Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

HERNDON, VA — iNEMI will hold a workshop for its next technology roadmap on May 17 in Herndon, VA.

“This workshop provides a progress report on the roadmap, and gives industry an advance look at key findings,” said Chuck Richardson, iNEMI staff manager of roadmapping. “It also provides the opportunity for industry feedback — kind of a ‘reality check’ on the conclusions being drawn — and allows mid-course corrections, if necessary. Participants have the advantage of gaining early insight into the anticipated future direction of the electronics industry, and discussions and feedback help us improve the final roadmap report.”

CARLSBAD, CA – Asymtek, a top maker of dispensing systems, was named a 2005 recipient of Intel Corp.'s Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement award, the chipmaker's highest honor for its suppliers.

The company was given the award for its efforts in supplying Intel with automated dispensing equipment.

In a press statement, Asymtek president Bob Ciardella said, “Asymtek is honored to have met the high standards associated with Intel’s SCQI award for the third consecutive year. Earning this prestigious award is an acknowledgement of Asymtek’s commitment to quality, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.”

Ron Rinfret, director of Intel’s assembly capital equipment development, said, “Asymtek continues to prove themselves as one of Intel’s top suppliers by achieving the SCQI award for the third consecutive year. Asymtek continues to go beyond expectations by executing flawlessly to our rigorous demands and critical timelines while delivering creative engineering solutions to support and align to Intel’s technology roadmap.”

Intel’s Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement process encourages suppliers to strive for excellence and continuous improvement. To qualify for SCQI status, suppliers must score at least 95 percent on a report card that assesses performance and ability to meet cost, quality, availability, delivery, technology and responsiveness goals.

GLEN COVE, NY -- An announcement on the sale of Photocircuits, one of the largest and oldest PCB manufacturers in North America, is expected later today.

A deal with investment firm American Pacific Financial Corp. is expected to be announced by the company shortly, according to persons with close knowledge of the deal.

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Solectron Corp.'s facility here has gained certification to the IPC Restrictions on Hazardous Materials Lead-Free Electronics Assembly Process Capability, the company said today. The site, which was the beta site for the IPC program, is the first of the tier one EMS firms to receive the certification.

PARIS -- Alcatel is expected to purchase a larger share of Thales, a manufacturer of defense electronics, when its board meets later this week.

Another player on the scene is EADS, which is reportedly offering its satellite production to Thales in exchange for a stake in the company.

EADS is the parent of Airbus, the European aerospace consortium. Thales is the largest producer of defense electronics in Europe.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday voted to double the number of H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers as part of a controversial immigration bill that faces a tough fight in Congress.

The proposed measure, which would raise the number of H-1B visas to 115,000, with an option of raising the cap 20% more each year, was included in the Senate's immigration bill.

The committee passed the bill 12-6. It now goes before the full Senate.

H1-B visas are controversial as many tech companies insist on them and yet critics claim they come at the expense of American workers who would otherwise fill those jobs.

H-1B visas are currently capped at 65,000 a year. The visas are good for six years.

The Judiciary Committee proposal would increase the annual cap of H-1B visas to 115,000 beginning in 2007 while maintaining all existing exemptions, a move that would effectively would boost the number of H-1B visas to nearly 300,000 a year, according to published reports.