Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

CHANDLER, AZ, Dec. 2, 2004 - Isola Group has completed a major portion of its European restructuring plan, including the relocation of full-scale production from the UK to its German and Italian operations. The Cumbernauld, UK, operation will maintain partial production capabilities to support quick turns and special products.

The company also relocated a sizeable portion of the basic research and development center to Chandler, AZ, and built a new customer service facility in Duren.

President and CEO Raymond Sharpe said Europe's operating performance continues to strengthen as a result of commitments to Lean and Six Sigma manufacturing techniques. "We have appointed both regional and individual site leaders to drive the program. During December, these European leaders will join a global Isola operations team in Japan for an intensive nine-day boot camp focused on achieving world class performance."

The group also reported that sales increased by 19% over last year for the three-month period ending Sept. 30.

Sales of high performance products grew significantly from the prior year and are expected to grow 50% annually over the next two years.

Sharpe commented, "Our cash flow from operations has improved substantially since the company was acquired by TPG and Redfern Partners in June. This has enabled us to improve our balance sheet and fund restructuring operations and strategic investments we believe will return value to our shareholders and customers."

Isola has plans to continue expanding in the rapidly growing Asia market and in high performance niche markets.

SINGAPORE, Dec. 2, 2004 - Speedline Technologies Inc. has launched a Chinese language version of their website (speedlinetech.com) as part of their expanding service to distributors, customers and manufacturers throughout Asia.

The new website provides information regarding products, services and software, along with technical processes and applications information and news. It also provides opportunities for partners and customers to conduct business online. Asia-specific customer support and contact information are highlighted.

To view the Chinese language version, visit the site and click on the Chinese flag.

Norcross, GA, Dec. 1, 2004 ¾ The Electronics Assembly Systems division of Siemens Logistics and Assembly Systems Inc. is providing a Lean Manufacturing course for the Americas. The first two-day course is scheduled for Jan. 26-27, 2005, in partnership with the Center for Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly (CEMA) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

The course will take place at RIT's Rochester, NY, CEMA facility. The following Lean tools will be discussed: Value Stream Mapping (VSM); 5-S; Visual Controls; Standard Work; Takt; Kanban, Pull Systems and Supermarkets; Line and Cell Design; Setup Reduction, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM); Kaizen Event Training; Impact and Culture Change; and Assessment Tools.

The course is being offered as a result of the Siemens EA Consortium for the Advancement of Electronics Manufacturing Education (CAEME).

BANNOCKBURN, IL, Dec. 1, 2004- The North American book-to-bill ratio for rigid and flexible boards dipped slightly to 1.05 in October, according to IPC. It had been 1.08 in September. Shipments and bookings both dropped notably from the previous month.

The ratio is based on data collected from rigid PCB and flexible circuit producers that participate in IPC's statistical program. The ratio is calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed. A ratio over 1.0 is considered an indicator of rising demand.

Separately, the ratios were 0.94 for rigid PCBs and 1.48 for flexible circuits.

In October, combined shipments increased 15.3% year-on-year, with bookings up 2.7%.

PCB shipments are up 31.5% year-to-date, and bookings are up 31.4%.

However, shipments and bookings are both down from September, falling 15.5% and 16.8%, respectively.

Year-on-year, rigid PCB shipments are up 3.3% and bookings are down 20.0%. Shipments and bookings are both up year-to-date, increasing by 21.2% and 12.6%, but are both down sequentially, decreasing 18.7% and 16.7%, respectively.

Flexible circuit shipments are up 48.6% and bookings are up 81.5% year-on-year. Year-to-date, flexible shipments and bookings have grown 74.4% and 103.1%. Sequentially, flex shipments decreased 1.9% and bookings are down 17.2%.

Flexible circuit sales, which include some value-added services in addition to the bare flex circuits, represent about 17% of total PCB sales in IPC's survey sample.

In a press release, IPC cautioned that month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they may reflect cyclical effects.

Carlsbad, CA — Asymtek is holding a conformal coating and dispensing workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at the Center for Board Assembly Research, Manufacturing Research Center (MARC) of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. The hands-on workshop will feature demonstrations from Asymtek and presentations from Dow Corning, Georgia Tech, Emerson and Cuming, Henkel Technologies, Humiseal, Heraeus and Nordson.

Speakers will review the best practices for coating, jetting and other electronics assembly dispensing from both material and equipment perspectives.

For more information on the free event, visit: www.asymtek.com/news/seminars/southeast_2004 or call 1-800-ASYMTEK, ext. 8496.

Jersey City, NJ, Nov. 29, 2004 - Cookson Electronics Assembly Materials and Automated Learning Corp. (ALC) have launched a series of lead-free assembly training courses.

The courses are part of ALC's Learntech series, a modular interactive multimedia learning approach designed for process engineers, managers and senior operators involved in the implementation and management of lead-free electronic assembly processes.

Business Electronic Soldering Technologies (BEST) is a key contributor in the first product in the suite -- Lead-Free Soldering: Orientation. Click here for more information.

Future lead-free training courses will cover rework, wave soldering and SMT. Translated versions will be offered in German and Chinese.