News
PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Senate has passed four recycling bills aimed at reducing the amount of trash disposed in state dumps.
Passage of three of the bills is pending the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee. A fourth, which covers disposal of electronics, is in the House Finance Committee.
The Senate e-waste bill requires manufacturers to take back and recycle household electronics products. A similar House bill is with the state Finance Committee.
NEWARK, CA -- Phoenix X-Ray on Friday opened
a West Coast demo and customer service center here, its first in the Silicon Valley.
The new site features the company's line of computed tomography (CT) systems for PCB assembly inspection.
The new site features the company's line of computed tomography (CT) systems for PCB assembly inspection.
EL SEGUNDO, CA – iSuppli Corp. forecasts the total flexible display market will reach $2.8 billion by 2013, up 35 times from about $80 million in 2007.
Flexible displays are being used for a multitude of products, including e-readers/e-paper, electronic display cards, electronic shelf labels, automotive applications, clothing/wearable displays, removable storage devices and point-of-purchase/public signage and advertisements.
“Flexible displays are intuitively appealing to end users and product designers because of their ruggedness, thinness, light weight and novelty,” said Jennifer Colegrove, Ph.D., senior analyst for emerging displays at iSuppli. “Such displays also offer manufacturers the potential for inexpensive fabrication because they can be made using new printing methods or roll-to-roll processing. Furthermore, flexible displays have the advantage of easy and relatively inexpensive shipping and safety handling compared to conventional rigid screens. When flexible displays break, they don’t have any sharp edges that can cause injuries or further damage.”
Before this year, there were no active matrix flexible displays that could provide the kind of image quality that users expect from their LCD-TVs and PC monitors, says iSuppli. Because of this, 2008 represents “Year One” for the AM flexible display market.
More than a dozen display technologies can be made into flexible screens, including traditional LCD, bi-stable LCD, OLED, electrophoretic, electrochromic and Electroluminescent.
Flexible displays are being used for a multitude of products, including e-readers/e-paper, electronic display cards, electronic shelf labels, automotive applications, clothing/wearable displays, removable storage devices and point-of-purchase/public signage and advertisements.
“Flexible displays are intuitively appealing to end users and product designers because of their ruggedness, thinness, light weight and novelty,” said Jennifer Colegrove, Ph.D., senior analyst for emerging displays at iSuppli. “Such displays also offer manufacturers the potential for inexpensive fabrication because they can be made using new printing methods or roll-to-roll processing. Furthermore, flexible displays have the advantage of easy and relatively inexpensive shipping and safety handling compared to conventional rigid screens. When flexible displays break, they don’t have any sharp edges that can cause injuries or further damage.”
Before this year, there were no active matrix flexible displays that could provide the kind of image quality that users expect from their LCD-TVs and PC monitors, says iSuppli. Because of this, 2008 represents “Year One” for the AM flexible display market.
More than a dozen display technologies can be made into flexible screens, including traditional LCD, bi-stable LCD, OLED, electrophoretic, electrochromic and Electroluminescent.
LIMERICK, IRELAND – The deadline is approaching to register for iNEMI’s European workshop for the 2009 Roadmap, scheduled for June 18 at IMEC in Leuven, Belgium. The European workshop is the second of three being held worldwide to solicit industry input and feedback. (The third is scheduled for July 28, in Shanghai.)
iNEMI (International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative) is an industry-led consortium and its roadmap, published every two years, is a key part of the organization’s strategy for identifying and closing technology and infrastructure gaps within the electronics manufacturing supply chain. The iNEMI roadmap has become recognized as an important tool for defining the state-of-the-art in the electronics industry as well as identifying emerging and disruptive technologies. It helps set priorities for research and development over the next 10 years, and is not only used by industry but also by government agencies that fund technology R&D and university-based research programs.
The workshops give participants an “in-progress” look at information from drafts of key roadmap chapters. They also allow industry to provide important input and feedback, making sure that the final roadmap addresses global issues and areas of concern.
While many industry roadmaps focus on one particular segment or technology area, such as semiconductors or substrates, the iNEMI roadmap takes a system approach and covers the many technologies and infrastructure areas required for electronics manufacturing. The 2009 Roadmap will cover five product sectors and 22 technology and business process areas.
The European workshop will include the following topics:
· Medical product sector.
· Portable/consumer product sector.
· Environmentally conscious electronics.
· Solid state illumination and photovoltaics (new in the 2009 Roadmap).
· Organic and printed electronics.
· Board assembly.
· Final assembly.
· Interconnect substrates – organic and ceramic.
· Packaging.
The registration fee is $300 (waived for iNEMI members, workshop speakers and government officials). This fee covers participation in the workshop, including a continental breakfast, lunch, and a copy of the 2009 iNEMI Roadmap CD when published in March 2009.
The registration deadline for the European workshop is June 12. For additional information about, or to register for, the workshop, click here.
iNEMI (International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative) is an industry-led consortium and its roadmap, published every two years, is a key part of the organization’s strategy for identifying and closing technology and infrastructure gaps within the electronics manufacturing supply chain. The iNEMI roadmap has become recognized as an important tool for defining the state-of-the-art in the electronics industry as well as identifying emerging and disruptive technologies. It helps set priorities for research and development over the next 10 years, and is not only used by industry but also by government agencies that fund technology R&D and university-based research programs.
The workshops give participants an “in-progress” look at information from drafts of key roadmap chapters. They also allow industry to provide important input and feedback, making sure that the final roadmap addresses global issues and areas of concern.
While many industry roadmaps focus on one particular segment or technology area, such as semiconductors or substrates, the iNEMI roadmap takes a system approach and covers the many technologies and infrastructure areas required for electronics manufacturing. The 2009 Roadmap will cover five product sectors and 22 technology and business process areas.
The European workshop will include the following topics:
· Medical product sector.
· Portable/consumer product sector.
· Environmentally conscious electronics.
· Solid state illumination and photovoltaics (new in the 2009 Roadmap).
· Organic and printed electronics.
· Board assembly.
· Final assembly.
· Interconnect substrates – organic and ceramic.
· Packaging.
The registration fee is $300 (waived for iNEMI members, workshop speakers and government officials). This fee covers participation in the workshop, including a continental breakfast, lunch, and a copy of the 2009 iNEMI Roadmap CD when published in March 2009.
The registration deadline for the European workshop is June 12. For additional information about, or to register for, the workshop, click here.
MONTREAL -- Electronics manufacturing in the US, Japan and Western Europe accounted
for less than half the worldwide output for the first time in 2006 as the
migration of volume manufacturing to low labor rate locations continues,
according to a new report.
Although the Asia-Pacific, and China in particular, has been the
main beneficiary, Central and Eastern Europe, Mexico and Brazil have also benefited from significant investment, Electronics.ca
Publications found. In the longer-term, Many of today's low-cost locations will
also offer significant market opportunities, creating the need for
further investment in local manufacturing.
Although the Asia-Pacific, and China in particular, has been the
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NEWARK, NY -- EMS provider IEC Electronics Corp. has completed the
acquisition of Val-U-Tech Corp., a privately held manufacturer of wire
harness assemblies located in Victor, NY, for approximately $10 million.
For the period ended Dec. 31, Val-U-Tech had revenue of $11 million and expects that its revenue for the six months ending June 30 will be approximately $6.9 million, up from $4.4 million last year.
For the period ended Dec. 31, Val-U-Tech had revenue of $11 million and expects that its revenue for the six months ending June 30 will be approximately $6.9 million, up from $4.4 million last year.
Val-U-Tech
serves military, medical and industrial customers and IEC believes the acquisition leverages the existing
customer base of both companies and could lead to cross-selling opportunities.
IEC financed the transaction with a credit facility from M&T Bank, seller notes and issuance of stock. IEC fixed approximately $7.2 million of the purchase price at a weighted average of 5.1% for five years. The balance of the purchase price came from the issuance of 500,000 shares of IEC stock and a draw on IEC’s working capital line.
M&T Bank has provided a $1.5 million equipment line of credit and is supporting IEC’s working capital requirements with a $9 million revolving credit line at LIBOR rates.
IEC chairman and CEO W. Barry Gilbert said, "Val-U-Tech has been very successful in growing both its sales and earnings at double digit rates for the last few years. Some of IEC’s customers have anticipated cable harness projects to be awarded over the next year. With Val-U-Tech’s management team and IEC’s support we are reasonably confident of winning our share of these programs. This acquisition should significantly contribute to our earnings.”
ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics will supply EMS services to iRobot Corp. in a deal the company calls a significant contract. The company didn't disclose the length or value of the program.
The program will be built in one of Benchmark's four ITAR-compliant facilities in the US.
iRobot designs behavior-based robots that help people complete complex and dangerous tasks.
The program will be built in one of Benchmark's four ITAR-compliant facilities in the US.
iRobot designs behavior-based robots that help people complete complex and dangerous tasks.
OTTAWA — Canadian legislators this week introduced amendments to the national Energy Efficiency Act, a precursor to establishing broad federal limits on power use.
Under current law, Canada regulates each product individually. The proposed rule would encompass all energy-consuming products, including electronics that use energy even when they're off or in standby mode.
TAIPEI -- Foxconn parent Hon Hai is scheduled to apply for investment permission to establish a branch at Kaohsiung Software Park, a move that will bring 3,000 jobs in the next five years.
The investment would focus on innovation, R&D and design, chairman Terry Guo said, according to published reports.
W. CONSHOHOCKEN, PA – A new ASTM International standard details methods for complying with the EU’s REACH rules.
ASTM F2725, Standard Guide for European Union’s Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals Supply Chain Information Exchange, provides step-by-step instruction throughout the inventory process, including planning and processing orders; handling; and transporting and storing of all materials purchased, processed or distributed among players on the chain to fulfill compliance requirements.
The standard also includes case studies to show the process of exchanging data for three representative scenarios.
REACH, an acronym for Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals, outlines mandatory regulatory systems for companies doing business in Europe.
ASTM F2725, Standard Guide for European Union’s Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals Supply Chain Information Exchange, provides step-by-step instruction throughout the inventory process, including planning and processing orders; handling; and transporting and storing of all materials purchased, processed or distributed among players on the chain to fulfill compliance requirements.
The standard also includes case studies to show the process of exchanging data for three representative scenarios.
REACH, an acronym for Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals, outlines mandatory regulatory systems for companies doing business in Europe.
Other initiatives discussed during Committee F40’s recent meeting in Brussels were the development of a new x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy test method that describes a procedure for identification and quantification of restricted substances in polymeric materials, and updates to ASTM F2576, Standard Terminology Relating to Declarable Substances in Materials.
TOKYO – Rohm Co. will buy Oki Electric Industry Co.'s chip business for about 95 billion yen ($913 million) in a deal set to close by Oct. 1.
The terms of the deal call for Oki to spin off its chip business into a new company, then sell a 95% stake to Rohm.
The Oki semiconductor division makes LSI chips used mainly in consumer electronics.
SAN JOSE, CA – The Semiconductor Industry Association released a letter signed by more than 70 business, higher education and scientific leaders, including 14 executives from the semiconductor industry, to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH).
The letter urges House leaders to support the Senate-passed funding levels for science and engineering research in the fiscal year 2008 supplemental appropriations bill currently under consideration.
A similar letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
“The FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act came up woefully short of the funding commitments made by Congress and the Administration in the Democratic Innovation Agenda and the American Competitiveness Initiative,” says the letter. “Now is the time to invest in America’s competitive future and prevent further backsliding.”
The Senate-passed version of the supplemental appropriations bill includes $300 million for agencies that sponsor basic science and engineering research at U.S. universities: $200 million for the National Science Foundation and $100 million for the Office of Science in the Department of Energy.
