Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

GREENVILLE, SC -- Kemet Corp. has named electronics veteran Per-Olof Loof chief executive, effective April 4. The company also named a new chairman.

Loof is managing partner of a New York management consulting firm. He was previously chief executive of Sensormatic Electronics, now part of Tyco. Loof also has had posts at Andersen Consulting, Digital Equipment Corporation, AT&T and NCR.

SAN JOSE -- Tessera Technologies today raised its financial guidance for the first quarter of 2005. The company also announced a licensing deal with Fujitsu.

Tessera now expects first quarter revenue in the range of $27.3 million to $27.5 million, as compared to previous guidance of $21.5 million to $22.0 million.

Ina press release, Tessera chairman and chief executive Bruce McWilliams said, "We are revising our guidance upwards based upon the impact of new licenses signed, as well as the overall good performance from our existing licensees in the past quarter, particularly related to devices used in computing and in personal communications."

Also, today, the company signed a technology licensing agreement with Fujitsu covering chip-scale packaging in ASICs, ASSPs and system-on-chips.

The technology includes chip-scale and multichip package types. No financial details were disclosed.

PHOENIX -- Suntron Corp. is using Applied Materials, claiming unfair business practices on the part of the maker of semiconductor gear. Suntron seeks over $20 million in damages.

In the suit, Suntron claims it spent millions of dollars on raw materials and other inventory-related costs as result of false promises of business from Applied Materials. The suit alleges a other unlawful acts and unfair business practices as well.

Suntron provided more than 7,000 different finished products to Applied Materials, Suntron said in a press statement. The lawsuit claims that Suntron has been left with more than $18 million worth of unused and obsolete inventory.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nortech Systems Inc. reported net sales of $20.4 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, a 30% increase over last year. Net income was $202,857, versus a net loss of $155,541.

For the fiscal year, net sales at the EMS provider were up 25% to $72.7 million. Net income for year was $587,329, beating guidance, versus $633,448.

"We are very pleased with these record-setting revenue levels for Nortech in the fourth quarter and for the entire year," said Mike Degen, president and CEO. "We will use this opportunity to leverage these strong results to expand our customer base and continue to invest in the Nortech brand and our infrastructure."

Throughout the year margin pressure was strong due to higher energy costs, increased commodity prices and international competition.

Nortech guided for fiscal 2005 revenues to increase 8 to 10%, to $78 million to $80 million. Earnings per diluted share for 2005 are expected to be 30 to 35 cents.

SANTA CLARA, CA -- Ambitech International has sold its Silicon Valley PCB fabrication and assembly division to a group of investors. Terms were not disclosed.

Hunter Technology Corp. was acquired by Ambitech in March 2001, right at the end of the peak of the North American electronics market. Hunter has been in business for nearly 40 years.

Hunter specializes in printed circuit board fabrication and electronics assembly for high-mix products for medical, aerospace, communications and capital equipment.

BANNOCKBURN, IL - Enforcement of existing international trade agreements is the main thrust of an industry lobbying effort this spring.

IPC is coordinating a industrywide call on Congress and the Bush Administration to press China to live up to its trade agreements.

The annual event, called Capitol Hill Day, will take place May 18, in Washington, D.C.

The message is that until the administration enforces present WTO commitments, and U.S. trading partners abide by them, Congress should suspend consideration of any new trade agreements, IPC said in a press release.

"It's important to compel our trading partners to abide by the agreed upon rules of international trade, especially China, who continues to manipulate its currency for manufacturing and export advantages," says John Kania, IPC director of government relations. "We hope that by meeting with senators and representatives, we'll be able to influence national policy and legislation as it moves through Congress."

(Doug Bartlett, founding director of the U.S. Printed Circuit Alliance, discussed this topic in his keynote speech at PCB West 2005. Visit http://www.pcdandm.com/pcdmag/pdf/pcbwest05_keynote.pdf.)

For more information on the lobbying effort contact Kania at jkania@ipc.org.