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News

SAN JOSE -- Arena Solutions and Symphony Consulting on Sept. 13 will release findings from a recent joint survey on manufacturing outsourcing challenges and best practices.

Over 800 manufacturers responded and results were "startling," the companies said in a press release. For example, research revealed that while 85% of manufacturers surveyed outsource part or all of their manufacturing operations, nearly two-thirds risk the associated cost-savings because they lack adequate control and processes.

The study results will be revealed in a free webinar Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. Pacific.

Arena senior vice president of operations and strategic development Mark Holman and Symphony co-founder and president Bijan Dastmalchi will host.

To register, visit arenaplm.com/forms/int_outsourcingwebinar_ma_07q3.

NORTH BILLERICA, MA -- BTU International and DEK International announced a partnership to provide complete in-line metallization process solutions to photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers.

The joint effort combines DEK's printing and handling technologies and BTU's drying and firing technologies to form a complete turnkey metallization line for solar cells.

BTU chairman and CEO Paul van der Wansem said in a statement, "Our goal is to offer our customers the lowest cost per watt process. The partnership with DEK will allow us to deliver powerful, total solutions to our global PV customers."

WASHINGTON — During the past 12 months, some 95 million working Americans, representing 82% of the workforce, received real wage gains, according to the National Association of Manufacturers’ Annual Labor Day Report, and manufacturing workers led the pack earning 30% more than the average wage for the private sector workforce.

SAN JOSE – July sales of semiconductors increased 2.2% worldwide year-over-year, growing to $20.6 billion. Sales were up 3.2% from June, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today.

NEENAH, WI -- Plexus Corp. has named Ginger M. Jones vice president and chief financial officer, replacing the retiring Gordon Bitter.

TAIPEI -- Hon Hai's (Foxconn Electronics) first-half net earnings rose 32% year-over-year to NT$31.26 billion (US$944.4 million), on a 35% hike in revenues.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The IPC spent $140,000 in lobbying expenses during the first six months of 2007, according to a disclosure form.

SANTA CLARA - EMS provider and design bureau NBS Design has added a comprehensive materials procurement service.

The company named supply chain veteran Kirk Knudsen director of materials, responsible for the new service.

The three-year-old company also offers PCB layout, assembly, rework and box-build services.

In a statement, NBS president Craig Arcuri said, “Redefining quickturn production is a cornerstone of both our brand promise and reputation with our large customer base. The next phase of our business plan, triggered by steadily expanding growth, logically called for the addition of procurement services to be able to continue to deliver on those expectations.”

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Rigid PCB shipments from North American fabricators fell 7.1% and bookings dropped 1.8% year-over-year in July, IPC reported Wednesday.

For all boards, shipments for the month decreased 6.7% year-over-year, and orders decreased 0.5%. Year to date, combined industry shipments are down 9.9% and bookings are down 13.3%, according to IPC’s report.

Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are down 10.4% and bookings are down 14.6%. Rigid PCB shipments fell 17.7% and bookings decreased 17% sequentially, said IPC.

In July, flexible circuit shipments were down 0.8% and bookings were up 24.6% year-over-year.

Year to date, flexible circuit shipments are down 2.1% and bookings are up 9.1%. Flex shipments decreased 13.7% and flex bookings were down 12.8% sequentially, said IPC.

The rigid book-to-bill ratio was 1.02, and the flex book-to-bill ratio was 1.04.

The combined (rigid and flex) book-to-bill ratio was 1.02, IPC said. Compared to June, combined shipments are down 17.5% and bookings are down 16.7%.

SINGAPORE -- Flextronics has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Avail Medical Products, a move that will "significantly broaden" the EMS firm's medical offerings. Avail is expected to generate approximately $250 million in sales in calendar 2007. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

EL PASO, TX – Powell-Mucha Consulting Inc. and SMTA will present the last in a four-part Webinar series, Guide to Building a Competitive EMS Brand – Integrating EMS Marketing, Sales and Operations in the Account Acquisition Process, on Sept. 12 from 1-2:30 p.m. EST.

This online presentation will discuss translating marketing value propositions to actual service packages; creating industry-specific messages; creating the operations “sales team,” and the role of marketing in plant tours, proposals and existing customer account growth.

Questions addressed include: How can EMS providers differentiate services to customers, given that these services are essentially the same? How to best market internal competencies such as RoHS conversion support, project launch, Lean manufacturing, product design or post-manufacturing support?

For more information and to register, visit http://www.smta.org/education/presentations/presentations.cfm.

HOUSTON – EMS provider Nexus Nano Electronics has received additional funding from Yorkville Advisors, a private equity group. The funding replaced an existing working capital line of credit and a plant and equipment loan previously held by Comerica Bank, and provides working capital needed to fund operations.

Nexus Nano provides electronics manufacturing services in Brandon, VT, and Woburn, MA.