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News

ST. LOUIS -- LaBarge Inc. reported net sales fell 9.2% year-over-year to $39.6 million for the quarter ended Oct. 2. Net earnings were down 13% to $2 million, due to customer delays in startup programs and rescheduled shipments.

Craig LaBarge, chief executive and president, said, "Production has now ramped up on most of the affected programs and we expect shipments to proceed without further delays."

Richardson, TX – To help the industry company with the EU’s RoHS Directive, the SMTA is offering a one-day mini-conference on Complying with RoHS. The event, moderated by Harvey Stone of the Goodbye Chain Group, will take place December 7 at the Richardson Hotel in Richardson, TX.

The sessions will focus on actual experiences that companies are having when solving difficult compliance challenges.

For the topics and agenda, visit: smta.org/education/symposia/symposia.cfm

SPOKANE, WA -- Key Tronic Corp. an mid-sized EMS provider, today announced first-quarter revenue of $44.3 million, down 9% from last year, for the quarter ended Oct. 1.

Net income was $702,000, up 166% from $266,000.

MILPITAS, CA -- Solectron Corp. has completed a $250 million stock buyback begun in July, and will conduct a similar-sized stock repurchase program starting in the second quarter of fiscal 2006.

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Huntsman Corp., the chemicals maker, reported a third-quarter net loss of $29.8 million on a 6.4% gain in revenues, to $3.1 billion, for the quarter ended Sept. 30.

The loss included $600,000 in tax losses from discontinued operations and net of tax charges of $68.4 million for restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs and $41.4 million for the early extinguishment of debt.

The company reported a net income of $43.7 million in the third quarter of 2004, including $2.8 million in tax losses from discontinued operations and net of tax charges of $32.6 million for restructuring, impairment and plant closing costs and a net of tax gain for early extinguishment of debt of $2.3 million.

Sales from its Advanced Materials group, which makes coatings for construction markets and electronics, fell 1.7%, to $289.4 million on lower volumes. Average selling prices rose 10% due to price increase initiatives in certain markets in response to improved demand and higher raw material costs.

Peter R. Huntsman, president and CEO, said, "The third quarter was extremely challenging from an operating perspective. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita negatively impacted not only our manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Gulf Coast but also the operations of many of our customers and suppliers. These storms also resulted in dramatic increases in feedstock and energy costs in the second half of the quarter.

"In addition, raw material pressures appear to have eased in recent weeks, which together with initiatives to raise our selling prices in our differentiated segments, should provide opportunities to expand profitability as we enter 2006."

Washington, DC – Plans are underway for the IMAPS International Conference and Exhibition on Device Packaging, March 20 – 23, 2006, in Scottsdale, AZ.

The conference is dedicated to the challenges and technologies for packaging and devices of all types. Dr. Andrew Strandjord, IMAPS VP of technology and Device Packaging ’06 general chair, said in a statement, “This Conference will feature a new format – six workshops concentrating on 3-D Packaging; Copper/Low-K; Flip-Chip Technologies; High Frequency/Microwave; MEMS; and Optoelectronics.”

It will also feature an exhibition and technology showcase.

For more info., visit imaps.org/devicepackaging.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The annual Pan Pacific Microelectronics Symposium & Exhibit will focus on lead-free PWB finishes, 3-D integration, lead-free package finishes and advanced flip chips.

The dual keynotes are, Prospects and Challenges of Nano-Packaging for Electronic and Bioelectronic Systems, will be given by Rao Tummala, Ph.D., of the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Summary of New England Lead-free Consortium Implementation Plan of High Volume Assembly of Printed Wiring Boards, by Sammy Shina, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

The event takes place Jan. 17-19, in Hawaii and is sponsored by the SMTA.

Other sessions will cover thermo-mechanical reliability, materials deposition, MEMS and sensor networks, and embedded and SiP packaging, materials and process management and reliability testing and failure analysis.

Sponsors include 3M Co., Asymtek, Dow Corning, Indium, Libra Industries and Sonoscan.

For details visit smta.org/pan_pac.

SAN JOSE -- Tessera Technologies, a fabless chip packaging company, has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase certain assets of Shellcase Ltd., for $33 million in cash. The deal is pending standard closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the December quarter.

Shellcase is a provider of commercial wafer-level image sensor packaging. Its technology portfolio includes wafer-level packaging for image sensors and other devices used in cellphones that integrate digital cameras.

"Tessera is one of the world's leading technology development and licensing companies. This, in combination with the Shellcase technology and team, will enable us to grow the new business substantially," said Bruce McWilliams, Tessera's chairman and chief executive officer. "Furthermore, it solidifies our position in the wafer-level packaging market for image sensors and MEMS devices, which we believe to be among the semiconductor industry's fastest growing market segments."

According to Prismark Partners, a research firm, the image sensor market is expected to grow from approximately 520 million units in 2004 to approximately 1.3 billion units by 2009. And In-Stat forecasts the MEMS market to grow from 2.4 billion units in 2004 to nearly 6 billion units by 2009.

HERNDON, VA -- A pair of trade groups will discuss implementation and adoption of material composition data exchange standards at Productronica this month.

IPC and iNEMI will sponsor the meeting, scheduled for Nov. 16 from 9 to noon.

SALT LAKE CITY -- CirTran Corp., a contract electronics manufacturer, said today that it has obtained marketing and distribution rights to The Perfect Grill, an electric indoor grill sold through infomercials in the U.S., Canada, Japan and South America. The company also obtainted worldwide manufacturing rights.

CirTran said the agreement, signed last week with Euro-G.E.M GmbH of Aschheim, Germany, is effective immediately.

CirTran-Asia, a subsidiary, already builds the device in China.

ANAHEIM, CA -- Bruce McMaster, president and chief executive of quickturn PCB maker DDi Corp., resigned today, effective immediately. The company named senior vice president and CFO Mikel Williams to replace him. A new CFO will be sought. DDi is the 8th largest U.S.-based PCB company, with sales of about $195 million last year, although in terms of revenues from U.S. operations it ranks fourth.

ENDICOTT, NY -- Endicott Interconnect Technologies, a supplier of electronic interconnect solutions and turnkey manufacturing services, announced a contract to supply several major components in support of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Program for Raytheon-Network Centric Systems.

Endicott Interconnect will be responsible for PWB design, fabrication and circuit card assembly production of multiple components in support of this program.

The E-2D Hawkeye aircraft is used by the U.S. Navy primarily as an all-weather, airborne battle management and command and control center. It has been in active service with the U.S. Navy since 1973. The major components of the Advanced Hawkeye are among the latest in a continual series of modifications and upgrades to enhance the aircraft's capabilities.

"With Endicott Interconnects new win with Raytheon, we further enhance the company's position as the 'Supplier of the Future' to Raytheon," said Jay McNamara, chief executive. "From our initial engagements through today, we've made the commitment to deliver unparalleled customer service, technical support, improved quality and manufacturability in the products we build for Raytheon. Our staff of experienced professionals will continue to support the Raytheon team with development efforts on the Advanced Hawkeye, as well as other programs," he said.