Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics reported sales of $625 million for its fourth quarter, up sharply from $524 million last year. Net income was up $4.5 million, to $24.7 million, for the quarter ended Dec. 31.

The company said it will expand its low-cost capacity while realigning elsewhere, specifically in in the U.K. It said it would take a $3.5 million to $4.5 million pretax charge for the closure of its U.K. facility.

ANAHEIM, CA – Valor Computerized Systems today named Ori Braun as president of its North American unit.

The announcement came on the eve of the Apex trade show.

PEMBROKE, BERMUDA – Tyco reported its Electronics Division had sales of $3.02 billion for its fiscal first quarter 2006, up 5% from last year. The division, one of three that split off from Tyco later this year, saw organic growth of 8%.

ANCHORAGE – The eruption of the Augustine volcano last week has sent ash clouds and steam over 40,000 ft. high in the Anchorage skies and has grounded cargo planes that use the the Alaska gateway.

The Augustine volcano erupted Jan. 27 and 28, spewing smoke and ash for miles. The volcano is located 180 miles southwest of Anchorage.

The eruption has caused air carriers to cancel flights from Asia and limit freight activity, and in some cases raise shipping rates.

SAN JOSE -- Worldwide semiconductor sales in December dropped 2.2% sequentially to $19.95 billion, but beat last year's total by 8.6%, the Semiconductor Industry Association said today.

Worldwide sales of semiconductors set a new record at $227.5 billion in 2005, up 6.8% from 2004. SIA also forecast strong growth for 2006.

Santa Clara, CA -- Hunter Technology has entered a licensing agreement with Thermalworks to produce PCB interconnect solutions using Stablcor laminate products for PCB fabrication.

Stablcor is a carbon-composite laminate which is said to help PCB designers overcome obstacles in developmental and process design. Hunter has integrated the technology into its existing manufacturing capabilities and is positioned to become the prime manufacturer of Stablcor Boards for the commercial and military sector.

Hunter has the capability to take the bare boards through to full PCB Assembly, box build and test “in house.”

”Hunter is proud to be working with the outstanding technical team at Thermalworks. With Hunter’s one stop solution of PCB Design, Fabrication and Assembly we can incorporate the benefits of Stablecor throughout the board and system level assembly, making our market offering truly unique,” said Joseph O’Neil, president of Hunter.

“The market is crying out for solutions to severe thermal and CTE issues, and we are here to provide those solutions in a cost effective manner, through technically skilled partners such as Hunter Technology” said Carol Burch, Sr. VP of marketing and PR at Thermalworks. “Just tailor your PCB to meet your stringent design needs by utilizing the laminate Stablcor in conjunction with the advanced skills of Hunter Technology.”