AMSTERDAM -- Greenpeace wants electronics companies to clean up their acts.
The activist environmental protection organization this week released its study of the "green credentials" of the top electronics OEMs. Ranked on their use of toxic chemicals and
electronic waste (e-waste) policies, Dell and Nokia scored highest -- albeit a "barely respectable" 7 out of 10 -- while Apple, Motorola and Lenovo finished at the bottom of the class. The average score for the 14 companies reviewed was 4 of 10.
JACKSON, MI -- EMS firm Sparton Corp. reported net sales of $50.5 million for its fourth quarter ended June 30, up 9.6% over last year. Net income fell 95% to $468,000
from $4.94 million last year.
BEIJING -- The Chinese government ordered Foxconn's Shenzhen EMS site to create a union for workers this year, according to the Beijing News today.
Shenzhen officials have reportedly told Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry, the local name of the Foxconn plant, to set up a union by the end of this year, the paper said.
CHICAGO -- In its annual world
outlook for commercial airplanes, Boeing predicts a 6.1% annual increase in air cargo traffic over the next 20 years. Coupled with higher fuel costs, that suggests cargo rates will continue to fly higher in coming years.
The world's largest maker of planes also predicts passenger traffic to increase 4.9% a year through 2025.
The company said worldwide air freighter fleet will nearly double over the next 20 years
to 3,560 airplanes, from 1,790.
TAIPEI -- Hon Hai Precision Industry, the trading name of Foxconn, reported second-quarter earnings rose 32% over a year ago and 18% sequentially, according to media reports.
The company showed a net profit of $388 million (T$12.77 billion) for the quarter ended June, according to Reuters. That compares to a profit of roughly $328 million (T$9.98 billion) in the March quarter.
LOUISVILLE -- A federal bankruptcy judge turned down Sypris Solutions' request for quick decision by its top customeron whether to continue its supply
contracts with Sypris.
Dana Corp., which makes auto parts, is said to be Sypris' largest customer, having purchased more
than $120 million in parts in 2005.
The company filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection in March, however, and Sypris
was seeking for the court to order Dana to render a decision on whether to keep the
supply contracts by Oct. 3.
According to the ruling, by contract Sypris can prevent Dana from buying those parts from another
manufacturer through 2014.