Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

GENEVA -- The International Electrotechnical Commission has decided not to publish a standard covering the marking and labeling of products designated as lead-free or RoHS compliant.

In a press release posted to an industry listserv, the trade group reportedly said it would instead produce a technical specification with proposals for marking presence or non-presence of substances. In doing so, the press release said, IEC turned down a proposal from IPC, which has pending standards for marking and labeling.

MILPITAS, CA -- Solectron Corp. Thursday night reported fiscal first-quarter net earnings of $20.2 million on sales of $2.46 billion. Last year, the EMS firm showed a profit of $58.2 million, while sales dropped about 9% from $2.69 billion a year ago.

SINGAPORE -- Seagate Technology today said it would buy Maxtor Corp. in an all-stock deal worth $1.9 billion. An antitrust review will hold up the transaction until the latter half of 2006, Seagate CFO Charles Pope said on a conference call announcing the deal.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL-- Jabil Circuit's fiscal first quarter profit climbed 38% on strong demand for consumer electronics and telecom gear. For November quarter, Jabil earned $76.9 million, up from $55.9 million a year ago.

Revenue rose 31% percent to $2.4 billion from $1.83 billion last year.

TIMISOARA, Romania – Solectron has opened a Design and Engineering Services Center in Timisoara, its largest European facility. The added capabilities will enable electrical and mechanical design, advanced process technology, leading edge test development and failure analysis.

Solectron is the largest private employer in the Timisoara region. The site serves major OEMs in computer, telecommunications, digital consumer and industrial markets.

LOUISVILLE -- Sypris Solutions Inc., a provider of EMS services, lowered its forecast for the fourth quarter, blaming customer inventories, and delayed shipments and higher-than-expected labor costs.

Sypris today updated its fourth-quarter guidance to breakeven to a loss of 5 cents per share, down from 12 to 15 cents per share. The company forecast sales of $133 million to $135 million, down from previous guidance of $135 million to $140 million for the quarter.