News
ATLANTA – UP Media Group, parent company of Circuits Assembly, announced today that several leading industry suppliers have signed on to exhibit at Virtual PCB, the industry’s first virtual trade show and conference for the PCB design, fabrication and assembly markets, Feb. 12-13.
Exhibiting companies to date include Agilent Technologies, BTU International, Dage Precision Industries Inc., DEK, and EFD.
PITTSBURGH – Plextronics Inc. has received investment capital from Applied Ventures LLC, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials Inc.
The funds will help Plextronics expand its product development and manufacturing capabilities, as well as increase its investment in sales and marketing activities.
Plextronics' device design, process technology and novel inks are used to form active electrical layers.
Plextronics has raised a total of $41 million in equity capital during the last five years, including $20.6 million in financing from a group of venture capital companies, and from the Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania.
SAN JOSE – A court hearing on alleged infringement of Tessera Technologies’ patents is now scheduled in late February.
The court date is the latest move in the U.S. International Trade Commission’s investigation regarding possible infringement of Tessera’s patents by Qualcomm, Freescale, Motorola, ATI Technologies, ULC, Spansion and ST Microelectronics.
On Sept. 7, Tessera filed with the ITC for permission to use certain confidential information to initiate a parallel action against several assembly service providers, including ASE, ChipMOS Technologies, Siliconware Precision Industries and STATS ChipPAC.
On Sept. 12, the providers filed a motion requesting the court stop Tessera from moving forward on the basis of the forum selection clauses in their respective Tessera license agreements.
Tessera’s ongoing arbitration with Amkor Technology regarding a failure to pay royalties due under its license agreement is proceeding toward a March 31 hearing. Tessera seeks a substantial monetary recovery from Amkor. Amkor has submitted an expert report contending that Tessera’s patents are invalid.
Tessera seeks remedies for infringement of its technology in two pending district court patent infringement actions, one in the Northern District of California and one in the Eastern District of Texas. Tessera’s right to recover damages against the California action defendants is expected to continue during the pending ITC action.
After a hearing on Nov. 1, the court issued an order permitting Tessera to file a complaint against the ASP defendants in the ITC or elsewhere.
In the Eastern District of Texas, the parties have stipulated the litigation will be temporarily stayed.
The court date is the latest move in the U.S. International Trade Commission’s investigation regarding possible infringement of Tessera’s patents by Qualcomm, Freescale, Motorola, ATI Technologies, ULC, Spansion and ST Microelectronics.
On Sept. 7, Tessera filed with the ITC for permission to use certain confidential information to initiate a parallel action against several assembly service providers, including ASE, ChipMOS Technologies, Siliconware Precision Industries and STATS ChipPAC.
On Sept. 12, the providers filed a motion requesting the court stop Tessera from moving forward on the basis of the forum selection clauses in their respective Tessera license agreements.
Tessera’s ongoing arbitration with Amkor Technology regarding a failure to pay royalties due under its license agreement is proceeding toward a March 31 hearing. Tessera seeks a substantial monetary recovery from Amkor. Amkor has submitted an expert report contending that Tessera’s patents are invalid.
Tessera seeks remedies for infringement of its technology in two pending district court patent infringement actions, one in the Northern District of California and one in the Eastern District of Texas. Tessera’s right to recover damages against the California action defendants is expected to continue during the pending ITC action.
After a hearing on Nov. 1, the court issued an order permitting Tessera to file a complaint against the ASP defendants in the ITC or elsewhere.
In the Eastern District of Texas, the parties have stipulated the litigation will be temporarily stayed.
BOSTON – Sales of backhaul transport equipment will grow 43% annually over the next five years, reaching $7.3 billion by 2012, says Ovum RHK.
Component demand related to backhaul transport equipment will exceed $1 billion by 2012, the company adds, citing a five-year forecast of wireless backhaul traffic, services, equipment and components.
Traffic on mobile backhaul networks will grow by 32% per year, driven by the adoption of mobile broadband services around the globe, and mobile operators will spend $37 billion globally on wireless backhaul in 2012, nearly 12% of total operating expense, Ovum says.
“Mobile operators today are challenged to grow backhaul capacity quickly, flexibly, and economically, to support rapid growth in bandwidth-intensive mobile data services,” said Ovum VP John Lively. “Fortunately, many new architectures and equipment innovations will allow them to meet this challenge."
Component demand related to backhaul transport equipment will exceed $1 billion by 2012, the company adds, citing a five-year forecast of wireless backhaul traffic, services, equipment and components.
Traffic on mobile backhaul networks will grow by 32% per year, driven by the adoption of mobile broadband services around the globe, and mobile operators will spend $37 billion globally on wireless backhaul in 2012, nearly 12% of total operating expense, Ovum says.
“Mobile operators today are challenged to grow backhaul capacity quickly, flexibly, and economically, to support rapid growth in bandwidth-intensive mobile data services,” said Ovum VP John Lively. “Fortunately, many new architectures and equipment innovations will allow them to meet this challenge."
JASPER, IN – Kimball International reported sales of $333.9 million in the first quarter of 2008, an increase of 7.2% year-over-year. Income from continuing operations was $6.6 million.
KUALA LUMPUR – Unisem, a maker of semiconductor test and packaging equipment, announced record revenue of $90.9 million for the third quarter, up 70.9% year-over-year. The company’s net profit ($9.23 million) grew 73.7% year-over-year.
Sequentially, sales were up 89%, while net profit increased 12%.
The significant upsurge in revenue was attributed to increased sales volume, revenue and profit contribution from Unisem Mauritius (formerly known as Advanced Interconnect Technologies Ltd.) after the acquisition in July, higher capacity utilization, and significant reduction in operating losses from both its China and European subsidiaries.
Year-to-date, the group recorded revenue of $182.9 million, an increase of 17.6% year-over-year.
Year-to-date net profit was $18.2 million, a 10.4% increase year-over-year.
John Chia, group managing director said, “Unisem expects the group’s revenue and earnings to improve further … the business of the group will remain strong in the fourth quarter.”
Sequentially, sales were up 89%, while net profit increased 12%.
The significant upsurge in revenue was attributed to increased sales volume, revenue and profit contribution from Unisem Mauritius (formerly known as Advanced Interconnect Technologies Ltd.) after the acquisition in July, higher capacity utilization, and significant reduction in operating losses from both its China and European subsidiaries.
Year-to-date, the group recorded revenue of $182.9 million, an increase of 17.6% year-over-year.
Year-to-date net profit was $18.2 million, a 10.4% increase year-over-year.
John Chia, group managing director said, “Unisem expects the group’s revenue and earnings to improve further … the business of the group will remain strong in the fourth quarter.”
DALLAS – Titan Global Holdings will acquire the assets of EMS provider Nexus Nano Electronics in an equity-based transaction conducted through a third-party investment group.
HERNDON, VA – The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative announced publication of Lead-Free Electronics: iNEMI Projects Lead to Successful Manufacturing.
The book, published by Wiley-IEEE Press, is based on results of iNEMI’s six years of study into lead-free electronics, and covers implementation issues of Pb-free solder into board assembly, iNEMI says.
“The iNEMI book is the first practical, primary reference to cover lead-free solder assembly, as well as the analysis and reasoning behind the selection of tin-silver-copper as the recommended lead-free solder,” said Jim McElroy, iNEMI CEO. "Data from several large reliability studies, including rework on standard and large boards, demonstrated the manufacturability of the recommended solder.”
The book features chapters by industry experts on Pb-free processing and covers such topics as solder material properties, reliability testing, lead-free rework, and tin whisker mitigation strategies.
The 472-page book sells for $99.95 and can be purchased through the Wiley-IEEE Press website at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471448877,miniSiteCd-IEEE2.html.
The book, published by Wiley-IEEE Press, is based on results of iNEMI’s six years of study into lead-free electronics, and covers implementation issues of Pb-free solder into board assembly, iNEMI says.
“The iNEMI book is the first practical, primary reference to cover lead-free solder assembly, as well as the analysis and reasoning behind the selection of tin-silver-copper as the recommended lead-free solder,” said Jim McElroy, iNEMI CEO. "Data from several large reliability studies, including rework on standard and large boards, demonstrated the manufacturability of the recommended solder.”
The book features chapters by industry experts on Pb-free processing and covers such topics as solder material properties, reliability testing, lead-free rework, and tin whisker mitigation strategies.
The 472-page book sells for $99.95 and can be purchased through the Wiley-IEEE Press website at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471448877,miniSiteCd-IEEE2.html.
CRANSTON, RI – Veteran inventor Karl Seelig has been named chairman of the IPC Solder Products Value Council.
Seelig, vice president of technology at AIM, has authored numerous technical papers on topics such as lead-free electronics assembly, no-clean flux, assembly and process optimization, inspection, and metallurgy. He holds several patents in soldering technology, including four for lead-free solder alloys.
He supersedes Roger Savage, president of Kester, who completed a two-year term.
The SPVC is a management council formed under the auspices of the IPC whose aim is to provide leadership for the global solder manufacturing industry.
AIM is a global manufacturer of assembly materials.
Seelig, vice president of technology at AIM, has authored numerous technical papers on topics such as lead-free electronics assembly, no-clean flux, assembly and process optimization, inspection, and metallurgy. He holds several patents in soldering technology, including four for lead-free solder alloys.
He supersedes Roger Savage, president of Kester, who completed a two-year term.
The SPVC is a management council formed under the auspices of the IPC whose aim is to provide leadership for the global solder manufacturing industry.
AIM is a global manufacturer of assembly materials.
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Sanmina-SCI's local PCB assembly plant suffered a transformer fire Oct. 31, according to local news reports.
The fire originated in the facility's power plant on the evening of Oct. 31, the Huntsville Times reported .
The paper said witnesses and firefighters attributed the fire to the transformers, but the cause remains under investigation.
The extent of any damage is unclear at this time.
On an unrelated note, Sanmina-SCI was recently involved in a pair of real estate transactions in the area. Brazelton Properties bought a 130,000-sq. ft. campus in Lacey's Spring, AL, for $1.2 million, and local investors purchased a 194,540-sq. ft. office and warehouse building in Huntsville for $2.9 million.
CHENNAI, INDIA -- The head of Flextronics' India operations has reportedly left the company.
A. Gururaj, director and general manager of Flextronics Technologies as well as overseer of the EMS company's manufacturing facility here, reportedly resigned more than a month ago, said The Business Standard, citing industry sources.
Gururaj declined comment to The Business Standard. “I am not talking to the media about it,” he reportedly told the news outlet.
There have been reports over operational issues at the plant.
A. Gururaj, director and general manager of Flextronics Technologies as well as overseer of the EMS company's manufacturing facility here, reportedly resigned more than a month ago, said The Business Standard, citing industry sources.
Gururaj declined comment to The Business Standard. “I am not talking to the media about it,” he reportedly told the news outlet.
There have been reports over operational issues at the plant.
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN -- Prevas AB has agreed to acquire the embedded solutions consulting unit of Flextronics for SEK5.6 million ($875,000) in cash.
SEK1:US$0.1562.
The deal includes the business, development laboratory, and 50 employees. The unit is forecast to reach SEK50 million ($7.8 million) in revenues in 2008.
Prevas is a publicly traded Swedish IT firm with 500 employees in Sweden, Denmark and Norway.SEK1:US$0.1562.
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