garden Grove, CA. Paradigm, which has one SMT line, performs NPI through medium-volume surface-mount board assemblies, box build and rework projects. Scott Penin, president and CEO of Paradigm, has been appointed vice president of global manufacturing of DSI.