AUSTIN, TX -- A May 1 fire at ASE's Chung-Li, Taiwan facility that destroyed part of the company's assembly and test capacity and decimated its flip-chip substrate production line will heap further pressure on an already tenuous supply of laminate substrates for semiconductor packaging.

Increased demand for laminate substrates this year, coupled with the ASE fire, is expected to push prices higher for wirebond PBGA and flip-chip substrates, says a new report from research firm TechSearch International. Unless capacity is expanded over existing plans, the situation could be similar for 2006, TechSearch said in a press release.
 

Wunstorf, Germany -- phoenix|x-ray Systems + Services reports that it has increased sales by 35% over fiscal 2003. According to a press release, the company has also given a positive impact on the regional employment quota, with a staff of over 70 employees that includes a growing number of research and development engineers.

phoenix|x-ray is a manufacturer of microfocus and nanofocus x-ray systems, x-ray tubes and computed tomography systems.

“We see this an investment into the future,” says Helmut Appelt, general manager. “Our goal is to keep our position of the market leader in our segment which means we always need to be ahead our competitors when it comes to developing new products.”

The company cites as an example the launch of the product series v|tome|x in 2002. The x-ray system combines 3-D computed tomography and 2-D inspection with submicron resolution. The demand for computed tomography has increased during the last couple of years, leading to an interesting market potential. Accordingly, phoenix|x-ray set-up a new business department for CT.

Despite the growth of the 3-D inspection business, phoenix|x-ray still sees new applications for 2-D inspection. The x|argos introduced in mid April is a high kV x-ray system for large samples up to 100 kg. The company believes the market potential for this system is large due to new materials and production techniques (especially in the automotive industry) that require high-resolution x-ray inspection. 

Irvine, CA – MIMOT, a provider of flexible SMT placement equipment, is expanding in Russia and Eastern Europe, most recently with the installation of an Advantage 3 flexible placement machine and In-line dispenser near the city of Kursk.

Joerg Widmer, general manager, said, “We see electronics industry market growth happening in the Eastern European countries and Russia; consequently, we have moved to expand further into that market. Our goal is to be a strong supplier to multinational companies in Asia, Europe and the Americas.”

According to Widmer, MIMOT’s sales in Eastern Europe and Russia have focused on automotive electronics applications.

MIMOT will show their newest products at the ATE Show in Chicago in September. 

NORWALK, CT -- Michael G. Lutomski, NASA's risk manager for the International Space Station Program, will keynote the Assembly Technology Expo and the International Robots & Vision Show in September. His presentation, on the emerging use of robots to perform functions in space, will kick off the events.

SAN JOSE – The Semiconductor Industry Association today called for legislation to enhance and make permanent the R&D tax credit. The current law authorizing the credit is set to expire at the end of 2005 unless Congress passes legislation to extend it.

“Aggressive investment in research and development is critical to U.S. leadership in information technology, which in turn is the cornerstone of our national strategies for economic growth, productivity improvement, and national security,” said SIA president George Scalise in a press release. "We strongly urge Congress to pass legislation to ... make permanent the R&D tax credit. "

HORSHAM, PA— Chris Cleland has joined Dynatech Technology, the North American distributor for Samsung Techwin SMT equipment, as Western region sales manager. Based in L.A., he will be responsible for Dynatech U.S. manufacturers' representatives and customers on the West Coast as well as in Baja and Sonora, Mexico, and British Columbia, Canada.  

Cleland brings 23 years of experience in electronics and the SMT equipment market to the company, including 10 years with placement systems. He was previously a manufacturer's rep. handling pre-owned pick-and-place equipment, and laser engraving/marking and fume extraction products. Earlier industry experience included account management responsibilities for placement equipment, computer hardware, semiconductors, components and OEM accounts.  

NEW YORK - The former CEO and CFO of Tyco International were convicted today of looting the company of more than $600 million in corporate bonuses and loans.

Verdicts were handed down for Dennis Kozlowski and Mark H. Swartz following 11 days of jury deliberations. Kozlowski, the ex chief executive, and Swartz, the former CFO, were convicted of grand larceny, falsifying business records and 29 other charges. The men potentially face more than 25 years in prison.

Tamarac, FL -- MVR International Inc., a Florida-based distributor of electronic components, has launched a website (mvr-green.com) dedicated to the RoHS directive and other environmental laws emerging worldwide.

In an effort to clarify the complex RoHS issue and to provide up-to-date information, the online resource center offers:

Links to more than 250 components manufacturers’ compliance information,

Daily updated news about RoHS and environmental issues affecting the electronics industry,

Presentation of the RoHS directive in details: enforcement, affected equipments, exemptions, responsibilities, emerging  legislations worldwide, international standards, etc.,

Frequently Asked Questions and links to technical and legislative resources about RoHS and environmental laws, etc.

The website, launched one year before official RoHS enforcement, will be continually updated until the need for such support is over.

HANOI -- Is Intel headed for India?

The world's leading chipmaker is reportedly considering locating a major chip packaging factory in India or Vietnam.

Intel chief executive Paul Otellini reportedly said Vietnam and other countries were possible locations for the facility. The estimated price tag for the plant: $400 million.

SAN JOSE -- The industry trade group SEMI will discuss the world's semiconductor equipment market in a special Webcast next week. 

The Webcast will cover the global semiconductor equipment and materials markets. It will also include highlights from a recently completed report on the market for semi gear and materials in China.

SINGAPORE -- Flextronics has signed separate agreements for the sale of its network services and semiconductor business units. Both deals were previously announced.

The transactions will generate aggregate upfront cash of more than $550 million plus additional deferred and contingent payments and a 30% ownership stake in the merged network services company. Both transactions are expected to close before the end of the September quarter.

TAIPEI -- Hon Hai Precision, which operates Foxconn, the second-largest electronics manufacturing services company, is pursuing an aggressive acquistion strategy, the company said this week.

The Taipei Times quoted Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou as saying, "We have been working on [more mergers]. We hope to settle one, or two deals in the second half of the year." Gou's comments were reportedly made after the company's annual shareholders' meeting.