SAN JOSE, Nov. 1 -- Global semiconductor sales rose to $18.4 billion in September, a sequential increase of 1%, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today. Sales of PCs and cellphones appear to be stronger than expected and are boosting sales of microprocessors, DSP, flash memory devices and DRAMs.

Worldwide chip sales for the third quarter were $55.2 billion, up 3.2% from the second quarter and 27.4% from last year. Worldwide sales were up 33.2% for the first nine months.

"Despite evidence of an ongoing inventory correction in some segments of the industry, the September sales figures reflect continuing growth in demand for semiconductors," said SIA president George Scalise. "September is traditionally one of most consistently strong months for microchip sales as manufacturers of electronics products gear up for the holiday season.

"Slower growth or declining sales in a few market segments are signs of a continuing inventory correction by both semiconductor producers and customers. The ongoing inventory correction in these segments was the major factor in the September growth rate coming in near the low end of the historic range," Scalise said.

Chip sales in Europe and Asia were up 4.1% and 1.6%, respectively, while sales in the Americas and Japan declined 1.7% and 0.5%, respectively.

SMTA Seeks Papers for Medical Electronics Symposium
11-02-2004

Minneapolis, MN -- The SMTA has issued a call for papers for the Medical Electronics Symposium to be held April 26-27, 2005, in Minneapolis, MN.  Papers can be submitted until December 3.

Topics for the conference may include:

- Assembly Technology Challenges

- Manufacturing/Equipment Requirements

- Design Challenges: Power Management and DFX

- Assembly Failure Analysis Case Studies

- Six Sigma Projects

- Lean Manufacturing Projects

- Process Validation and Requirements: Qualification, Traceability, and Control

- Advanced Packaging for Medical Electronic

- Components/Packaging and Assembly Materials

- Substrate Materials

- Emerging Technologies for Medical Electronics

- Sensors/MEMS/Nanotechnology

- Business Regulations / Barriers to Entry for Medical Assembly

- Challenges in Outsourcing Medical Assembly

- RoHS and Environmental Constraints for Medical Products

The conference will explore medical electronic devices, components, packaging, assembly and business issues for major categories, such as diagnostics, imaging, monitoring, life support, implantable products, personal monitor/delivery devices and disposable electronics. Products addressed range from complex, powerful and expensive diagnostic machines to simple, mass-produced, use-once sensors. 

Submit abstracts and inquiries to SMTA director of education Kristin Nafstad: kristin@smta.org. Include the paper title, author's name and complete contact info.