Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - News

News

PITTSBURGH -- Valor Computerized Systems' manufacturing data sets will be integrated with a startup EDA firm's component placement software in a move that could help speed electronics design.

DesignAdvance Systems, a provider of electronic design automation and CAD design-synthesis software, said its CircuitSpace component placement software will be used with Valor's manufacturing data, merging Valor's DfM capabilities with DesignAdvance's design and electrical rules checks, known as CircuitSpace.

"It is a logical next step for us to use manufacturing data sets to improve the manufacturing results of a CircuitSpace PCB design," said Randy Eager, CEO of DesignAdvance. "Valor's PCB manufacturers' data sets allows companies to calibrate their placement data with manufacturing equipment and processes."

Julian Coates, Valor vice president, corporate marketing, said, "By facilitating the use of PCB designers' production constraint data within CircuitSpace, our mutual customers are now able to consider DfM information while automating the placement of components on a PCB. This will have many positive effects including the reduction in design time and a reduction in the number of spins or design prototypes, which delay the release of new products."

BOSTON, MA – A recent run up in bookings for SMT process equipment is showing no signs of abating, and suppliers say signs point to organic growth in the industry.

Speedline Technologies today reported that second quarter bookings rose 44% sequentially and in July reached their highest level since 2000. At the end of July, backlogs had climbed 68% versus the end of the first quarter.

Thief River Falls, MN - - Micrel Inc. has signed a distribution agreement with Digi-Key Corp. for its line of advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs.

Micrel provides power and mixed-signal analog, RF transceivers and transmitters, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions. Its product line of more than 4,500 IC solutions will be made available through Digi-Key.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The July book-bill for makers of semiconductor gear was 0.93, up from 0.90 in June, despite a drop in orders.

A drop in front-end orders masked gains for backend tools. Orders for backend tools jumped 44% quarter over quarter.

FRANKLIN, MA – SMT manufacturers face many misconceptions about the equipment requirements for lead-free wave soldering as they struggle to answer the question: “Is our wave soldering process ready for the transition to lead-free materials?”

To help, Speedline Technologies is hosting a free, live Web seminar on “Lead-Free Wave Soldering.” The event will be held September 15th, from 11 a.m. to 12 Noon, EST.

Topics will include:
             * Wave solder equipment configurations
             * Flux chemistries and solder alloys
             * Material/Equipment interaction
             * Defect reduction

For more info.and to register, visit speedlinetech.com/seminars.

NEW YORK – Dover Electronics will acquire Knowles Electronics, a manufacturer of micro-acoustic components, for $750 million, the company said today. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in September.

ATLANTA -- PCB Design Conference East, the premier conference and exhibition for PCB engineering, design and manufacture professionals, will celebrate its 10^th anniversary in Manchester, NH, on Oct. 10-14. Dieter Bergman, director of technology transfer at IPC, will deliver the keynote on October 12 with a presentation on "The Designer - Preparing for the Next Decade."

Attendees can choose from more than 40 technical courses taught by industry experts, and visit the two-day product and service exhibition. Special events include a Welcome Luncheon and Industry Icon Roast, an Opening Night Reception on the show floor, Trivia Night, an Ice Cream Social and a Pub Night at Jillians.

The complete conference brochure and registration details are available at pcbeast.com.

Register by September 9 for the early bird discount. PCB Design Conference alumni and members of IPC Designers Council (or other recognized industry user groups) are also eligible for discounts.

PHOENIX -- Suntron Corp. said that the loss of Applied Materials as a customer was responsible for a big dip in revenues for its just completed quarter.

The electronics manufacturing services provider reported second-quarter net sales were $81.8 million, down $49.6 million over a year ago. Sales were off just $900,00 from the first quarter.

HERNDON, VA — The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative begins preliminary work on its next industry roadmap in Chicago next month. Product Emulator Groups will hold their first industry-wide meeting Sept. 30, immediately following SMTA International.

Rogerstone, UK - Fujifilm Electronic Imaging Ltd. (FFEI) has returned as EMS provider TTems' sole supplier of PCBAs. The partnership is projected to provide TTems with £3 Million in 2006.

TTems has partnered with FFEI - Fujifilm's only manufacturer of electronic pre-press equipment outside Japan - at its Rogerstone site since 1999. FFEI's volume PCBA manufacturing will now take place in the UK.

TTems' NPI team worked to implement the 38 new lines at its Rogerstone facility over a two-month period. The lines are spread across five ranges of FFEI equipment, including the Luxel-V series and V6 machine.

Franklin, MA - JNJ Industries Inc., a supplier of electronics screen printing accessories, cleaning chemistries, ultrasonic cleaning equipment and specialized tooling products, appointed Envision Solutions to represent its products in TX, OK, AR and LA.

Envision maintains offices in Austin, Dallas and Houston.

Seoul -- LG Electronics and Nortel will form a joint venture to offer telecom and networking solutions in the wireline, optical, wireless and enterprise areas for South Korean customers.

The joint venture will be tentatively named LG-Nortel Co. Ltd. It will combine the telecommunication infrastructure business of LG Electronics and the distribution and service business of Nortel in South Korea.