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News

ALMEIDA, CA -- The cost of manufacturing in China rose sharply last year, says analyst Charlie Barnhart of Technology Forecasters.

Barnhart, who develops case studies on procurement strategies, says a number of factors are pushing prices for electronics manufacturing services in China higher, and the trend is expected to continue.

"Chasing low-labor rates around the globe is not the answer," Barnhart wrote. He will produce a workshop on the topic on Jan. 17, in Chicago.

ATLANTA - UP Media Group seeks abstracts for PCB Design Conference East 2007, to be held Oct. 21-26 outside Research Triangle Park, NC.

The five-day conference program focuses on PCB design, engineering and manufacturing. The conference is comprised of a three-day technical conference and a Professional Development Certificate program of one-day and two-day courses. PCB East 2007 also includes a two-day (Oct. 23-24) exhibition of top industry vendors.

Papers and presentations of the following durations are sought for the technical conference: 30-minute paper sessions, one-hour lectures or panel sessions, two-hour workshops, and half-day (3.5 hour) seminars. Papers and presentations also are sought for a Professional Development Certificate program of in-depth, one-day and two-day technical tutorials.

Suggested presentation topics include: high speed, high frequency and signal integrity; component placement; EMI/EMC analysis; thermal analysis; lead-free processes; RF and microwave design; packaging design; mixed-signal design; area arrays; FPGA design and implementation; embedded passives and active devices; flexible circuitry; HDI design and technologies; PCB design/layout basics; component library creation and management; design for manufacture, test and assembly; design (including analog, digital and power supplies); PCB fabrication; soldering; surface finishes; industry forecasts, and business and design/supply chain issues.

For consideration, please email course title, suggested course length, short description of the target audience, 100- to 300-word abstract and speaker bio(s) to Kathy Nargi-Toth (knargitoth@upmediagroup.com) by Feb. 5.

Papers and presentations must be noncommercial in nature and should focus on technology, techniques or methodology rather than on a company’s specific products.

If selected, final papers and presentations will be due in April.

ATLANTA -- Several major changes and clarifications to China’s RoHS law were made as recently as early December. In an exclusive broadcast, UP Media Group announces “China RoHS: Be Compliant by the March 1 Deadline,” featuring Michael Kirschner, president of Design Chain Associates. This 60-minute Webinar will be held Jan. 18 at 2 EDT.

The Webinar will help electronics companies understand and comply with China’s RoHS-like regulation when it goes into effect on March 1. Kirschner will describe the law and all of the implementation requirements, as well as what the March deadline actually means. He will also describe the steps OEMs must take to ensure compliance.

SAN JOSE – The Semiconductor Industry Association today reported that global sales of semiconductors reached $22.7 billion in November, up 11.3% from November 2005. Sales increased 3.1% from in October.

It was the fifth straight month of record sales and the forecast remains strong. “Inventories are in line with current demand in most major product segments, and there are even signs of tight supplies in some memory products,” SIA president George Scalise said. “Global sales of semiconductors for the first 11 months of 2006 are in line with the SIA forecast of 9.4% growth for the year. 2007 is shaping up to be another good year for the industry with a forecast of 10% growth over 2006."

EL SEGUNDO, CA — The good news for the semiconductor industry is that 2007 will represent the peak year of its present growth cycle, with double-digit growth expected. The bad news for the semiconductor industry in 2007 is that due to the changing dynamics of the business, growth will amount to only 10.6% for the year—far below historical market peaks.

So says research firm iSuppli. The firm calls for worldwide semiconductor revenue to grow to $285.8 billion in 2007, a 10.6% rise from $258.5 billion in 2006. This compares with its newly revised forecast of 9% semiconductor growth in 2006. After 2007, growth will decelerate to 8.7% in 2008 and then bottom out at 3.7% in 2009, before bouncing back to a 7.4% rise in 2010.

While some industries would kill to achieve 10.6% growth, iSuppli said, it represents a moderate rise for a semiconductor business that has seen expansions as high as the 30 to 40% range during its best years. However, the mild peak comes with a benefit: global semiconductor revenue is not expected to suffer a contraction during the present cycle. This should come as welcome news to semiconductor companies that still have the 28.9% revenue plunge of 2001 fresh in their minds.

“The milder cyclical swing reflects changed dynamics in the semiconductor industry,” said Gary Grandbois, principal analyst with iSuppli.

ROME, NY – The Electrostatic Discharge Association (ESDA) will offer professional education classes during 2007, providing coursework to earn ESD Device Design or Program Manager Certification. Courses will be available in North America, Europe and Asia, and include topics such as ANSI/ESD S20.20 ESD Program Development, How To’s of In-Plant ESD Auditing and Evaluation Measurements, Cleanroom Considerations for the Program Manager, System Level ESD/EMI: Testing to IEC and Other Standards, and more. Visit www.esda.org for available courses. Registration is underway for classes offered during February in Anaheim, CA.

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics today promoted Gayla J. Delly, 47, to president and Donald F. Adam, 43, to chief financial officer. Delly replaces Cary Fu, who remains CEO.

Delly has been with the company since 1996 and CFO since May 2001.

Adam has worked at Benchmark since January 2002, most recently as vice president and corporate controller.

"Gayla and I have worked closely together over the past decade and she has made significant contributions to Benchmark and been an integral part of our executive team," said Fu in a statement. "Gayla is an accomplished leader and is highly respected both within Benchmark and the industry. Likewise, Don has assumed increased financial responsibilities over the past few years and is well qualified to serve as CFO."

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil Circuit's fiscal first-quarter revenue rose 34% year-over-year to $3.2 billion, topping analysts' estimates of $3.17 billion.

The EMS firm guided for February quarter to grow about 20% year-over-year, reaching $2.75 billion to $2.85 billion.

SAN JOSE -- ROHSUSA, an industry-led effort to repeal the European ban on lead in electronics, is seeking signatories for an official exemption request for lead in solders now being considered by the European Union.

According to John Burke of ROHSUSA, more than 280 signatures have been received thus far in support of the exemption. Letters must be received by Jan. 10. A link to a sample letter is here.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – After nearly 15 years and plenty of promise but few successes, the IPC today disbanded its Government Relations committee.

The committee has been a focal point for years, having acted as the trade group’s member liaison to its lobbying activities. It coordinated an annual industry lobbying day, and helped to raise the industry’s awareness – if not its influence – at the congressional level.

HERNDON, VA - The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative’s (iNEMI’s) workshop on the availability of SnPb-compatible BGAs, originally scheduled for January 24, has been moved to March 1. Hosted by Hewlett-Packard, the workshop will occur at its Cupertino, CA campus.

The workshop is intended to facilitate discussion among high-reliability electronic product manufacturers and makers of electronic components manufactured in ball grid array (BGA) packages.

iNEMI’s SnPb BGA Availability Task Group has assembled information that will be shared with BGA device makers, including a list of critical BGA component families; estimated total available market (TAM) for these devices in SnPb assembly versions; a general business case based on TAM; and scenarios to support this critical market need until reliability issues are resolved for high-reliability, long-life electronic assemblies.

Workshop registration information and directions are available at http://www.inemi.org/cms/projects/ese/SnPb_BGAs.html.

WESTLAKE, OH – Nordson Corp. this week finalized its acquisition of Dage Holdings Ltd.

Nordson paid £117,005,613 for the testing and inspection equipment manufacturer, which had revenues of approximately $59 million during the 12-month period ending Oct. 31.

Nordson also owns Asymtek, March Plasma Systems and EFD, among others.

The deal was announced in mid November.

Dage makes bond testing and digital x-ray systems.