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FRANKLIN, MA -- Speedline Technologies will tackle the SMT industry's most pressing manufacturing challenges in a new series of free, monthly webinars.

Designed for OEM and CEM process engineers, each of the monthly 60-minute Internet-based seminars will focus on challenges specific to a major surface mount manufacturing process.

Speedline staff will host the online workshops. The webinars will include an educational presentation, discussion of new technologies and techniques, practical how-to advice and a Q&A opportunity.

The 2006 schedule is:

Jan. 19 -- Lead-Free Printing Process
Feb. 16 -- 0201 and 01005 Component Assembly Process
March 16 -- Lead-Free Reflow Soldering
April 13 -- Adhesive Printing
May 18 -- Pin in Paste (Intrusive Reflow)
June 15 -- Lead-Free Wave Soldering
July 13 -- Challenges of High Speed Underfill
Aug. 17 -- Lead-Free Printing Process
Sept. 14 -- Practical DOE and SPC for Electronics Assembly
Oct. 19 -- Cleaning Lead-Free Residues
Nov. 16 -- MicroDot Dispensing
Dec. 14 -- 0201 and 01005 Component Assembly Process

All Webcasts are free and will begin at 11 am., U.S. Eastern time.

For more information or to register, go to http://www.speedlinetech.com/seminars or call 508-541-4749.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Congress, led by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT), yesterday unveiled a proposal calling for a boost in R&D funding for basic and advanced science, in an effort to spearhead nationwide attention toward developing domestic engineering talent and ideas.

In a letter to colleagues, the senators said the bill “aims to make the necessary improvements in research, education of science and technology talent and innovation infrastructure to allow the United States to maintain the global leadership it achieved in the last century.” The bill responds to the recommendations made in the National Innovation Initiative report, “Innovate America,” issued late last year by the Council on Competitiveness.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL -- SigmaTron International today reported revenues 41.3% to $34.9 million yet earnings fell 7.6% to $1.2 million for its second quarter ended Oct. 31.

A year ago the an electronics manufacturing services company reported net revenues of $24.7 million and net income of $1.3 million.

LONDON -- The U.K.'s top energy official today suggested that the deadline for implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive would be pushed back.

In a statement, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said progress on the implementation of WEEE is to be reviewed immediately. "We have listened to the concerns expressed by both the business community and other stakeholders over the implementation process and have decided that more time is needed to get the implementation right. Although any further delay is regrettable, this will ultimately deliver far greater environmental benefits."

LONDON – Isola Group is set to buy Polyclad Laminates from Cookson Group (the parent company of Cookson Electronics) for $91 million. The deal is expected to close in February.

Combined, the companies would be neck-and-neck with Nanya as the second largest supplier of laminate materials, behind Matsushita. Polyclad had sales of $171 million through the third quarter of 2005, while Isola said its revenues will top $400 million this year.

Jena, Germany – GÖPEL electronic will partner with PTS (Production Test Systems Ltd), headquarted in Shenzhen. PTS becomes the 11th Center of Expertise (COE) in GÖPEL’s electronic Alliance Partner Network (created to support JTAG/Boundary Scan applications).

PTS will offer customers in China, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia services,such as Design for Testability (DFT), test program generation development and generation, as well as turnkey solutions and complete system integration based on the recently introduced Scanflex platform.