LOS ALTOS, CA – Changes in corporate PC purchasing is slowing market growth, according to a new report. Electronics equipment sales will fall this year but will recover in 2008, says Ed Henderson of Henderson Ventures in his latest newsletter. “Corporations no longer feel compelled to upgrade their systems every three years because hardware and software advances don’t offer the productivity improvements that previous upgrades have given,” Henderson wrote. The U.S. has been particularly hard hit: PC unit shipments grew 1% last year. Worldwide, shipments grew 9.9% in 2006. However, forecasts call for a slowdown to 7.1% this year before recovering to 10.2% in 2008, Henderson said. Demand from emerging markets for low-cost cellphones boosted shipments to 993 million in 2006, up from 430 million in 2002. Unit growth is predicted to dip to 13.1% this year and 10.3% in 2008, Henderson predicts. Global equipment values will fall to 6.9% in 2007 from 9% last year on slower unit growth for certain key products. Henderson predicts a rebound to 8.1% in 2008.
SANTA FE, NM -- Compass Components will purchase Sparton Technology's Deming, NM, wire harness plant and certain
inventory and equipment, and will begin to rehire laid off employees,
according to Rick Homans, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico
Economic Development Department. No financial terms were disclosed.
Compass, which makes cable, harness and electromechanical assemblies, began operations at the facility yesterday. The sale of the building should be finalized by June 29.
Compass, which makes cable, harness and electromechanical assemblies, began operations at the facility yesterday. The sale of the building should be finalized by June 29.
On Jan. 8, Sparton announced it would close the
plant and lay off its 76 employees. Compass will
initially hire up to 12 employees, and officials say they
would like to ramp to 75 or more employees in one to two
years.
TOKYO -- Is Sanyo Electric Co. gearing up to sell its cellphone and digital camera businesses?
The Japanese electronics giant already outsourced its TV and home appliances businesses, part of a strategy to focus on energy and green businesses, and it taking bids on its chip division.
As Seiichiro Sano takes over as company president today, shareholders are telling the company to outsource or spin off its mobile phones and digital cameras units, too.
The Japanese electronics giant already outsourced its TV and home appliances businesses, part of a strategy to focus on energy and green businesses, and it taking bids on its chip division.
As Seiichiro Sano takes over as company president today, shareholders are telling the company to outsource or spin off its mobile phones and digital cameras units, too.
CLINTON, NY - Indium Corp. announced today a surcharge on its Ag- and Sn-containing solder pastes, effective immediately. Since January, tin has increased to $6.25/lb. from $3.36/lb. and silver has increased to $203/lb. from $133/lb. The metal cost for Pb-Free SAC 387 solder alloy rose from approximately $8.27/lb. to $13.68/lb., a 65% increase. Metal costs have been increasing steadily the past year; elevated prices are expected to prevail for the remainder of 2007. The surcharge will be eliminated when prices return to January 2006 levels.
SAN JOSE – February worldwide sales of semiconductors fell 6.5% from January to $20.09 billion, SIA reported today. February sales increased 4.2% from $19.28 billion February 2006. “While seasonality clearly contributed to the decline, declining unit shipments and lower average selling prices in several key market segments were a factor,” said SIA president George Scalise. “Unit sales of microprocessors were up almost 8% while ASPs declined 15%, and NAND flash units grew by over 40% while experiencing a nearly 50% drop in ASPs. PCs and consumer products now account for approximately 60% of semiconductor sales,” he said. Overall capacity utilization fell to 86.8% in the fourth quarter from 88.9% in the third quarter. Most of the decline was in foundry utilization, which fell to 80.9% in the fourth quarter from 91.5%. The lower capacity utilization reflected reduced inventories within the supply chain, a move expected to bring production in line with GDP performance in key world markets.
JERSEY CITY, NJ – Cookson Electronics has announced a surcharge on Alpha brand Sn-bearing solder pastes, effective 30 days from customer notification. A global shortfall in tin supplies versus forecasted consumption has pushed prices to 19-year highs. Tin prices have increased from a range of $6,000 to $9,000/metric ton during 2006 to more than $14,000/metric ton this quarter. Cookson said it would eliminate the surcharges when prices return to mid-2006 levels.
