Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

BANNOCKBURN, IL – A group of leading vendors of solder today released its final results from a lengthy investigation on lead-free alloys, finding an alloy of Sn96.5Ag3.0Cu0.5 to be the best candidate to replace tin-lead solder.

The three-year study also baselined a series of test methods for determining lead-free solder performance.

HOUSTON —BP Microsystems, a supplier of device programming systems, announced that Redback Test Services will represent its full line of device programmers throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Established in 2002, Redback Test Services is a supplier of test and test automation solutions for the Australian and New Zealand electronics industry. Based in Melbourne, the company presently supports local, interstate and international companies.

LOS ALTOS, CA -- Slowing GDP gains will have a domino effect on electronics equipment demand, with replacement cycles losing momentum, according to a just released report.

Demand for everything from PCs to handsets to autos will suffer, although unit growth will remain respectable, said research firm Henderson Ventures (hendersonventures.com).

CHICAGO -- Boeing Co. today named 3M chief executive James McNerney as chairman and CEO, bringing a long track record of integrity and success to a executive team recently marred by scandal.

McNerney, 55, formerly ran General Electric's jet engine division, and is credited with turning around 3M following his appointment there in 2001.

Menlo Park, CA – OK International announced that Mark Cowell has been named president, succeeding Michael Gouldsmith. Cowell has worked for OK and Metcal for 22 years, most recently as VP of engineering.

Gouldsmith, who started OK as a small tool company over 20 years ago and built it into an international firm, will remain as chairman and assist Cowell in the transition.

Gouldsmith said, “Mark has played a key role at OK and one of its predecessor companies Metcal and has been responsible for the design and development of its Smart Heat soldering tools. More recently, as a member of the Executive Management Team, Mark has played an increasing role in the overall management of the company and is the ideal person to fill this role."

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The 90-day moving average shipments of all types of circuit boards slipped 7.8% year-on-year in May, and bookings plummeted 17%, according to the latest poll of North American PCB fabricators. Yet despite a 7.5% drop in bookings year-to-date, the trade group which takes the poll said it expects a second-half rebound.

“It’s pretty clear that 2005 will be a year of flat growth [sic] for the North American PCB industry overall,” said IPC, which takes the poll, in a statement. “But positive book-to-bill ratios over the last several months and other leading indicators suggest that demand should remain stable throughout the remainder of 2005.”