News
The first opportunity is for Nepcon Shenzhen, Aug. 30-Sept. 2. The SMTA is looking for papers related to Implementing Lead-Free (such as case studies from OEMS and CMs). The program will also focus on Lead-Free Assembly Materials and Processes.
Papers presented in Chinese are preferred. Your company must provide translation for any English submissions. Abstracts need to be emailed to joann@smta.org by May 30.
The SMTA is also soliciting workshops or courses to be presented throughout 2005 and 2006 in various cities in China. A fee and travel expenses will be provided. Courses must be taught in Mandarin (handouts can be in English). Course proposals should be submitted to joann@smta.org by June 17.
The final opportunity is for Productronica in Munich, Nov.15-18. Presentations in German are preferred. Email your abstract by June 17 to joann@smta.org.
Minneapolis, MN - The Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) is hosting its SMTA/CAVE Harsh Environment Electronics Workshop on June 28-29 in Indianapolis. Jointly organized by the SMTA and Auburn University- Center for Advanced Vehicle Electronics, the workshop addresses the concerns related to harsh environment electronics and the challenges facing the electronics community.
It is intended to bring together the needs from end-users with the capabilities of the research community and industrial supply base. In addition, industrial needs for non-automotive vehicle requirements are addressed.
Harsh Environment Electronics Sessions will include:
Thermal Interface Materials
Component Reliability for Harsh Environments
Module Overmolding for Harsh Environments
Systems Design for Harsh Environments
Lead-Free Soldering and Solder Alternatives
Register by May 27 to receive a 10% discount.
Full workshop details and on-line registration can be found at:
http://www.smta.org/education/symposia/symposia.cfm#harsh.
Taipei -- EMS provider Foxconn Electronics may buy two desktop PC assembly plants in Australia and India from Hewlett-Packard, an Asian news source reported.
Under the agreement, Foxconn (the registered trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry) will take over design and manufacturing management at the two plants, and may eventually take over HP plants in Europe, according to a report originally published in the Chinese-language Commercial Times.
In an article on Forbes.com, Foxconn affirmed the Australia takeover but denied the Indian acquisition.
TORONTO -- Coretec Inc. has entered into a nonbinding letter of intent to merge with Unicircuit Inc. in an all stock swap. Coretec, a PCB maker based in Toronto, will issue 6 million common shares in exchange for all of
Unicircuit's common shares. Coretec will also issue $3.1 million
of a new class of preferred shares in exchange for $3.1 million of
preferred shares of Unicircuit as well as assume $3.9 million of Unicircuit's net debt.
The transaction is expected to close by July 31.
"This merger creates opportunities to maximize efficiencies with respect to facility overheads and production. With an estimated capacity of $150 million, the combination of the two companies will provide North American and European electronics OEM and EMS companies with a major alternative for prototype-to-production high reliability PCBs," said Paul Langston, president and CEO of Coretec.
Unicircuit operates plants in Littleton, CO, and Roseville, MN.
"From our discussions with Coretec we have been enticed by the marketing potential of this combination, particularly in light of the fact that our respective customer bases have little overlap. As such, we believe we will be able to achieve a wider and deeper penetration into our mutual account base," said Kerry Bode, president and CEO of Unicircuit. "In addition, the prospects for accessing more meaningful new programs, particularly in the defense sector, are much greater as a combined entity. This merger brings our shareholders a step closer to realizing our strategic objective of playing a leadership role in the North American PCB industry. Coretec has an outstanding executive team that we believe will enable the merged company to more fully and expeditiously realize its potential. Unicircuit is excited about the opportunities that the combined entities bring to our customers, employees and shareholders."
MURRAY HILL, NJ - Is Lucent Technologies readying to cut manufacturing ties with Jabil Circuit?
In a column posted Monday at theStreet.com, a Wall Street newletter,
Lucent was said to be preparing to reduce its EMS supply list to two,
with Jabil among three EMS companies that stand to be on the outs.
Quoting "people close to Lucent," theStreet.com columnist Scott
Moritz wrote that while Lucent declined to comment on any specific
changes, the company was looking at its options.
TORONTO - Celestica Inc. has named Craig Muhlhauser president and executive vice president of worldwide sales and business development. Muhlhauser was previously president and chief executive of Exide Technologies. He will lead the EMS maker's global sales and business development effort and drive the growth strategy.
Muhlhauser has over 25 years of sales, marketing and general management experience with GE, United Technologies and Ford. Muhlhauser holds a masters in mechanical engineering and a bachelor's in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati.
"I am very excited to have Craig Muhlhauser join the Celestica team. I had the pleasure of working with Craig at Ford and know him to be an extremely capable, customer-focused senior executive," said Steve Delaney, CEO of Celestica. "Craig's vast sales and marketing expertise, and his creativity in developing integrated offerings, will be a great asset to Celestica and, ultimately, our customers."
In addition to this change, Marvin MaGee, Celestica's former head of worldwide business development has been named executive vice president, worldwide operations. MaGee will be responsible for managing Celestica's global manufacturing network, as well as implementing site-to-site consistency in Lean, Six Sigma, organization capability and customer care.
MaGee joined Celestica's executive team in 1997. Prior to that, he spent 18 years with IBM Canada where he held multiple senior management positions in manufacturing and development. MaGee holds a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from the University of New Brunswick and an MBA from McMaster University.
