Minneapolis, MN - The Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) is hosting its SMTA/CAVE Harsh Environment Electronics Workshop on June 28-29 in Indianapolis.  Jointly organized by the SMTA and Auburn University- Center for Advanced Vehicle Electronics, the workshop addresses the concerns related to harsh environment electronics and the challenges facing the electronics community.

It is intended to bring together the needs from end-users with the capabilities of the research community and industrial supply base. In addition, industrial needs for non-automotive vehicle requirements are addressed.

Harsh Environment Electronics Sessions will include:

Thermal Interface Materials

Component Reliability for Harsh Environments

Module Overmolding for Harsh Environments

Systems Design for Harsh Environments

Lead-Free Soldering and Solder Alternatives

Register by May 27 to receive a 10% discount.

Full workshop details and on-line registration can be found at:

http://www.smta.org/education/symposia/symposia.cfm#harsh. 

Taipei --  EMS provider Foxconn Electronics may buy two desktop PC assembly plants in Australia and India from Hewlett-Packard, an Asian news source reported.

Under the agreement, Foxconn (the registered trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry) will take over design and manufacturing management at the two plants, and may eventually take over HP plants in Europe, according to a report originally published in the Chinese-language Commercial Times. 

In an article on Forbes.com, Foxconn affirmed the Australia takeover but denied the Indian acquisition.

TORONTO -- Coretec Inc. has entered into a nonbinding letter of intent to merge with Unicircuit Inc. in an all stock swap. Coretec, a PCB maker based in Toronto, will issue 6 million common shares in exchange for all of Unicircuit's common shares. Coretec will also issue $3.1 million of a new class of preferred shares in exchange for $3.1 million of preferred shares of Unicircuit as well as assume $3.9 million of Unicircuit's net debt.

The transaction is expected to close by July 31.

"This merger creates opportunities to maximize efficiencies with respect to facility overheads and production. With an estimated capacity of $150 million, the combination of the two companies will provide North American and European electronics OEM and EMS companies with a major alternative for prototype-to-production high reliability PCBs," said Paul Langston, president and CEO of Coretec.

Unicircuit operates plants in Littleton, CO, and Roseville, MN.

"From our discussions with Coretec we have been enticed by the marketing potential of this combination, particularly in light of the fact that our respective customer bases have little overlap. As such, we believe we will be able to achieve a wider and deeper penetration into our mutual account base," said Kerry Bode, president and CEO of Unicircuit. "In addition, the prospects for accessing more meaningful new programs, particularly in the defense sector, are much greater as a combined entity. This merger brings our shareholders a step closer to realizing our strategic objective of playing a leadership role in the North American PCB industry. Coretec has an outstanding executive team that we believe will enable the merged company to more fully and expeditiously realize its potential. Unicircuit is excited about the opportunities that the combined entities bring to our customers, employees and shareholders."

MURRAY HILL, NJ - Is Lucent Technologies readying to cut manufacturing ties with Jabil Circuit?

In a column posted Monday at theStreet.com, a Wall Street newletter, Lucent was said to be preparing to reduce its EMS supply list to two, with Jabil among three EMS companies that stand to be on the outs.

Quoting "people close to Lucent," theStreet.com columnist Scott Moritz wrote that while Lucent declined to comment on any specific changes, the company was looking at its options.