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News

WASHINGTON — Some U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staff are looking at removing lead from a 30-year-old list of air pollutants, and could recommend the same to the Bush administration.

In an EPA staff paper released Tuesday, agency said it would evaluate the status of lead as an air pollutant and "assess whether the revocation of the standard is an appropriate option for the Administrator to consider."

TORONTO – SMTA is seeking papers for a conference on soldering and reliability to be held in Toronto this spring. To present a paper, submit a 200- to 300-word abstract. Suggested topics include SnPb with Pb-free components; reliability; harsh environment; tin whiskers; new alloys; electromigration; thermal dissipation; manufacturing process; supply chain issues; advanced packaging; new substrate materials; surface finishes; thermal interface materials, and underfill. The SMTA did not specify the precise dates of the conference. Abstracts are due Jan. 18 to Melissa Serres at melissa@smta.org. Include a title, author name and contact information. Authors will be notified of acceptance by Jan. 31. PowerPoint presentations are required and will be due March

SAN ANTONIO - Indium Corp. has received the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Global SMT Solder Paste Customer Value Enhancement award. The company demonstrated outstanding achievement and superior performance in expanding and maintaining its customer base by using innovative value creation and enhancement strategies. It was chosen based on an in-depth analysis of market competitors, as well as interviews with companies in the SMT soldering materials industry. It was the fourth time the company nabbed the honor. It previously won in 1998 and 2000 for Engineering Customer Focus, and in 2003 for Product Innovation.

THE WOODLANDS, TX - Huntsman announced it has selected Underwriters Laboratories (UL) as its RoHS compliance partner. Huntsman will apply for the UL RoHS Mark. UL created its restricted substances compliance program to help manufacturers demonstrate due diligence in complying with the EU’s RoHS Directive.

To receive the UL RoHS Mark, Huntsman will provide samples of the chemical products it markets for electrical and electronic applications. UL will test these samples for compliance. If Huntsman’s tested products meet the RoHS Directive limits, UL will authorize the company to apply for the UL RoHS Mark for the manufactured product. Organizations whose products qualify for the UL RoHS Mark must also accept onsite surveillance visits twice annually.

REDMOND, WA - Aztech Systems Limited has selected Data I/O’s FLX500 automated device programmer for manufacturing operations in Dong Guan, China.

The FLX500 is reportedly the industry’s first desktop-size automated device programmer. The robotic system is said to pick memory or microcontroller devices from trays, inserts the devices in sockets, and returns programmed devices to trays, ready to move to production. Based on FlashCORET precision programming technology, the system programs Flash and serial memory devices, NAND flash, and programmable microcontrollers.

Aztech’s electronics manufacturing services include design, material management, logistics services and customer program management.

SAN JOSE, CA – The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reported that global semiconductor sales set a new monthly record for the fourth consecutive month. Worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $21.9 billion in October, an increase of 9.2% year-over-year. Sales increased by 2.5% from the $21.4 billion reported in September 2006.

SAN JOSE, CA – The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) released its annual forecast of global semiconductor sales, projecting that consumer demand for electronic products will drive sales to $321 billion in 2009. The SIA forecast projects a compound annual growth rate of 9% for the forecast period between 2006 and 2009.

The new forecast projects that sales will reach $248.8 billion in 2006, an increase of 9.4%, followed by increases of 10% to $273.8 billion in 2007, 10.8% to $303.4 billion in 2008, and 5.8% to $321 billion in 2009.

VANCOUVER -- PTL Electronics has won a $3.6 million order from a leading supplier of visual communications systems.

PTL will provide electronics manufacturing services for a new product line scheduled to be completed by Dec. 31. Shipments have already begun, the company said.

CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA -- Henkel today announced the acquisition of Accurus Scientific Co. Ltd., a Taiwan-based manufacturer of solder spheres and solder powders. Terms were not disclosed.

Founded in March 1998, Accurus makes type 1 through type 7 solder powders. The company employs 170 workers.

ROSEMONT, IL – Speakers are sought for next year’s Assembly Technology Expo technical conference. The trade show will be held Sept. 24-27 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. The conference will address product design through end-of-line packaging and quality assurance. Presentations should be 50-minute papers, panel discussions or half-day workshops. Abstracts are due Feb. 1. www.canonshows.com/CFP/Midwest/index.asp

JERSEY CITY, NJ – Cookson Electronics Assembly Materials will reorganize its North American manufacturing operations, shifting some operations from the U.S. to Mexico over the next six to 12 months, the company said today.

The company will close two sites in the U.S. and will build a manufacturing plant in Mexico. It will also relocate its headquarters to another, unspecified site in New Jersey.

YAVNE, ISRAEL – Valor Computerized Systems’ process engineering software has been integrated with Mydata’s placement equipment, the company said today.

The integration aids parts and panel handling, and optimizes machine setup times.

The integration permits direct communication between hardware and software through the use of APIs. Users can create assembly data within Valor’s Trilogy-5000 tool, which are then integrated with Mydata’s own parts and shapes libraries and simulation.

Valor’s software also reads existing machine libraries, jobs and current feeder setup.