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News

ROSEMONT, IL — The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative and IPC will produce a half-day forum on emerging environmental regulations around the globe on Sept. 28, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center here in suburban Chicago.

The forum, Life after EU RoHS, will also identify collaborative efforts to close policy and technology gaps in preparation for future legislation.

“There are a number of new requirements being implemented in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., and industry needs to be involved in the policy discussions as well as preparing for the technology challenges” said Fern Abrams, director of environmental policy for IPC.

The forum will provide an overview of key legislation that is currently pending, such as EU REACH, EU EuP, China RoHS and state laws in the U.S., plus review policy monitoring and advocacy efforts underway. Participants will also identify policy and technology gaps and discuss potential new efforts to close them.

Forum speakers include:

Robert C. Pfahl, vice president, iNEMI
Fern Abrams, director of environmental policy, IPC
Jean-Philippe Brisson, associate, Allen & Overy
Thomas E. Valliere, senior vice president, Design Chain Associates.

“Although many electronics manufacturers are already involved in the policy debates underway, communication between the policy and technology functions within companies could be improved,” said Pfahl. “As was the case with RoHS/WEEE, a number of these new regulations will require multiple functions within companies to develop effective and traceable solutions that harmonize with existing product and process requirements.”

For additional information about the forum, go to http://www.inemi.org/cms/calendar/SMTAI_2006_Life_after.html

SAN FRANCISCO – It’s becoming a mantra: Inventory levels at EMS providers are rising. Deutsche Bank yesterday became the latest to make that assessment, issuing a research note that claimed roughly $3 billion of excess inventory in stock at contract manufacturers.

However, the supply chain will rid itself of most of the overages over the next six to 12 months, DB said. Further, it’s the component manufacturers and distributors whom are most at risk to suffer, DB said.

AMSTERDAM – A just-released Greenpeace study investigating the presence of certain hazardous substances in five popular laptop computers found only one – an H-P model – contained lead.

The study also looked at testing methodologies for verifying the presence of the substances. However, it was not Greenpeace's intent to test each product's compliance with the RoHS Directive.

MINNEAPOLIS – The SMTA will move its signature event, SMTA International, to Orlando next year, the trade group said.

The show is scheduled for Oct. 7-11, 2007, at the Gaylord Palms Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando.

The show has been sited in Chicago the past several years, in conjunction with the Assembly Technology Expo trade show.

SMTAI 2006 takes place next week at the Rosemont Convention Center.

NEENAH, WI -- Plexus Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase a manufacturing facility in Penang, Malaysia, bringing its total there to three. Production is expected to begin late in the second quarter of fiscal 2007.

Plexus will invest $13 million to build new offices and laboratories for the 364,000 sq. ft. facility, which is located on a 23-acre site. Construction is expected to be completed in the first fiscal quarter of 2007.

CLINTON, NY – Indium Corporation Corp. recently donated its business jet for the Special Olympics Airlift, which provides transportation to more than 1,500 athletes from all over the country to the 2006 U.S. National Games in Ames, IA. Indium’s plane was among 235 that were volunteered to transport the athletes to Iowa for the start of the games, then back home again after the closing ceremonies.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Although the computer market remains the leading consumer of ICs and is forecast to make up 47% of the 2006 market, it is cell phones that are driving IC growth this year.

NEW YORK – Nearly 300 million global navigation satellite systems will be shipped by 2011, up from 40 million in 2005, according to ABI Research.

Growth will not occur evenly across the board, the firm said. In 2005, in-vehicle navigation systems accounted for 26% of total shipments but 34% of revenues. By 2011, shipments will drop to 16% of the total market but will deliver 29% of the revenue.

Much of the added growth will come from the mass uptake of GNSS services by mobile subscribers who use GSM handsets. As that trend develops, the fastest regional growth will occur in Europe, ABI said.

WASHINGTON – The Portable Rechargeable Battery Association today said it “welcomes” an IPC effort to bring stakeholders into the process to develop a standard for the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries.

CHICAGO – A special half-day seminar on being competitive in the global market will be held next week during the SMTAI Conference in suburban Chicago.

The symposium will cover ways for companies to improve their competitive position in the global marketplace, with an emphasis on North American issues related to cost, productivity, automation, finance and quality.

BENSALEM, PA -- It's nearly as certain as gravity. A high-flying stock takes a tumble, and shareholder lawsuits come quickly thereafter.

A class action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Florida claims Jabil Circuit misrepresented its financial performance between Sept. 19, 2001 and June 21, 2006, thus artificially inflating its stock price.

ATLANTA – UP Media Group next month will broadcast a special 90-minute Webinar on the electronics market and featuring popular industry analyst Walt Custer.

Custer’s talk, Business Outlook: Global Electronics Industry: Updated for 3Q 2006, will be held Oct. 17 at 2 pm EST. The online presentation, known as a Webinar, will feature analysis of the latest data on the global electronics industry.