News
The GAAP loss from continuing operations narrowed to $5 million, from $90 million in the second quarter of last year.
The company had non-GAAP net income from continuing operations of $40 million, excluding $45 million of charges. The company took a one-time charge of $40 million for the pending sale of one of its Japanese facilities, a $3 million restructuring charge and a $2 million charge related to its convertible note exchange offer.
He had been CFO of Sypris since March 1998.
Sypris named vice president and treasurer Anthony C. Allen acting CFO. The process for identifying a permanent replacement has been initiated.
SARATOGA, CA - The decline in semiconductors that began in the second half of 2004 possibly came to a halt in January, according to a leading research firm. "Although it seems that the decline stalled in January, we discourage extrapolating this incident into the future as one month does not make a trend," warned Rosa Luis, director of marketing and sales at Advanced Forecasting.
AFI said January's data shows a clear stagnation in IC revenues, which were flat month-on-month; units, which has begun to slow, indicating a bottom is near; and average selling price, which increased slightly in January after a slight decline in December. Historical data shows this is a rare occurrence in that ASPs do not tend to increase once they have begun a decline, AFI said.
"We remain optimistic that the current decline will end during the first half of 2005," said Luis. "We stand by our original forecast of a near zero growth rate for the full year."
TOKYO - A massive earthquake that hit Kyushu Island Sunday temporarily disrupted several electronics companies located in the area. Various reports placed the estimated number of injured close to 700, with at least one person killed.
Although Japan is among the most earthquake-prone areas in the world, Kyushu, known as Silicon Island because of the number of electronics companies there, hasn't been struck in centuries.
The quake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale and has been followed by several aftershocks. A magnitude 7 quake can cause tremendous damage in populated areas, and can trigger tsunamis.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Navman has finished a major expansion in Northcote that doubled the size of its electronics manufacturing space.
The company, which is owned by Brunswick Corp., a U.S. company, designs and builds marine, wireless data and personal and car navigation systems.
The company spent more than 12 months and NZ$4 million on the expansion. The company employs 450 staff in Auckland.
The 85,000 sq. ft. campus is more than twice the previous size.
In a statement, Brunswick chief executive and chairman George Buckley said Navman "is on track to achieve $400 million this year" and NZ$1 billion within three to five years.
Norcross, GA, March 23 -- The Electronics Assembly Systems Division of Siemens Logistics and Assembly Systems Inc. is providing SMT Process training on April 18-22, in partnership with the Center for Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly (CEMA) at Rochester Institute of Technology, (RIT).
The training will take place at RIT's CEMA facility in New York. It features a fully equipped SMT Laboratory, which includes screen printing, dispensing, pick-and-place, reflow, rework stations, optoelectronics workstations, wire bonding, test and inspection equipment.
The hands-on course provides participants with a thorough understanding of SMT and advanced packaging principles needed for supporting and troubleshooting the SMT process. It will offer discussions on process parameters and process characteristics, paste qualification including lead-free solder compounds, as well as identifying and correcting defects.
The course is offered as a result of the Siemens Electronics Consortium for the Advancement of Electronics Manufacturing Education (CAEME).
Using a patented off-center tomosynthesis imaging technique, ClearVue is suited for densely packed single- or double-sided boards that use BGA-style components, or when loss of electrical or optical access is problematic.
Compared to laminography and other 3-D x-ray techniques, the technology reportedly provides superior image clarity, diagnostic capabilities and full board coverage to expose solder (including lead-free) flaws that are otherwise overlooked.
Operates using a stationary x-ray source and detector and, unlike conventional systems, does not require complex or rotating mechanical parts. Said to result in lower false call rates (promising up to 40 times improvement over existing solutions), improved reliability, better repeatability and improved cycle times.
FRANKLIN, MA- SMT knowledge experts from Speedline Technologies
will lead a free, one-hour Webcast seminar on April 14 to answer
questions engineers need to consider before implementing lead-free
reflow soldering processes on their manufacturing floor.
The Webcast, scheduled from 11 a.m. to Noon, EST, will feature live discussions of process challenges, new technologies, how-to implementation information and participant questions. Topics include:
Required equipment and process changes; Details to consider in optimizing the lead-free process; Reflow equipment configurations and differences; Producing lead-free assemblies; Nitrogen process variables; Cooling considerations; Cost of operation.
For more information, visit: speedlinetech.com/seminars.
Sanders is a former general manager and site executive for
the Defense & Space Electronics Systems division of Honeywell.
Sypris Electronics is a contract desginer and assembler of missile
guidance systems, and gear and satellite communication systems.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Connecticut area designers and engineers are sought for the Connecticut chapter of the SMTA.
A new leadership team is being established for the Nutmeg (Connecticut) chapter and will be planning meetings for 2005. The group will meet in April. Those interested in serving on the leadership team should contact Gayle Jackson at SMTA, gayle@smta.org.
Jackson is also accepting input on technical topics for upcoming meetings.
The next chapter meeting will be held in May; visit www.smta.org for details.The companies' experience in soldering technology (both leaded and lead-free) can help industry companies become compliant with the RoHS directives. The seminar is designed to assist companies in transitioning reliably without false starts. The series brings together the information that will save companies many engineering hours of research and will give what is needed to achieve lead-free and RoHS compliancy rapidly.
Topics include: lead-free and RoHS directive overview; impact to a company's operations; impact of dual systems, leaded and lead-free; boards and RoHS requirements; components and RoHS requirements; lead-free soldering and alloy selection; surface finish changes and solderability; equipment changes and process modifications; optimizing the wave solder operation; BGA rework practices; hand soldering and rework production issues; preventing soldering defects with lead-free; contamination controls; training and documentation with lead-free; field service issues with lead-free; and finished assembly identification and traceability.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Attendees will receive a lead-free assembly technical manual and detailed white papers; a subscription to the Lead-Free Connection Newsletter; and valuable process information and technical tips to achieve solid lead-free processes.
Created by the JEDEC Board of Directors at the request of industry leaders in flash memory, the committee is focused on standardizing flash memory modules for the industry.
At the meeting, JC64 members will elect a chairman, establish plans for their activities and future meetings, and initiate the standardization work. Mian Quddus from Samsung has been appointed temporary chairman until elections are held.
All interested companies are invited to join.
