Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

SHANGHAI – Nepcon China opened today with strong crowds and plenty of noise, as usual. The show, many watchers agree, needs a strong showing this year to fend off a challenge from the producers of Productronica, who are mounting a challenge to Nepcon’s longstanding supremacy in the Shanghai electronics market.

TAIPEI – Chairman of the Hon Hai Group, Terry Gou, said his group will invest in a planned software industrial park in Kaohsung, Taiwan at the urging of president-elect Ma Ying-jeou.

Ying-jeou suggested Gou lead high-tech enterprises in northern Taiwan to invest in the planned industrial park in the south, and reportedly, Gou is willing to comply.

Gou also pledged to export products to Europe and the U.S. from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, instead of Vietnam, say published reports.

In addition, Ying-jeou asked Gou to expand investments in Taiwan and upgrade its Taiwanese headquarters for global operation, while leading public welfare service.

Gou said his firm has long revolved around northern Taiwan, with the south being uncharted territory. Recently, Hon Hai has opened plants in India and Nanjing, China.

The group has begun to evaluate investments to devise projects before May 20, when Ying-jeou will become president of the Republic of China.

BURLINGTON, VT – The world's largest 50 EMS providers grew an average 16.7% in 2007, according to a new study. The top 50's sales totaled $141.3 billion, a new high, says John Tuck of Manufacturing Market Insider.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – The optoelectronics, sensors/actuators, and discrete markets account for about 15% of total semiconductor revenues, and their combined revenues are increasing at a CAGR of 13% per year between 2002 and 2012, says IC Insights.

By 2012, total O-S-D sales are expected to exceed $66 billion, up from $38 billion in 2007, according to the firm’s forecast.

The $256 billion semiconductor universe consists of ICs and (O-S-D) components, says IC Insights.

The O-S-D market plays a vital role in the overall health and advancement of the semiconductor and electronic systems industries. Some of the industry's fastest growing product categories and manufacturing technologies are CMOS image sensors, MEMS-based sensors/actuators, laser transmission devices, high-brightness LEDs, microphone chips, fingerprint sensors, and new power transistors used in portable electronics, power supplies, and automotive electronics. After lagging IC market growth in the 1980s and most of the 1990s, O-S-D revenues began increasing at a stronger rate 10 years ago, says IC Insights.

NEEHAH, WI – Electronics manufacturer Plexus Corp. has leased two new facilities in Chicago and San Jose, CA.

STAMFORD, CT – Gartner Inc. forecasts a 7% sequential decline for first-quarter semiconductor sales, and says growth prospects for 2008 will hinge largely on the second quarter.