Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

WILLOW GROVE, PA — Kulicke & Soffa Industries today announced definitive agreements to sell its wafer test assets to SV Probe and its package test assets to Investcorp Technology Ventures. Both deals are subject to closing conditions. No financial terms were announced.

K&S said it the moves would tighten its focus on semiconductor assembly equipment and materials.

SANTA ANA, CA -- Christopher Associates has published its latest corporate newsletter. The just published edition highlights the latest equipment lines offered by the distribution firm, including Koh-Young's benchtop 3D paste inspection machine and Japan Unix's robotic soldering units.

Also noted: links to several recent technical papers on AOI and miniaturization.

The newsletter can be downloaded at christopherweb.com.

WASHINGTON DC -- The president of the Electronic Industries Alliance has issued a statement applauding the incorporation of recommendations from the business and science sectors in a series of just introduced bills calling for increased funding to the sciences and engineering and tax incentives for R&D.

“EIA commends the bipartisan, three-pronged approach to bolstering America’s innovation infrastructure outlined in the Protecting America’s Competitive Edge bills, said president and CEO Dave McCurdy. The legislators "have done their innovation homework by incorporating proposals and recommendations from the business and science communities that are intent on improving U.S. technological capabilities in the global marketplace."

ROCHESTER, MN -- EMS firm Pemstar Inc. today reported fiscal third-quarter revenue from continuing operations rose to $253.9 million, compared to $171 million last year.

For the period ended Dec. 31, net income was $1 million, up from a loss of %15.9 million a year ago.

SAN JOSE -- Flextronics International last night reported a lower quarterly profit and said its long-planned takeover of several Nortel manufacturing plants would be delayed.

For the December quarter, net income fell 58% to $42 million, from a year ago, on a 2% drop in revenue to $4.19 billion.

Endicott, NY—Endicott Interconnect Technologies honored eight employees for patents issued in 2005 at its third annual Patent Recognition Dinner. An additional 37 employees were honored for patent applications filed last year. A total of 30 U.S. patent applications were filed and five were issued to EI employees in 2005.

Patents were awarded to Timothy E. Antesberger, Benson Chan, Frank D. Egitto, James W. Fuller Jr., John S. Kresge, John M. Lauffer, Voya R. Markovich and Thomas R. Miller.

These patents directly influence the design, manufacturing and handling of PCBs and semiconductor packaging. “The technology and know-how we generate through intellectual property enables the creation of new products and improves existing processes and product offerings, helping to insure our future,” said James J. McNamara Jr., president and CEO.