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News

SAN FRANCISCO -- 2005 was a year for consolidation among distributors, and market conditions will drive further merger activity in 2006, an analyst said today.

In 2005, Avnet bought Memec, Arrow acquired Ultra Source, World Peace teamed with SAC and RichPower. Also, Yosun acquired two smaller Asia-based distributors for Texas Instruments.

"Look for more of the same in 2006," wrote Carter Shoop, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, in a research note issued today.

Shoop said that lack of growth in North America and Europe, "coupled with incentives from suppliers to develop a more comprehensive Asian footprint and pressure from customers to offer a broader line card, are driving consolidation in the fragmented Asian distribution market."

Munich, Germany, and Westford, MA – Zuken has signed an eight-year, $1.2 million contract with the Transportation Systems Group (TS) of Siemens. Zuken will provide an integrated, enterprise-wide PCB design environment for the group's Rail Automation Division.

After identifying the need for more advanced schematic and library software for PCB design, Siemens TS decided to implement Zuken’s CR-5000 design environment. It is already installed in sites in Braunschweig and Berlin.

Siemens TS is a leading supplier to the railways industry. The Rail Automation Division, based in Braunschweig, provides products and services from electrical interlockings and level crossing protection systems to power supply systems.

Hudson, NH – CeTaQ America has enhanced capability for testing live QFPs during Machine Capability Analysis (MCA) testing.

“Rather than using dummy components, the ability to use the live QFPs brings MCA testing right up to the electronics manufacturer’s real-world manufacturing scenario,” Michael Sivigny, general manager, said in a statement. “This makes our testing methodology the most relevant and accurate that it can possibly be.”

MCA testing is a third party evaluation methodology that uses special vision algorithms, glass plates and components to measure Cp and Cpk indices on production equipment. All brands and models of SMT printers, dispensers, placement and semiconductor machines are validated. The goal is to verify that a machine is performing to the manufacturer’s original specifications, and make any necessary corrective adjustments if it is not.

In testing placement accuracy, for example, the actual fine pitch QFP components and various types of leaded devices can now be used. The pick-and-place machine places components on the test fixture marked with local reference points and fiducials. The components are analyzed against data from component data sheets. Measurements and statistical data are collected for calculating Cp and Cpk indices on side overhang, toe overhang and lead pitch, for example. These results can be used to feedback quality of incoming component material to component suppliers. The QFP components are not harmed during testing and can be returned to parts inventories for assembly after passing capability inspection.

ATLANTA -- Visiprise completed its merger with HMS Software, forming a manufacturing software environment provider with more than 270 employees and more than 200 customers.

To facilitate the transaction, Visiprise closed on over $30 million of new financing led by Investor Growth Capital and Westbury Partners. This financing also included participation from the company’s current investors.

Visiprise has re-organized into industry business units (IBUs), creating more focus around the company’s selected vertical markets – aerospace and defense, electronics, automotive and specialty vehicles, and medical devices.

Visiprise focused on high-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments with HMS Software adding low-volume asset and labor-intense manufacturing capability.

Menlo Park, CA - Arena Solutions released its Fall ’05 PLM updates this week, available immediately to new and existing subscribers. The latest release for the on-demand solution enables collaboration with suppliers; management of regulatory standards (such as RoHS, and WEEE); and customization options through a point and click, Web-based interface.

"We realize that PLM is a cross-enterprise application that involves multiple companies, all of which are affected by recent trends in outsourcing, the need to access the evolution of a products, etc.," CTO Erik Larkin told CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY last week. "Multiple customers use it to access data, provide product records and engage with suppliers, and this 45th upgrade reflects the increased needs for collaboration, compliance management and customization."

The release also introduces Arena PLM Enterprise Edition, with increased customization; adaptable compliance management; advanced reporting features for product performance visibility; and integration into applications such as CAD, EDA and ERP.

Design for Compliance (DfC)

On-demand, scalable compliance management enables manufacturers to comply with current regulations, as well as pending and future regulations.

"Arena recognizes the increased public interest in regulations, which will extend past the upcoming RoHS deadlines," said Larkin. "Compliance management and documentation diligence are integrated into our solution, with all information available down to the design level to enable DfC."

"In today’s global economy compliance is not achieved in isolation, but through a collaborative effort between a manufacturer and their supply chain," Michael Topolovac, CEO, said in a statement. "[We] enable simplified collaboration and shared responsibility for product manufacturing across the entire value chain."

Web-Based Collaboration

The Fall release extends collaboration capabilities to address the earlier research and discovery phase of supplier engagement. Subscribers can find new supplier relationships via the Supplier Marketplace, an online directory of product design firms, CMs, component suppliers and fabricators.

User interface improvements are based on the latest Web standards including AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML).

Point and Click Customization

A simple, point and click interface allows companies to tailor their PLM to best match their product data and business processes - without having to pay high-customization costs or write a single line of code. Companies can customize their data model within Arena PLM to define and classify the unique nature of their products, down to the component level. They can also model business processes tailored to their best practices, such as product enhancement requests, new part number creation or even cost reduction improvements. Users can also organize and present information, such as BOM and item specifications, in customized views and forms.

Minneapolis, MN – The SMTA has a new resource on its Website (smta.org) for Environmental Compliance & Lead-free Technology, which includes an event listing, related links and technical resources such as technical articles and reference books.

The event listing features SMTA activities at the local, national and international level that focus on environmental compliance and Pb-free technology.

Related links include further information to legislation for the RoHS/WEEE/EU Directive, other industry organizations involved in environmental compliance and Pb-free technology and various company Websites.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil Circuit on Wednesday acquired the Texas operations of Incline Global Technology Services, a flat-panel display repair services company. The terms were not disclosed. The top 10 EMS company is reportedly looking at further moves to add repair services to its product line.

BILLERICA, MA -- BTU International, a maker of ovens for electronics and wafer assembly, has filed a public offering of stock to raise about $17.6 million. Proceeds from the 1.25 million-share offering will be used for general corporate expenses and possible acquisitions.

CRANSTON, RI – EMS provider Federal Electronics has introduced services to help OEMs convert and, if necessary, reengineer their products to comply with the European Union’s RoHS directive.

The services are designed for companies in the high-mix, high-complexity and low-to-medium volume electronics market niche that are at risk of not complying with the directive’s deadline. It aims to help companies with limited internal resources to manage the conversion.

“In addition to printed circuit board assemblies, the banned substances can be found in wire, cable, connector systems and even zinc plated sheet metal,” said Ed Evangelista, vice president. “…We recognize that the directive covers more than just PCBAs and a lead-free manufacturing process. Our services include analysis on interconnect and higher level assemblies as well.”

Available as a bundle or as-needed, the services include:

· BOM analysis and conversion to RoHS compliant material for copper and fiber optic interconnect, mixed technology PCBA and higher level assemblies.

· Assistance in selection of compliant substitutes and second sources.

· Engineering design assistance where the lack of suitable compliant components results in the need for PCBA redesign.

· Continual notifications and BOM management as component suppliers issue End Of Life statements for existing components and introduce RoHS compliant parts.

· BOM cost and lead time analysis during the conversion process

· Production conducted within lead-free compliant processes.

For more information, visit federalelec.com/rohs.

VANCOUVER -- Nam Tai Electronics' attempt to take two of its subsidiaries private has fallen short, the company said today.

Separately, the EMS firm reported a monthly sales record of $83 million in November, up $3 million from October.

LONDON - Prices of precious metals are soaring, sparking fears of even tighter margins at electronics manufacturers hesitant to pass along charges to customers.

Prices of gold, silver, platinum and copper have approached or passed multi-year highs of late. Analysts cite unprecedented demand for certain materials coupled with large-scale swap by investors away from oil and into metals.

New Delhi, India -- Taking advantage of the emergence of India as a manufacturing hub, ELCOMP India 2006 international exhibition and conference will be held at the Pragati Maidan exhibition center in New Delhi on Sept. 5-8, 2006. The theme of the conference is “Indian Electronic Hardware & Manufacturing Services Industry: Achieving Global Competitiveness."

Last year’s inaugural exhibition reportedly featured 128 exhibitors from 10 countries, 48 speakers, 232 conference & technical seminar attendees and over 2,000 other attendees. Over 200 exhibitors are expected this year.

The event will be a platform for companies to showcase electronic components, subsystems and equipment to manufacture electronic components, assemblies and products. EMS and design/new technology development services will also be present.

For more information, visit: exhibitionsindia.com/elcomp/elcomp06.html