Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

SAN JOSE, Dec. 27 -- Manufacturing will surge in China in the next three years, provided the nation isn't overcome by social and political issues, says a new report. Semiconductors, product assembly and design services will all share in the gains, says iSuppli (www.isuppli.com).

China's share of the global semiconductor market will grow 50% by 2008, rising to 22% from its current 14%, the firm says. Sales of manufactured products will also grow 50%, to $301 billion in 2008, various news reports quoted Byron Wu, China chief manager and senior analyst.

EMS revenues will more than double, going from $18 billion last year to $45 billion in 2008, good for a 28% global share, the report said. ODM revenues, another burgeoning segment, will grow to $108 billion, from $40 billion last year. By 2008 China will have 75% of the global ODM market, iSuppli said.

FRAMINGHAM, MA, Dec. 27 -- Digitization of media, expansion of broadband options, proliferation of new converged devices, and collision and consolidation of market leaders will define the top consumer trends in 2005, says a new report.

Accrding to market researchers IDC, 2005 will be a huge year for handheld game consoles and other portable gaming devices. The firm lists Sony's new PSP handheld gaming device and Nintendo's DS as standouts.

The firm also forecasts continued broadband adoption and VoIP.

HDD-based, portable MP3 players will see strong growth. Portable media players, however, will disappoint.

Digital camera shipments will exceed 80 million units, pushing conventional film cameras out. Winners will be Canon and Olympus, at the expense of most consumer electronics vendors -- Samsung, Panasonic and Casio -- and IT vendors -- HP, Gateway, Epson, Creative Labs and Logitech. (Sony, as a digital camera leader, is the consumer electronics exception, IDC says.)

IP video is a hot topic, but rollouts will be minimal in 2005. IP video efforts and offerings are expected to remain largely on the fringes in many regions, says IDC.

BOSTON, Dec. 28 -- DEK has shipped company record 75,000 stencils this year, the company said today.

"Over the last 4 years, DEK has made significant investments in our logistics infrastructure, manufacturing capabilities and product R&D," says Michael Brianda, European general manager for DEK process support products. "It is very gratifying to see the fruits of our efforts - the 75,000th stencil shipment of 2004."

DEK manufactures a range of stencils and screens for electronics assembly.

CHINO, CA, Dec. 22 -- Desco Industries will acquire the assets of Static Prevention Inc., a supplier of ESD products. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Under the terms of the agreement, Desco will acquire patents, designs, inventory, tools and equipment and company brand names. Anaheim, CA- based SPI does business under the name SPI Westek.

In a press statement Wayne Hunter, president of Desco, commented that the acquisition of SPI would enhance Desco's range of ESD solutions.

Tom Seratti, president of SPI Westek, will join Desco.

ROSSLYN, VA, Dec. 22 -- The National Electrical Manufacturers Assn. will sponsor a trade mission to India in February as its members seek to crack the world's second largest population and fastest growing economy.

The mission is aimed at business executives seeking to develop familiarity with the Indian electroindustry supply base and market, acquire firsthand knowledge of emerging business practices and establish contact with key business and government officials.

NEMA is arranging meetings with the U.S. Commerce Department officials, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry and other local officials. The trade group will also attend various engineering conferences and manufacturing sites.

Commitments are due Jan. 10; www.nema.org/media/pr/upload/india-commitment.pdf.

VISTA, CA, Dec. 21 - Fabrinet, a electromechanical manufacturing services company, will add an array of optoelectronic and packaging assembly equipment to beef up its volume assembly of optoelectronic components.

Fabrinet will add equipment for laser diode attachment and thermosonic ball and stitch wire bonding from Palomar Technologies, the companies said today.

The equipment will be installed in Fabrinet's manufacturing facilities in Bangkok.

"Fabrinet is one of a very few EMS companies capable of the precision manufacture in high volume of complex components such as those in the optics, optomechanical, and optoelectronic industries," said Bruce W. Hueners, Palomar vice president of marketing and business development, in a statement.