News
WASHINGTON — Retail sales of consumer electronics and appliances rose 3% year-over-year in the May quarter, up from 1.5%
sequentially, according to the US Census Bureau.
Furthermore, North American TV shipments rose 4% during the first quarter, says research firm DisplaySearch, with LCD shipments leading the way, rising 110%.
Furthermore, North American TV shipments rose 4% during the first quarter, says research firm DisplaySearch, with LCD shipments leading the way, rising 110%.
The JPCA Show is typically not one where many orders are placed on the floor. Rather, specifications are discussed, tires on equipment are kicked, materials are introduced, and the exhibition of evolutionary progressions is the norm. And yet, equipment suppliers were in many cases optimistic.
TOKYO — A 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Kurihari city, north of Tokyo, on Saturday and led to shutdowns of operations at several electronics makers.
A Fujitsu Ltd. semiconductor factory and certain factories affiliated with Sony were shut down, company officials reported.
FRANKFURT -- May semiconductor sales in Germany were down 19% year-on-year, the Electronics Industry Association (ZVEI) said.
In April and March, sales were down 16% year-on-year, respectively, ZVEI said.
The preliminary book-to-bill ratio in May was 1.01, up from 0.94 in April. The ratio is calculated by the value of orders divided by the value of shipments. A ratio of 1.01 means that for every $100 worth of semiconductors shipped, $101 worth of semiconductors were ordered.
A ratio above 1.0 is considered a sign of expansion.
In April and March, sales were down 16% year-on-year, respectively, ZVEI said.
The preliminary book-to-bill ratio in May was 1.01, up from 0.94 in April. The ratio is calculated by the value of orders divided by the value of shipments. A ratio of 1.01 means that for every $100 worth of semiconductors shipped, $101 worth of semiconductors were ordered.
A ratio above 1.0 is considered a sign of expansion.
KUALA LUMPUR – Unisem and its subsidiary Unisem-Advanpack Technologies have entered into an agreement with FlipChip International to license FCI’s wafer bumping and wafer level packaging technologies.
UAT will license FCI’s core technologies, including Spheron, and FCI will become a shareholder of UAT.
“This new partnership with FCI will enable Unisem to offer additional cutting-edge wafer bumping and wafer level packaging alternatives to our customers,” said S.C. Lau, general manager of UAT. “FCI is providing all necessary documentation, training and engineering support for a fast ramp of its wafer bumping and wafer-level packaging technologies, which will be quickly integrated into our existing full production environment.”
UAT will license FCI’s core technologies, including Spheron, and FCI will become a shareholder of UAT.
“This new partnership with FCI will enable Unisem to offer additional cutting-edge wafer bumping and wafer level packaging alternatives to our customers,” said S.C. Lau, general manager of UAT. “FCI is providing all necessary documentation, training and engineering support for a fast ramp of its wafer bumping and wafer-level packaging technologies, which will be quickly integrated into our existing full production environment.”
MUNICH – A pair of European trade groups will launch a major policy initiative for the electronics and electrical sectors later this month.
ZVEI and Orgalime will present Electra at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU on June 25.
ZVEI and Orgalime will present Electra at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU on June 25.
WASHINGTON – The AeA today called on the European Union to comply with International Trade Agreement rules covering import duties.
ENDICOTT, NY – Endicott Interconnect Technologies, in concert with Binghamton University and Cornell, has launched the Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing. The joint project intends to pioneer microelectronics manufacturing research and development in a roll-to-roll format.
These efforts are expected to result in flexible, rugged, lightweight electronic components and innovative products critical in areas such as military and homeland security, lighting, energy and power generation, displays, and product identification and tracking.
“R&D is our engine for the creation of new products and intellectual property, as well as an important tool for solving today’s manufacturing issues,” said James McNamara, president and CEO of EI. “This collaboration between industry and academia has resulted in a truly impressive CAMM facility that will be the backbone of tomorrow’s electronics and helps to support our long-range technology efforts.”
These efforts are expected to result in flexible, rugged, lightweight electronic components and innovative products critical in areas such as military and homeland security, lighting, energy and power generation, displays, and product identification and tracking.
“R&D is our engine for the creation of new products and intellectual property, as well as an important tool for solving today’s manufacturing issues,” said James McNamara, president and CEO of EI. “This collaboration between industry and academia has resulted in a truly impressive CAMM facility that will be the backbone of tomorrow’s electronics and helps to support our long-range technology efforts.”
CAMM will also provide large-scale testing whereby academic and industrial research groups can test their work for manufacturing applicability.
SAN JOSE, CA – The Semiconductor Industry Association called on the US Senate to exempt certain highly educated, foreign-born graduates of domestic universities from annual employment-based green card limits, as proposed in legislation introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Judd Gregg (R-NH).
The bipartisan bill would permit US semiconductor companies to retain critically needed talented professionals who make important contributions to American innovation.
Specifically, the bill would exempt highly educated, foreign-born students earning an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics from a US university from the annual EB green card limit.
Last month, Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) introduced a companion measure in the House of Representatives.
“Semiconductors are America’s second-largest export because our highly educated workforce designs the most advanced devices in the world,” said SIA president George Scalise. “The legislation introduced today by Senators Boxer and Gregg recognizes the importance of retaining this top talent, particularly after these students have graduated from US universities. We strongly urge Congress to enact this common-sense legislation this year. This is an opportunity for our elected leaders to show they are serious about taking steps to ensure America’s technology leadership through innovation.”
Backlogs in the EB green card system are well documented, with wait times for some foreign-born professionals spanning six to 10 years. SIA has partnered with IEEE-USA to advocate for EB green card reform.
The bipartisan bill would permit US semiconductor companies to retain critically needed talented professionals who make important contributions to American innovation.
Specifically, the bill would exempt highly educated, foreign-born students earning an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics from a US university from the annual EB green card limit.
Last month, Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) introduced a companion measure in the House of Representatives.
“Semiconductors are America’s second-largest export because our highly educated workforce designs the most advanced devices in the world,” said SIA president George Scalise. “The legislation introduced today by Senators Boxer and Gregg recognizes the importance of retaining this top talent, particularly after these students have graduated from US universities. We strongly urge Congress to enact this common-sense legislation this year. This is an opportunity for our elected leaders to show they are serious about taking steps to ensure America’s technology leadership through innovation.”
Backlogs in the EB green card system are well documented, with wait times for some foreign-born professionals spanning six to 10 years. SIA has partnered with IEEE-USA to advocate for EB green card reform.
“With US universities awarding half of master’s and 70% of Ph.D.s in electrical engineering to foreign nationals, it is clear that America also needs a long-term solution for retaining this talent,” said Scalise.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – A pair of research firms have upped their PC outlooks for 2008 on continued demand for laptops.
LONDON – TT Electronics today named Geraint Anderson chief executive, effective Aug. 4. He superseded Neil Rodgers, who resigned Wednesday.
The company, which makes sensors for automotive applications and provides EMS services, also reiterated its first-half forecast for lower results versus last year.
The company said in May it was taking a cautious view for the year over concerns about the credit crisis.
Anderson was previously global vice president of Cisco's Linksys Service Provider Business.
SAN JOSE – The industry is at an interesting time in history because macroeconomics is struggling, yet the semiconductor market will continue to grow over the next three years, the president of the Semiconductor Industry Association said today.
In its semiannual forecast, the trade group today lowered its 2008 outlook for overall IC growth to 3.9%, citing continuing woes for memory chips.
In its semiannual forecast, the trade group today lowered its 2008 outlook for overall IC growth to 3.9%, citing continuing woes for memory chips.
