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News

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

FRANKLIN, MA – As SMT manufacturing continues to move towards smaller components, it becomes increasingly important to meet fine pitch requirements. With 0201 chips, chip scale packages and microBGAs becoming more prevalent, process engineers must understand every aspect of the fine printing process.

Speedline Technologies will address fine pitch printing in a free, live, Web seminar on Thursday,
Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to 12 Noon, EST.

Topics will include:
* Squeegee selection
* Solder paste evaluation
* Lead free solder paste printing
* Stencil design, including pin-in-paste
* Aperture design
* 45 degree printing
* Board support
* Fast cycle time printing
* Post-print inspection (2D and 3D)

For more info and to register visit: speedlinetech.com/seminars or call 1-508-541-4749.

ALAMEDA, CA – Chinese companies are moving up the value chain in product design, and their engineering teams offer customers an increasing array of technical options and product features. That’s according to a new report by Technology Forecasters Inc. (techforecasters.com).

Chinese electronics manufacturing and design (EMD) services are forecast to grow 95% from an estimated $38.3 billion in 2005 to $74.7 billion in 2010, TFI found.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The nation's CIOs project IT spending to increase to 6% over the next year, according to a poll taken in November, up one point from October.

Spending projections were up or flat in most categories month over month, said Deustche Bank and CIO magazine, who administer the poll.

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- Intel Corp. is expected to solidify its position as the world’s leading semiconductor supplier, posting the highest revenue growth among the top 10 chip makers for the year, according to a preliminary ranking from iSuppli Corp. The research firm raised its forecast for global chip revenue in 2005 to $237.3 billion, up 4.4% from $227.3 billion in 2004.