Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - News

Latest News

HUNTSVILLE, AL – Fresh off the sale of two PC manufacturing plants, Sanmina-SCI is going forward with its stated goals to land more military and defense contracts. The EMS firm is reportedly working with Lockheed Martin in a bid for a $3.5 billion contract to build the Army's next-generation intercom system.

Sanmina-SCI reportedly already provides various communications systems to the Army for helicopters. The company employs 1,000 workers in Huntsville.

The deal would cover some 54,000 Army vehicles worldwide, according to a report in The Huntsville Times.

An Army announcement on the program is expected shortly.

TAIPEI – Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics each expect third-quarter shipments to grow 20% or more sequentially on stronger PC demand.

ARLINGTON, VA – Worldwide revenue for consumer electronics will grow nearly 10% this year, hitting $700 billion by 2009, says a recent report from the Consumer Electronics Association and the GfK Group.

Consumers will spend $42 billion more on CE products in 2009 over 2008. Countries with fast-growing economies and large emerging middle classes, such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, will lead the way in new CE revenue growth, says the report. By 2009, China will account for nearly 15% of global CE revenue, trailing only North America (22% share) and Western Europe (16% share).

Consumers’ ongoing desire for mobility makes this the largest category worldwide in both unit sales and revenue. Collectively, sales of mobile products will surpass a staggering 1.5 billion units this year, says the report. Topping the list are portable navigation devices, with expected worldwide revenue growth of nearly 20%. Laptop computers (up 15%) and cellphones/smartphones (up 14%) will also see strong sales.

Global revenue for LCD TVs will grow nearly 28%, resulting in more than 100 million units sold worldwide. Flat-screen TV sales will account for nearly 20% of worldwide CE sales. DVD players have expected sales of 127 million units in 2008, while the forecast for video game console sales is 89 million units.

SHENZHEN – The SMTA China Chapter, in conjunction with the Nepcon South China trade show producers, will sponsor the conference program Aug. 24 – 30, in Shenzhen.

The event will address electronics manufacturing, advanced packaging and Pb-free reliability. Topics will range from 01005 assembly and state-of-the-art inspection and failure analysis to market trends and cost reduction initiatives.

The premiere Nepcon Best Engineer award also will be announced during the event. Engineers can nominate themselves, or companies can recommend candidates through Reed Exhibitions China.

For more information about the SMTA conference and Best Engineer award, visit www.nepconchina.com.

LAS VEGAS – IPC is requesting abstracts for Apex, which will take place March 31-April 2 in Las Vegas.

Expert presentations are being sought on all relevant design, PCB fabrication and manufacturing topics. Submissions in the areas of new materials and environmental concerns are encouraged. The committee will choose abstracts that describe significant results from experiments, emphasize new techniques or discuss trends and test results.

The deadline for abstracts is July 18.

For more information, visit www.GoIPCShows.org/CFP.

To ask questions about conference participation, contact GregMunie@ipc.org or ToyaRichardson@ipc.org.

For information on teaching a course, contact MichelleMichelotti@ipc.org.

BRIDGEWATER, MA – Chase Corp. today reported net income of $3.2 million for its May quarter, up 12% over last year. Revenues fell 2% to $33.9 million from the prior year period.

NEWARK, NY – EMS firm IEC Electronics Corp. received a $3.7 million order from one of its military and defense customers. Shipments will run from the September quarter through April 2009.

In a statement, chairman W. Barry Gilbert said, “We have a good relationship with this customer. IEC is the exclusive supplier of these products, thus enabling the customer to avoid the uncertainty that can be associated with a new supplier and in turn, allowing us to leverage the experience we have gained from previously building these complex electronics assemblies.”

IEC stressed the latest order is unrelated to a $4.7 million award announced in April, which was for a different program.

ARLINGTON, MA – The holder of a patent-pending self-cleaning squeegee blade arrangement is offering the technology for sale or license.

The technology is said to automatically clean solder paste from squeegee blades to help eliminate buildup, thereby providing improved printing performance while reducing waste, contamination and maintenance.

Interested parties are invited to contact Thomas P. O’Connell, Esq., at 781-643-1845.

EL PASO, TX -- Powell-Mucha Consulting Inc. will present a pair of tutorials focusing on EMS branding and strategic planning at the upcoming SMTA International Conference in Orlando.

PMCI’s new tutorial, “Find It, Book It, Grow It—Optimizing EMS Account Acquisition,” pulls from the principles outlined in president Susan Mucha’s new book, Find It, Book It, Grow It. – A Robust Guide to Account Acquisition in Electronics Manufacturing Services. The tutorial looks at ways to optimize the selling process, better enunciate competitive value propositions and grow accounts over time.

Topics covered include:
• Assessing your business model and developing a value proposition suitable for target markets.
• Shortening the sales cycle through more effective use of sales and marketing resources.
• Integrating the program team into the selling process.
• Developing the most competitive value proposition through better understanding of the selection team.
• Developing long-term business growth plans.

The tutorial will be presented Aug. 21 from 1:30-5:00 p.m.

Mucha will also present, “Identifying EMS Market Trends: Learn to Predict the Future and Help Your Company Lead the Pack,” which discusses ways to create a forward-looking planning environment. The tutorial takes place Aug. 21 from 8:00-11:30 a.m.

Topics covered include:
• Typical cycles which repeat in the EMS industry.
• Key events likely to trigger changes in demand.
• Useful strategic planning tools.
• Creating business models which can readily adapt to changing markets.

The instructor, Susan Mucha, has been involved in marketing EMS services since 1981. For more information visit: http://www.smta.org/smtai/tutorials.cfm#THURSDAY_BI.

PMCI and Circuits Assembly also have jointly organized a Contract Manufacturing Symposium, scheduled for Aug. 20, from 1:30 – 5:00 p.m. The Symposium features six speakers in two sessions titled: Teaming for Efficient Manufacturing and Managing Our Suppliers and Ourselves.

ST. LOUIS -- BAE Systems awarded LaBarge a $2.7 million contract to continue producing the Ethernet switch unit for the A3 Bradley combat systems vehicles.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – R&D Circuits will merge with Anestel Corp., the companies said in a statement. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

TIJUANA – Catalyst Manufacturing Services has opened a contract manufacturing operation in Tijuana and will begin shipping production volumes later this month.

The renovated 60,000 sq. ft. facility will operate as a full-service turnkey operation working with market segments including medical, aerospace, and industrial.

The contract manufacturing company also has locations in Endicott, NY, and Raleigh, NC.

Catalyst offers product design assistance, documentation development, PCB assembly and test, box build, order fulfillment/logistics, and depot repair services.