Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - News

News

NORTH BILLERICA, MA – Transition Automation has published a list of new part numbers for direct cross-reference to OEM metal squeegee blades. This list of part numbers and metal blade specifications reportedly will help engineers match existing OEM metal blades with Transition Automation’s own line of blades.

The list includes squeegee sizes used in DEK, Speedline, Ekra and SpeedPrint factory-supplied holders. The list is posted at www.transitionautomation.com.

NEWARK, NY -- IEC Electronics reported a net first-quarter loss of $576,000 , down from a loss of $48,000 last year.
The EMS provider's revenue increased 150% year-over-year to $9.2 million, for the quarter ended Dec. 29.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Nam Tai Electronics' fourth-quarter net sales were down 7.1% to $229.6 million from 2005.

For the period ended Dec. 31, the net loss was $2.3 million, down 118.3%. Sales were hurt by weakening demand from the telecommunications sector, plus pricing pressure.

LAKE FOREST, CA -- EMS firm Probe Manufacturing today announced an annual blanket order for building and testing electronics for Miyachi Unitek's fine spot resistance welders. No financial terms were disclosed.

"We welcome Miyachi Unitek as our newest customer, and are pleased to provide them with tested electronic assemblies for their fine spot resistance welders. Moving forward, the Miyachi Unitek and Probe Manufacturing teams will work together in focusing on improving quality and reducing the overall product cost to create additional markets," said CEO Reza Zarif in a statement.

ASSODIGITALE, ITALY– Alcatel-Lucent will sell its manufacturing activities in Geel, Belgium, to TBP Electronics BV. Terms include the transfer of all customer contracts, 319 employees and manufacturing assets. The deal is expected to close next quarter. No financial terms were announced.

LOHJA, FINLAND -- Elcoteq is discussing a range of options for the EMS provider's operations in Finland, including layoffs of up to 500 workers and the possible closure of its Lohja manufacturing plant.

Elcoteq employs about 23,000 workers worldwide, about 700 in Finland.

The company previously announced it would reduce overhead costs by about 20 million euros per year.

The company's board has proposed moving its headquarters to Luxembourg, which is known as a corporate tax haven.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – After increasing its holdings of excess semiconductors during the first half of the year, the electronics supply chain finished 2006 with its highest level of end-of-year overstock in five years, says iSuppli.

ATLANTA – The Surface Mount Technology Association Atlanta Chapter announced a free panel session, Busting the Myths of Supply Chain Management, will be featured April 19 at the chapter’s annual trade show. Panelists are Wendy Causey from Arrow Electronics, Chris Ellsworth from World Micro Components and David Scruggs of New Age Electronics. The one-hour session will discuss the three main layers of the supply channel: the manufacturer’s rep, the franchise distributor and the hybrid distributor. The SMTA Expo is a free, one-day event on April 19 at the Gwinnett Civic Center in Duluth, GA. For information on exhibiting or attending, visit http://smta.org/education/vendor_days/vendor_days.cfm.

REDWOOD CITY, CA – Component maker EoPlex Technologies has closed an $8 million Series C round. ATA Ventures led the financing along with current investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Labrador Ventures and Draper-Richards. EoPlex produces components in layers using custom printing equipment and proprietary inks.

YAVNE, ISRAEL – Valor Computerized Systems reported fourth-quarter revenues of $10 million, up 6% from the previous year. Net profit for the December quarter was $911,000, compared to $253,000 in 2005. For the quarter, EBIT was $788,000, up 188% from the same period the previous year. For 2006, revenues rose 1.1% to $36.7 million. Net profit was up 145% to $3.4 million. EBIT was $2.9 million, up 145% year-over-year.

PHOENIX - Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas has expanded its franchise agreement with Amphenol to include its high performance connectors and cable assemblies. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Amphenol Alden Products are used in medical, instrumentation and harsh-environment industrial Ethernet applications. They offer a line of auto-coupling connectors, high-voltage, and custom overmolded cable assemblies.

HONG KONG — Wong’s Kong King (WKK) Distribution Ltd. and Source Electronics have opened their first joint programming facility, in Hong Kong. The two companies plan to open a programming center in the Shanghai area and in two more undisclosed locations in the near future. Hong Kong-based WKK Distribution is an electronics equipment and materials distribution company. Source Electronics provides IC programming and testing to assemblers and semiconductor manufacturers.