More equipment debuted at IPC Apex today than any
trade show in recent memory. As usual, the placement machines grabbed the headlines, and with good reason: some are pushing 100,000 cph placement rates. Another exciting development was Viscom's combination x-ray/AOI machine.
Still, the show itself is more modest than in years past.
SAN JOSE – Bookings at North American-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers rose 39% to $1.7 billion in January. The book-to-bill jumped to 1.06, the SEMI trade group said, rising for the third straight month and closing above the benchmark 1.0 level.
The
sums are based on a three-month average of worldwide bookings.
JASPER, IN -- Kimball Electronics on Thursday moved decisively into the hot medical EMS market, closing its acquisition of fellow EMS firm Reptron Electronics.
Technically a merger, the deal was announced last December. The approximate value of the transaction was $49.5 million.
Technically a merger, the deal was announced last December. The approximate value of the transaction was $49.5 million.
MILPITAS, CA -- Solectron Corp. president and chief executive Michael Cannon resigned yesterday, effective immediately, to take a job as president of global operations at Dell.
Chief financial officer Paul Tufano, 53, was named interim CEO and principal executive officer. A search is underway for a permanent replacement. Tufano has been executive VP and CFO since Jan. 30, 2006.
Chief financial officer Paul Tufano, 53, was named interim CEO and principal executive officer. A search is underway for a permanent replacement. Tufano has been executive VP and CFO since Jan. 30, 2006.
JACKSON, MI -- EMS provider Sparton
Corp. reported fiscal second quarter sales rose 40.8% to $53.1 million over the same quarter
last year. For the three months ended Dec. 31, the net
loss was $1.4 million, vs. a net profit of $202,000 last year. The results were lower due to the redesign and rework of existing sonobuoys to
address issues from failed drop tests which occurred during the first
quarter of fiscal 2007.
THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN - Digi-Key Corporation and Sanyo Energy (USA) Corporation announced the signing of a distribution agreement. Digi-Key is stocking lithium, nickel-cadmium and nickel metal hydride batteries in a wide variety of sizes, as well as battery packs made with Sanyo batteries. These products will be available directly from Digi-Key and will be featured in both its print and online catalogs. Sanyo Energy provides rechargeable power for phones, computers, power tools and a wide variety of portable devices.
