Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

POMONA, CA -- Everett Charles Technologies (ECT) has named Patrick T. Flynn president. Previously president of ECT's Capital Equipment and Services Group and Semiconductor Test Group, Flynn succeeds David R. Van Loan, who was recently appointed president of Dover Technologies, ECT's parent company. Van Loan will remain the CEO of ECT during his transition to DTI.

Since joining ECT in 2000, Flynn has been instrumental in the development of several new products and spearheaded ECT's expansion into China when he established wholly owned operations in Suzhou and Shenzhen.

ECT is a manufacturer of electrical test products and services, including semiconductor test products, bare-board automatic test systems, Pogo test contacts, and bare and loaded PCB test fixtures and programs.

NEW TRIPOLI, PA -- While IC demand will grow 32% in 2005 to $45 billion, internal IC production will reach only $9 billion despite ongoing massive semiconductor fab construction.

According to a report by The Information Network (theinformationnet.com), China's IC industry is expanding rapidly. In 2005, China will produce 22 billion ICs, which will account for only 20% of domestic demand. Most high-end products used in computers and mobile phones must be imported.

White Plains, NY -- Nortel and IBM have signed an agreement designed to support customized products across a range of market segments. As the first step in this relationship, the companies will establish a Joint Development,Center in Research Triangle Park, NC, to collaborate on the design and development of new products and services.

Nortel expects to utilize IBM engineering and technical services for a number of projects, aimed at broadening Nortel end-to-end broadband, Voice over IP, multimedia services and applications and wireless broadband offerings.

PALO ALTO, CA -- Inventory throughout the supply chain decreased in the first quarter of 2005, albeit not as fast as sales/COGS, resulting in a moderate decrease in inventory velocity.

Deutsche Bank analysts believe communications OEMs will likely work inventory levels lower in 2Q and 3Q in the face of only moderate end market demand (negatively impacting near-term EMS demand).

PALO ALTO, CA -- IBM recently held an analyst meeting in New York that provided an update on the company's view of IT spending trends, an overview of its strategic positioning, actions it is implementing to take advantage of market opportunity, a recap of the 1Q miss, and an update on recent business trends.

According to Deutsche Bank analysts, the actions IBM is taking to drive standardization and cost reduction in services will better position the company for profitable share gains. In the near term, recent improvement in bookings trends (in both services and hardware) provides greater visibility on near-term performance.

In addition, DB states that benefits from restructuring, new product cycles in servers and microelectronics, and a potential mainframe cycle could support a solid 2H EPS recovery.

PALO ALTO -- In a report released on Forbes.com, research firm Banc of America Securities said Agilent Technologies' new management may consider spinning off its Automated Test or Semiconductor Products businesses.

Banc of America said: "These businesses have the lowest operating margins and suffer the biggest swings in revenues making them more difficult to manage."

The group cautioned that spinning off low margin businesses may not help the stock price.

"The remaining businesses will deliver a higher blended margin," the research firm said. "But operating margins for the remaining businesses will be at or below comparable companies in those segments."

Agilent's representatives declined to comment, citing a company policy to "not endorse or respond to any third-party research or opinions."