Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - News

News

MINNEAPOLIS – Sungchul Joo, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology is winner of the 2006 Charles Hutchins Educational Grant.

The SMTA Grant Committee selected Joo for his project, Rapid Prototyping of Micro-Systems Packaging by Data-Driven Chip-First Approach Using Nano-Particle Metal.

Recently his experience has been in chip-first approach, embedded actives, and nano-interconnection, as well as evaluation of nano-particle metal, demonstration of embedded actives packaging, reliability testing at fine pitch, demonstration of data-driven process and rapid prototyping systems.

Joo has a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Inha University in Korea, and a master's in mechanical engineering from Yonsei University in Korea.

Joo hopes to work in the field of electronics assembly and packaging. He believes that he can combine his interest in applying creative thought to the electronic packaging field to help create new packages of his own in the future. His goal is to help create smaller and lighter laptop computers, more functional cell phones, and faster desktop computers, leading to increased convenience and comfort to consumers.

The award includes a $5,000 honorarium for the student, plus travel expenses to SMTA International. UP Media Group, parent company of Circuits Assembly, donates $5000 from the proceeds of its Service Excellence Award program toward the grant each year.

This grant was established in memory of past SMTA president and industry colleague Charles Hutchins, who died in May of 1997. For more information, or to make a donation, visit the Hutchins Grant section on smta.org or contact SMTA executive administrator JoAnn Stromberg at 952-920-7682 or joann@smta.org.

http://www.smta.org/hutchins/hutchins.cfm

SAN JOSE -- Flextronics announced today that it has entered into a agreement with Juniper Networks to manufacture the company's security and networking products worth an estimated $350 million in revenue in calendar 2007.

Juniper did not state how the addition of Flextronics will affect its current EMS vendors, which include Plexus and Celestica, which currently split the business evenly.

ANGLETON, TX -- Electronics contract manufacturer Benchmark Electronics today reported sales of $749 million for the June quarter, up 33.5% over last year. Net income was $27.5 million, or up 47% from a year ago.

Benchmark guided for third quarter sales of $710 million and $750 million, and raised its full year guidance to $2.76 billion to $2.85 billion.

GLENVIEW, IL -- The worst kept secret in the industry was made official as Illinois Tool Works has finalized its acquisition of solder-paste supplier Kester Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

NEWTOWN, CT – TUV Rheinland of North America, a provider of compliance testing and certification, is offering North American component manufacturers testing services for European certifications. This includes DIN, EMC testing, ENEC, HAR, and other certifications required by the European Community.

“We are very pleased to be expanding our testing portfolio to include component testing for European certifications,” says Dan Sullivan, division manager, product safety at TUV Rheinland of North America. “Our customers have been asking us to provide these services to help them expand their marketplace into Europe and we are pleased to now be able to help them certify their products for sale in the European Union. This service will help manufacturers with meeting their time-to-market objectives.”

NEENAH, WI -- Plexus Corp. will add about 60,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space in China, bringing its total in the Xiamen Xiangyu Free Trade Zone to 120,000 sq. ft. The company will use the space for high-mix, mid-to-low volume production.

The addition is expected to be completed by mid-2007, and production is expected to begin 60 to 90 days later.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Seagate Technology in the first quarter bolstered its lead in the hard disk drive market amid stronger-than-expected demand throughout the industry, according to iSuppli Corp.

“Global HDD shipments amounted to 101.7 million units in the first quarter of 2006, up 16.5% from 87.3 million units during the same period of 2005. iSuppli had predicted growth of 15.4 percent,” said Krishna Chander, senior storage analyst for iSuppli.

“Shipments declined by 1.7% compared to 103.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2005. However, HDD sales typically decrease sequentially in the first quarter following the peak holiday period during the fourth quarter. The stronger-than-expected HDD sales in the first quarter were driven by demand from the mobile-PC and consumer-electronics markets."

BRUSSELS -- The EU is soliciting comments on its New Approach Consultation paper, which covers CE mark requirements, among other things.

The U.S. Department of Commerce plans on submitting comments and encourages affected companies to do the same, said Bob Straetz of the Commerce Department's Office of the European Union. "Anyone who has to meet CE mark requirements on a regular basis might be interested in seeing this report. The last five pages of the 51-page document discuss possible revisions to the CE mark program. "

Comments are due July 26.

ATLANTA – Siemens Electronics Assembly Systems has inked a deal under which Northtouch/Comtree will represent Siemens in Canada, effective immediately.

In a press statement, David Intson, Siemens Canada sales manager for the Electronics Assembly Systems division, said, “This new relationship will provide Siemens with enhanced customer access to the Canadian electronics industry. While Northtouch/Comtree have been highly successful for many years in providing advanced SMT assembly solutions to the Canadian market; Siemens has been very successful in penetrating new accounts with leading edge SMT placement solutions for NPI, high-mix and high-volume applications. The joining of these organizations will result in enhanced customer focus and continued growth of SMT placement solutions for the Canadian market.”

Siemens Energy and Automation Inc. represents Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) in the U.S. Its parent company, Siemens AG, is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $96 billion in fiscal 2005. Siemens has sales of $18.8 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people in the U.S.

ATLANTA – Siemens Automation and Drives has acquired 3D AOI maker Opto-Control Elektronik Prufsysteme GmbH, effective July 5.

Opto-Control’s inspection systems are fully automated and use 3-D sensor to detect solder or placement defects. The newly expanded Siplace portfolio combines these AOI systems from Opto-Control with Siemens SMT placement machines, enabling customers to better implement the high process reliability requirements of electronics manufacturing, the company said.

The Opto-Control business will be integrated into the Optical Solutions (OI) unit of Siemens’ Electronics Assembly Systems division. Siemens said it wants to significantly expand its system with fully automated 3-D inspection systems in the future.

SALT LAKE CITY -- EMS provider CirTran Corp. today said it projects reporting a 30% increase in sales for its second quarter of fiscal 2006.

Iehab J. Hawatmeh, CirTran's founder, president and CEO, said that the company is projecting sales of approximately $2.2 million for the period ended June 30, up from $1.7 million for the first quarter.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL -- Electronics manufacturing services firm SigmaTron International reported revenues for its 2006 fiscal year ended April 30 increased 32.3% to $124.8 million. Net income fell 60% to $1.9 million for the year.

Fourth quarter revenues increased 52% to $34.5 million.

President and chief executive Gary R. Fairhead said, "Although we remained profitable in fiscal 2006, we were disappointed that our profits this year declined in comparison to the prior three-years' results. While the acquisition of Able Electronics in July of 2005 negatively impacted our fiscal 2006 results, we believe Able will strengthen our long-term position by diversifying our customer base, growing our international footprint and improving our operations."

During fiscal 2006, sales increased in industrial electronics, life sciences, semiconductor and appliances, primarily due to sales to new customers as a result of the Able acquisition. The increase in sales was partially offset by price reductions, and the company expects pricing pressures will continue in fiscal 2007. Sales in the gaming industry decreased during the year mainly due to the sale of the company's Las Vegas operation, in May 2005.

Selling and administrative expenses for the periods ended April 30, 2006 and 2005 were $10.9 million and $10.1 million, respectively. In fiscal 2006, selling and administrative expenses represented 8.8% of net sales compared to 10.7% of net sales in fiscal 2005.

Each of the company's operations is now certified to produce RoHS-compliant assemblies.

Fairhead said revenue grew at its Elk Grove Village site, and the company will study possible expansion of its Acuna, Mexico, location (already the firm's largest). The firm's Tijuana, Mexico, location was not profitable in fiscal 2006, but SigmaTron has added staff, increased operational space and is in the process of relocating several customers to that facility.