ARLINGTON, VA – The monthly order index compiled by the Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA) jumped by more than 20% above July 2004, after a flat June and slight downturn in May.

"Last year, a flat July preceded a drop during the second half of the 2004 year," said Bob Willis, president. "This year, performance has fluctuated from month to month during the first half of the year, but overall the market has been positive. Buyers were cautious over the first half of the year, but now seem to be more confident that solid performance will continue over the second half."

The ECA represents manufacturers and producers of passive and active electronic components, component arrays and assemblies, and materials and support services.  It is a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). 

Ogaki, Japan -- Ibiden Co. plans to set up its second printed circuit board plant in Beijing at a cost of 8 billion yen to supply PCBs to major cell phone makers, company sources said.

According to a release in a local paper, the company will produce thinner PCBs to help its corporate customers build smaller phone handsets with more functions at lower cost.

The new plant, functional by next summer, will have 30,000 sq. m of floor space and be built adjacent to the firm's existing 28,000-sq.-m facility. It will have about the same output capacity as the older plant, which turns out some 60 million PCBs a year.

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Malaysia -- P.I.E. Industrial Bhd, a one-stop integrated electronic contract manufacturer is adding new production lines this quarter to cater to a surge in demand for its industrial electronic products. 

Group managing director Alvin Mui told StarBiz that the group was allocating RM6mil to buy new assembly machinery and equipment from the U.S. and Japan. 

“The new machinery and equipment we are installing now have the capability to handle lead-free electronic components assembly,'' he added. 

Mui said the group had recently secured orders from new customers in Japan, the U.S. and Europe to assemble PCBs and industrial electronic products such as barcode scanners, battery chargers and battery packs. 

He added that for the first half ended June 30, the group generated RM7.45mil in pre-tax profit compared with RM5.2mil for the first half of 2004. 

Revenue amounted to RM92mil compared with RM69mil previously.   

GREELEY, CO -- FCT Assembly will continue its Lead-Free Seminars in Missouri and Minnesota in August. The seminar gives an overview on the actual production experience in Asia and covers wave, reflow, repair and board finishes.

The free seminars will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will include lunch. The dates are August 22 in Kansas City, August 23 in St. Louis and August 25 in Minneapolis.

For information, contact Bob Gilbert at 970-988-6243 or bgilbert@fctassembly.com.

To register, go to www.fctassembly.com and click on “Seminars and Trade Shows.”