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News

Rome, NY – The ESD Association (esda.org) is requesting abstracts for technical papers covering the effects of electrostatic discharge, electrical overstress and static electricity for its EOS/ESD Symposium, Sept. 12-14, 2006, in Tucson, AZ.

Papers should cover: component, system or factory level EOS/ESD; EOS/ESD materials technology; electrostatic considerations, magnetic recording heads; and ESD standards.

Submit a 50-word abstract and four-page summary of the work by January 9, 2006 using a form available on the Website.

Minneapolis, MN -- During the Annual Meeting at SMTA International last week, the association honored members who have shown exceptional service to the association and the industry.

Greg Evans, president of Indium Corp., received the Founder's Award for his contributions to the SMTA and the industry at large. Evans, a member since 1985, served on the Board of Directors from 1994-2000 and frequently chaired or co-chaired technical sessions. He encourages his employees to become involved as chapter leaders, committee members and participants at SMTA events locally, nationally and internationally.

The Member of Distinction Award was presented posthumously to Ron Daniels of Circuitnet and ITM Consulting. Daniels, a previous editor for Circuits Assembly, provided support to the local Atlanta chapter, and served on the SMTA International Technical Committee. He played a foundational role in the establishment of an educational grant in memory of Charles Hutchins, and organized the Atlanta SMTA Expo Job Fair.

The Excellence in Leadership Award was presented to Michael Jansen of Lucent Technologies and Gary Tanel of TechBiz Consulting. Jansen has dedicated himself to the success of the Boston Chapter, and helped arrange joint activities with IMAPS, to broaden the scope of the chapter's educational activities.

Gary Tanel served on the SMTA Board of Directors from 1999 to 2002 as VP of membership and a Planning Committee member, while also chairing the Membership Committee and serving on the Chapter Leadership, Internet, Nominating, Awards and Technical Committees. He has been a chapter officer in Dallas, including secretary, treasurer and president, where he took a role in conducting Academy programs and in developing the first Vendor Day.

ITM Consulting received the SMTA+ Corporate Partnership Award.

MILPITAS, CA -- Solectron Corp. this week reported a fiscal fourth-quarter net profit of $10 million on sales of $2.40 billion. Revenue slumped badly versus a year ago, down 21% from $3.04 billion.

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Electronic Systems Inc. today promoted Gary Larson to president, superseding founder Leo Reynolds, who becomes vice chairman.

The EMS firm also named Steve Hillesheim director of program management, and Jeff Tomassoni regional director of sales in the Minneapolis area.

In a statement, Reynolds said, "Our business grew 17% in 2004 and we have added seven new customers in 2005. We feel that these organizational changes and expansion of our sales team provide a strong foundation to support this growth in revenue and services."

The moves free Reynolds to focus on business development, customer relations and strategic planning.

Larson, who has been with Electronic Systems for six years, has prior experience at Litton Corp., Appleton Electric Co., E.F. Johnson, Telex Corp. and Pemstar.

Hillesheim has been with the company for two years, and Tomassoni has 22 years experience in EMS, including positions at Reptron Manufacturing, Micro Dynamics, SCI Systems, Pemstar, Manufacturer's Services Ltd., Harvard Custom Manufacturing and Hibbing Electronics.

SAN JOSE — Second quarter revenue from electronic design automation was $1.09 billion, down $3 million a year ago. Product (non-service) revenue was $1.03 billion, up from $1.02 billion, boosted by PCB and IC tool demand, which offset drops in computer-aided engineering, said the EDA Consortium.

"The EDA industry continues to realign, as strength in printed circuit board, IC physical design and verification, offsets weakness in traditional markets like computer-aided engineering," said EDAC chairman Wally Rhines. "Japan continued its strong growth momentum, up 15% over the second quarter of 2004."

EDA's largest tool category, computer-aided engineering, recorded sales of $445 million in Q2, down 6% year-over-year. PCB and MCM revenue increased 3% to $86 million. IC physical design and verification was up 2% to $289 million. Semiconductor Intellectual Property revenue was up 13% to $208 million

North America purchased $528 million of EDA products and services in Q2, flat compared to last year. Western Europe revenue was essentially flat at $189 million. Japan reported revenue growth of 15% to $242 million. Rest-of-world rose 5% to $132 million.

SINGAPORE -- Flextronics today confirmed plans to build an industrial park in Chennai, India. Manufacturing production will commence next June.

"Today's announcement underscores our commitment to this increasingly important region and the needs of our customers looking to serve the India marketplace," said Michael McNamara, chief operating officer.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Lucent Technologies has entered into an exclusive, three-year contract manufacturing pact with Celestica to build its wireless products.

Lucent notified the Securities and Exchange Commission of the deal in a filing today.

BRUSSELS – The European Union has set forth the maximum concentration values for materials restricted under the pending RoHS directive.

SAN JOSE – Revenues of electronics manufacturing services providers will grow 13% this year, down from 20% last year, according to a report by research firm Technology Forecasters Inc. The burst of the housing “bubble” coupled with astronomical energy prices could wreck the current recovery, the firm said.

TFI economic analyst Matt Chanoff said, “Two macroeconomic phenomena could have significant negative impact on overall worldwide GDP over the next five years: extended very high energy costs and the collapse of the housing bubble, either of which could lead to a drastic reduction in consumer spending and ultimately, recession.”

Rosemont, IL – Members of the SMTA Great Lakes chapter and Chicago Public Schools - Education to Careers reaffirmed their commitment to a program that has brought hands-on knowledge of electronics manufacturing into the classrooms of local students eager for real-world experience and education.

At a press conference at Assembly Technology Expo last week, SMTA and CPS-ETC leaders spoke of the ongoing success of a program well into its third year that prepares students for their lives beyond the classroom, by combining a rigorous academic program with career and technical education, hands-on training, and exposure to the career world.

“This … is about the revitalization of manufacturing and jobs,” said Ross Clark, president of SMTA’s Great Lakes chapter. “It’s about young adults making our local high-tech manufacturing sector stronger, more competitive and better prepared to meet the challenges of the future.”

The Great Lakes chapter has worked for the past 2 1/2 years with the CPS-ETC program and local high-tech manufacturers to align ETC’s electronics manufacturing curriculum with industry standards. Program leaders engaged IPC, and made a substantial financial contribution that allowed ETC electronics instructors to become IPC-certified last August.

“This will bring the CPS-ETC Electronic Manufacturing Program up to current industry standards,” Clark said. “As part of this program, the Great Lakes chapter will also cover the cost for students to obtain their own IPC certifications upon graduation and the successful completion of IPC’s examination.

Working in conjunction with Chicago schools, and with Richard Wierzbicki, a teacher at Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago, the original curriculum architect, the Great Lakes chapter developed the Electronic Manufacturing Education Model program. “This model program has the potential to expand into other industries within Illinois,” said Ray Prendergast, program manager, Office of Education to Careers. “Through SMTA, we have a national conduit to expand into other regions throughout the U.S. This program is unique at the high school level, and is a shining example of the collaboration that can make our schools and business communities more successful. This potential expansion also is aligned with the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance initiative. The Illinois Manufacturers Association, the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, the Chicago Workforce Board, the Illinois AFL-CIO, Chicago City Colleges and the Tooling and Manufacturing Association support this initiative.”

In a statement, David Raby, president of SMTA, said, “We encourage SMTA’s local chapters across the country and around the world to act on their own initiative and develop innovative and helpful programs with their communities, of which this initiative is a stellar example.

For more information visit etcchicago.com, or contact Ray Prendergast at 773-553-2471; rprendergast@cps.k12.il.us.

MINNEAPOLIS -- SMTA is seeking papers for its annual Medical Electronics Symposium next spring.

Papers should focus on the leading-edge, the trade group says.

Abstracts of 200-300 words are due Nov. 4 to conference coordinator Melissa Serres at melissa@smta.org.

SAN FRANCISCO -- A just-released poll of chief information officers predicts IT budgets will grow 9% over the next 12 months, up 2 points over August. Storage beat security software as the top spending priority.

Nearly half -- 48.4% -- of the respondents plan to increase spending on computer hardware, up from 42.3% in August. Positive sentiment at companies under 100 employees is at record levels.