News
BERKSHIRE, UK – A just-released NPL report describes developments using a surface insulation resistance test method to assess conformal coating protection performance on electronics assemblies.
In the report, authors Dr. Chris Hunt and L. Zou of the NPL maintain SIR is sensitive in detecting circuit reliability underneath coatings.
In the study, a test vehicle featuring a range of components was used to identify coating protection problems. The procedure on how to choose and apply contaminants to test coupons to simulate the contaminants effect from harsh environments on underlying circuit reliability is detailed, as well as the test parameter settings for SIR test and SO2 exposure testing. The method provides a measurement tool to discriminate between coatings.
The use of this method to investigate the protection performance of seven different types of coatings (two water-based acrylics, solvent-based acrylic, fluoroacrylate, silicone, polyurethane, and epoxy) against solvent-based flux, surfactant and SO2 gas, is included in the appendix.
For more information contact Hunt at chris.hunt@npl.co.uk.
In the report, authors Dr. Chris Hunt and L. Zou of the NPL maintain SIR is sensitive in detecting circuit reliability underneath coatings.
In the study, a test vehicle featuring a range of components was used to identify coating protection problems. The procedure on how to choose and apply contaminants to test coupons to simulate the contaminants effect from harsh environments on underlying circuit reliability is detailed, as well as the test parameter settings for SIR test and SO2 exposure testing. The method provides a measurement tool to discriminate between coatings.
The use of this method to investigate the protection performance of seven different types of coatings (two water-based acrylics, solvent-based acrylic, fluoroacrylate, silicone, polyurethane, and epoxy) against solvent-based flux, surfactant and SO2 gas, is included in the appendix.
For more information contact Hunt at chris.hunt@npl.co.uk.
RUSHVILLE, IN – Fujitsu Ten Corp. of America plans to move its manufacturing operation from Rushville, IN, to Reynosa, Mexico.
FTCA says approximately 130 local employees will lose jobs by 2008 because of the move. Roughly 60 workers will continue to work in Rushville in distribution and customer service. The factory makes automotive electronics.
FTCA says approximately 130 local employees will lose jobs by 2008 because of the move. Roughly 60 workers will continue to work in Rushville in distribution and customer service. The factory makes automotive electronics.
MANILA – Texas Instruments will invest $1 billion over 10 years on an assembly/test site in the Philippines that aims to be the most environmentally efficient in the world. At 77,000 sq. meters, the site within the Clark Freeport Zone is expected to eventually employ about 3,000 workers and will double the capacity that TI has in the Philippines.
The site will incorporate many of the environmental and energy design features first used in the U.S. at TI’s newest semiconductor facility. Reducing water, energy and waste will be given priority consideration, and it will be the first ground-up facility to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) registered in the Philippines.
Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2007, with initial production in the second half of 2008.
TI first entered the Philippines in 1979 in Baguio City. It conducts final assembly and testing of semiconductors for customers in the computer, aerospace, telecommunications, and automotive industries in the United States, Asia, and Europe.
The site will incorporate many of the environmental and energy design features first used in the U.S. at TI’s newest semiconductor facility. Reducing water, energy and waste will be given priority consideration, and it will be the first ground-up facility to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) registered in the Philippines.
Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2007, with initial production in the second half of 2008.
TI first entered the Philippines in 1979 in Baguio City. It conducts final assembly and testing of semiconductors for customers in the computer, aerospace, telecommunications, and automotive industries in the United States, Asia, and Europe.
EDINA, MN – SMTA has issued a call for papers for the 2008 Pan Pacific Microelectronics Symposium. The symposium will take place Jan. 22-24 in Kauai.
Pan Pac focuses on business and technologies of microelectronic packaging, interconnection, microsystems technology and assembly.
Abstracts are due July 20.
For information, visit http://www.smta.org/pan_pac/call_for_papers.cfm or contact JoAnn Stromberg at joann@smta.org.
Pan Pac focuses on business and technologies of microelectronic packaging, interconnection, microsystems technology and assembly.
Abstracts are due July 20.
For information, visit http://www.smta.org/pan_pac/call_for_papers.cfm or contact JoAnn Stromberg at joann@smta.org.
SPOKANE, WA – EMS firm Key Tronic Corp. reported third-quarter revenue of $47.2 million, up 4% year-over-year. For the first nine months of fiscal 2007, total revenue was $152.6 million, up 13% from last year.
Net income for the quarter was $700,000, down 22% from 2006. Year to-date net income was $2.5 million, down 3.8%.
The company expects fourth quarter revenue of $45 million to $49 million, excluding an anticipated $2.7 million gain from the sale of its Las Cruces facility.
Net income for the quarter was $700,000, down 22% from 2006. Year to-date net income was $2.5 million, down 3.8%.
The company expects fourth quarter revenue of $45 million to $49 million, excluding an anticipated $2.7 million gain from the sale of its Las Cruces facility.
ELKHART, IN – CTS Corp. reported fourth-quarter net earnings rose 2.7% to $7.7 million on a 1% hike in revenues to $173.5 million.
Revenues were boosted by a 17% increase in EMS sales to the defense/aerospace, medical and communications markets, the company said. Components and Sensors sales increased 5%, primarily for automotive products. Sales were partially offset by weakness in electronic component demand and lower component sales for handset applications, CTS reported.
Revenues were boosted by a 17% increase in EMS sales to the defense/aerospace, medical and communications markets, the company said. Components and Sensors sales increased 5%, primarily for automotive products. Sales were partially offset by weakness in electronic component demand and lower component sales for handset applications, CTS reported.
ATLANTA – Mentor Graphics VP and GM Henry Potts’ PCB Design Conference West keynote is now available for free online.
In his talk, Cross Currents: Where PCB Design Meets ICs and Hardware, Potts discusses industry trends such as company and market globalization, outsourcing and new manufacturing technologies.
The 45-minute Webinar was originally presented at PCB West in March and is suitable for engineers, corporate managers, sales and marketing professionals and researchers.
Register at https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&eventid=40276&sessionid=1&key=95601077BB15A4EA6D05013F3FF00640&sourcepage=register.
In his talk, Cross Currents: Where PCB Design Meets ICs and Hardware, Potts discusses industry trends such as company and market globalization, outsourcing and new manufacturing technologies.
The 45-minute Webinar was originally presented at PCB West in March and is suitable for engineers, corporate managers, sales and marketing professionals and researchers.
Register at https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&eventid=40276&sessionid=1&key=95601077BB15A4EA6D05013F3FF00640&sourcepage=register.
TAIPEI – Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) reported another stellar first quarter, with net earnings of $15.6 billion, up 48.9% year-over-year.
SAN JOSE, CA – Monthly worldwide semiconductor sales rose 1% sequentially to $20.3 billion in March, 3.2% higher than the $19.7 billion reported in March 2006, SIA reported today.
MILWAUKIE, OR – ECD now has visual, online SMG SPC tutorials to help with features of the company’s SuperMOLE Gold SPC software.
To use this resource, go to
www.ecd.com/tutorials/HTML/index.html
The tutorials can also be downloaded from
www.ecd.com/emfg/instruments/download.asp#Tutorial
To use this resource, go to
www.ecd.com/tutorials/HTML/index.html
The tutorials can also be downloaded from
www.ecd.com/emfg/instruments/download.asp#Tutorial
ATLANTA – ASYS GmbH received Siemens VDO’s Performance Award 2006 at a ceremony in Prague on March 7.
Markus Wachtveitl, corporate commodity manager, Siemens VDO, presented the award to ASYS co-managing directors Werner Kreibl and Klaus Mang.
This year marked the first that awards were given in the production equipment category. In the previous years, the award was given for electronics, electrical engineering and mechanics.
Criteria included quality, technology, price and on-time delivery. ASYS achieved 83 of 100 possible points.
Markus Wachtveitl, corporate commodity manager, Siemens VDO, presented the award to ASYS co-managing directors Werner Kreibl and Klaus Mang.
This year marked the first that awards were given in the production equipment category. In the previous years, the award was given for electronics, electrical engineering and mechanics.
Criteria included quality, technology, price and on-time delivery. ASYS achieved 83 of 100 possible points.
LOS ALTOS, CA – World equipment production demand will slow somewhat this year, rising 6.8% after a 9.1% advance in 2006, according to the April Henderson Ventures forecast. The research firm predicts growth of 7.9% and 7.2% in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Electronics industry statistics for the 1998-2006 period show that the world market has been anything but placid. The industry has been seasonal in nature, evidenced by substantial jumps in second-half shipments during most years.
When comparing year-to-year results, the news is sobering, the research firm adds, despite the sharp climb in dollar values during the second half of 2006. The three-month moving average growth rate peaked at about 15% in December 2005. Since then, the curve has fallen sharply. January 2007 came in at 7.7%. Anecdotal reports suggest February will be weaker.
The 12-month moving average growth rate finished the year at about 10%. But monthly statistics suggest that 2007 growth will be substantially slower than 2006.
Electronics industry statistics for the 1998-2006 period show that the world market has been anything but placid. The industry has been seasonal in nature, evidenced by substantial jumps in second-half shipments during most years.
When comparing year-to-year results, the news is sobering, the research firm adds, despite the sharp climb in dollar values during the second half of 2006. The three-month moving average growth rate peaked at about 15% in December 2005. Since then, the curve has fallen sharply. January 2007 came in at 7.7%. Anecdotal reports suggest February will be weaker.
The 12-month moving average growth rate finished the year at about 10%. But monthly statistics suggest that 2007 growth will be substantially slower than 2006.
Press Releases
- ITW EAE Introduces Vitronics Soltec ProcessGuard Thermal Monitoring Option
- Green Circuits Strengthens Real-Time Manufacturing Control with Cetec ERP
- Keiron Advances Digital Solder Printing Adoption with New England Expansion Through Yankee Soldering Technology
- Microboard Makes $1.3 Million Investment in Mycronic's MYTower 7+ and MYTower 6X Inventory Towers