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WEST CHICAGO -- Price erosion of surface mount connectors during the past five years has been significant and painful, says Bishop and Associates.

The research firm cites as the main reason the migration of manufacturing to China. "There is no doubt that connector prices have been significantly influenced by the lower costs [of China]. The lower prices are a function of the lower manufacturing costs."

Once the manufacturing migration to China has “run its course” and China prices are fully implemented, connector prices will stabilize, Bishop said. "In effect, the China influence on lower prices is a one-time occurrence. That is, once China pricing is in the marketplace, connector prices stabilize and stop declining. Once the lower costs are passed along, it’s over. There is no more to give the OEMs."

Prices have begun to level, Bishop wrote. "We have already started to achieve connector price stability. Feedback from the industry suggests that the 7-10% price erosion of the past few years has slowed to the historical norm of 3-4% price erosion."

Bermuda-based Tyco International plans to close 16 of its electronics manufacturing factories in North American and Europe and may even spin off some businesses. The conglomerate will take a restructuring charge of up to $175 million, $60 million in fiscal 2006.

SAN JOSE -- "It is extremely unlikely for us to ever do a large acquisition. My view is, most all of them fail." -- Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers, August 2005

"Extremely unlikely" just happened. Cisco agreed Friday to buy Scientific-Atlanta Inc. in a $6.9 billion deal that would create a one-stop shop for sending TV over the Internet.

CHICAGO - Newark InOne provides a complimentary re-reeling service for thousands of surface-mount diodes, transistors and surface-mount ICs and optoelectronic components. Benefiting design engineers and small production manufacturers, this value-added semiconductor service is an extension of the company’s free re-reeling program for surface-mount passive components, launched in late 2004.

For product on cut tape orders longer than 18", Newark InOne automatically applies a leader, trailer and re-spool on each reel according to Electronics Industries Alliance (EIA) standards, which assures that the reel can be properly machine-fed.

For details, visit: newarkinone.com/reels

Hauppauge, NY -- Jaco Electronics, distributor of electronic components, reported increased operating profit and lowered net losses for its fiscal 2006 first quarter, compared to the same quarter last year. During the quarter, Jaco reduced SG&A by 21% year-on-year, which contributed to the operating profit.

ROUND ROCK, TX - In commemoration of America Recycles Day, Dell recognized its employees and partners for helping the company exceed environmental responsibility goals and create new recycling initiatives.

In the past year, Dell exceeded its recycled paper content goal and collected more than 175 tons of unwanted computers around the world. In 2005, the company accelerated efforts to recycle, reuse or resell non-hazardous wastes from manufacturing and other operations.

"Part of being a great global company is being environmentally responsible," said Tod Arbogast, Dell's sustainable business manager. "America Recycles Day provides an opportunity for us to recognize our employees, suppliers and stakeholders who have helped Dell increase usage of recycled paper, offer communities no-cost options for recycling computers and increase the volume of waste material we recycle in our own operations."

Dell’s Forest Products Stewardship Model documents its paper-usage practices and its paper sourcing and recycling goals. One year into the program, Dell has exceeded its initial target by achieving 90% recycled paper content in the company's small and medium business catalog, using Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper sources for the majority of the catalog. Dell increased its use of post-consumer recycled content for catalog inserts to almost 15% and achieved about 30% post-consumer recycled content for office paper.

Dell conducted computer recycling events earlier this year in Bracknell (UK), Munich, Sydney, Winston-Salem (NC), Nashville and Oklahoma City. Dell employee volunteers helped collect more than 175 tons of unwanted computers.

Dell expanded its partnership with Goodwill Industries by establishing an ongoing computer drop-off program for donation and recycling in the San Francisco Bay area and in Michigan.

In the first half of 2005, Dell recycled, reused or resold more than 45,000 tons of cardboard, plastics, pallets, paper and related materials generated in its manufacturing and other operations. The volume of recycled, reused or resold material represents more than 90% of the total nonhazardous waste generated at facilities in the first half of the year, exceeding last year’s 85% recycle/reuse rate.