Hsin-Chu, Taiwan -- The world's leading made-to-order microchip maker, Taiwan Semicon-ductor Manufacturing Co, said yesterday that sales last month fell 9.9% year-on-year but rose 3.7% from the previous month due to increased demand.

The number two maker, United Microelectonics Corp., released numbers that echoed the trend, with sales up 6.96% from June but down 36.93% from last year.

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Haverhill, MA – Dage Precision Industries has opened its East Coast demonstration center and application lab.  An alliance with Circuit Technology Center allows Dage to showcase its digital x-ray inspection technology in Circuit Technology Center’s 30,000 sq. ft. facility located in Haverhill.

“The Circuit Technology Center continues to be recognized as one of the most innovative providers of circuit board repair, rework and training in the U.S.,” said Charley Dennehy, president of CTC.  “We remain totally focused on the intricate needs of high reliability circuit board repair, including rework, upgrades and modification.”

ARLINGTON, VA – The monthly order index compiled by the Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA) jumped by more than 20% above July 2004, after a flat June and slight downturn in May.

"Last year, a flat July preceded a drop during the second half of the 2004 year," said Bob Willis, president. "This year, performance has fluctuated from month to month during the first half of the year, but overall the market has been positive. Buyers were cautious over the first half of the year, but now seem to be more confident that solid performance will continue over the second half."

The ECA represents manufacturers and producers of passive and active electronic components, component arrays and assemblies, and materials and support services.  It is a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). 

Ogaki, Japan -- Ibiden Co. plans to set up its second printed circuit board plant in Beijing at a cost of 8 billion yen to supply PCBs to major cell phone makers, company sources said.

According to a release in a local paper, the company will produce thinner PCBs to help its corporate customers build smaller phone handsets with more functions at lower cost.

The new plant, functional by next summer, will have 30,000 sq. m of floor space and be built adjacent to the firm's existing 28,000-sq.-m facility. It will have about the same output capacity as the older plant, which turns out some 60 million PCBs a year.

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