Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

OTTAWA – Contract electronics manufacturer OCM Manufacturing appointed George Henning president.

Henning was formerly vice president of manufacturing.

Dr. Michel Jullian, former president, CEO and founder of OCM, will become chairman of the board of advisors.

OCM Manufacturing recently completed an expansion of its Ottawa facility, doubling capacity. The company also launched a dedicated prototyping service.

DANDERYD, SWEDEN – Electronics manufacturing services provider Note posted third-quarter sales of SEK 272.5 million, up 0.22% year-over-year.

Operating profit was SEK13.5 million, compared to a loss of SEK 4.1 million in last year’s third quarter. The same period in 2010 included structural and other non-recurring costs of approximately SEK 3 million.

For the first nine months of 2011, sales increased 8% to SEK 911.2 million. Operating profit was SEK 49.3 million, compared to a loss of SEK 60.4 million in 2010.

During the third quarter of 2011, the firm’s board agreed to sell Note Tauragé UAB, Lithuania. Manufacturing ceased at that location at the end of 2010.

US$1 = SEK 6.3551

SUZHOU -- OnCore Manufacturing Services continued its acquisition spree, picking up Alta Electronics for an undisclosed price.

MINNEAPOLIS – CyberOptics reported third-quarter consolidated sales of $17.1 million, up 21% year-over-year, driven by record sales of inspection systems.

Net income was $1.6 million, up 65% compared to the year-ago period.

Operating income increased 76% to $2.1 million compared to the same period in 2010.

Cash and marketable securities totaled $26.6 million at the end of the quarter, up $2.7 million sequentially.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American rigid and flex printed circuit board shipments combined in September decreased 12% year-over-year. Orders dropped 18.4% from September 2010, says IPC.

Year to date, shipments were down 0.2%, and orders fell 9.6%. Sequentially, PCB shipments for September increased 4.9%, and orders decreased 7.3%.

The book-to-bill ratio fell to 0.99. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next two to three months.

Rigid board shipments were down 13.1%, while orders dropped 19.9% compared to the same month last year. The rigid book-to-bill dipped just below parity at 0.99.

Year to date, rigid PCB shipments decreased 0.4%, and orders declined 10.8%. Sequentially, rigid board shipments increased 3.5%, and orders decreased 8.9%.

Flex circuit board shipments for the month were down 0.7%, and orders declined 1.8% compared to September 2010. The flex book-to-bill fell to 0.97.

Year to date, flex board shipments increased 1.6%, and orders were up 3%. Sequentially, shipments increased 20.1%, and orders were up 9.9%.

“Sales and orders were both under last year’s levels in September,” said IPC. “Bookings have been especially sluggish, and that has caused a drop in the book-to-bill ratio; although it is still very near parity, which suggests that flat sales are the likely near-term scenario.”

Rigid circuit boards represent an estimated 89% of the current industry in North America. In September, 85% of total shipments reported were domestically produced. Domestic production accounted for 85% of rigid and 83% of flex shipments.