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NACOM Corp. (Griffin, GA), a manufacturer of automotive electronics and junction block components, is adopting computer-aided manufacturing using XML (CAMX), an exchange framework that will allow all of its equipment and applications to speak the same language. NACOM had announced that any equipment or software it purchases in the future must be CAMX compliant.

NACOM has partnered with several of its suppliers and the Georgia Institute of Technology's Manufacturing Research Center (Georgia Tech's MARC, Atlanta, GA) to develop a CAMX application program interface (API).

"We are essentially writing a piece of software that will speak CAMX," said Andrew Dugenske, manager of research services at MARC. "Companies will then be able to embed this software into their equipment and applications and become CAMX compliant at a much lower cost and with much less risk than going it alone."

The participants in the CAMX API project include Agilent, BTU International, DEK Printing Machines, IPTE, Orbotech, Panasonic, Pillarhouse International, Universal Instruments and Visiprise.

At the heart of CAMX is a framework with an intermediary-a message broker-that handles information exchange and complies with IPC-approved, internationally accepted standards. Dugenske likens it to a mail server. "If you send me an e-mail, you don't connect your computer directly to mine," said Dugenske. "You send it to a server and I retrieve it when I want."

With the CAMX system, the factory's equipment and applications all communicate directly only with the message broker. When people or equipment need information, they get it from the broker-in real-time and in the correct format. Terms and codes are all standardized so there is no chance for misinterpretation. The factory manager will have access to information such as work in progress, throughput and equipment utilization.

One of the major strengths of CAMX is its plug-and-play characteristic. CAMX allows any piece of equipment on the floor to plug into a common framework and begin to exchange information with little effort.

NACOM is working with Georgia Tech to make CAMX more accessible to its vendors. The interface will be IPC-2501, IPC-2541, IPC-2546 and IPC-2547 compliant.

NACOM has reviewed several data formats and various vendors in the electronic manufacturing industry in its quest to establish an open source standard's based solution. Since none existed, IPC is actively working on the IPC 25XX series, of which CAMX is a part.

www.marc.gatech.edu

Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.

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BTU International (North Billerica, MA) showcased the newest version of its Pyramax solder reflow oven for surface-mount processing, the Pyramax 150 X5, at APEX 2004.

The new machine features lead-free process, low cost of ownership and a closed loop convection control for unmatched process control and repeatability. The 10-zone air or nitrogen capability, combined with 350°C maximum temperature and 24-in. board processing, provides process flexibility and throughput for high volume, high mix applications.

With increased heating and cooling performance and repeatable process control, the oven ensures an easy transition to lead-free production.

Reduced power consumption and nitrogen consumption as low as 500CFH decreases the cost of ownership. In addition, the available self-contained on-board water supply eliminates the need for a facility water supply.

The oven also offers a closed loop convection process to offer continuous monitoring and feedback of heating and cooling convection rates, with adjustments being made automatically through the system's operating software. The process control will be critical for lead-free processing.

www.btu.com

Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.

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Kester, a business unit of Northrop Grumman Corp., has been sold to American Capital Strategies Ltd. for an undisclosed amount.

At a press conference on Tuesday during APEX, Dave Torp, Kester's vice president of marketing and business development, announced that the company has just one announcement to make at the show this year--they have been acquired. The acquisition allows Kester to break from the defense arena and return to their roots of supplying to the assembly, component, electrical and industrial marketplace.

According to Torp, the acquisition allows Kester more freedom. "We have increased flexibility and agility within the marketplace, and can generate more buiness, especially in foreign entities," he siad. "With them [American Capital], we are free to market globally, manufacture and support customers, especially in China."

Kester was sold to American Capital "lock, stock and barrel," said Torp. He added that Kester's management team remains intact.

Torp also said that Kester comprises a large portion of American Capital's holding portfolio, allowing Kester to keep up with this constantly changing industry and new technologies. Kester also has implemented a "phase-gate system" which will allow them to accelerate new product development from years to months.

American Capital's investment takes the form of a revolving credit facility, senior term loans, senior and junior subordinated debt and preferred common equity. Post-closing, American Capital will own 84% of Kester on a fully diluted basis. The remaining ownership in the acquiring company represents amounts under the employee options program, as well as equity co-investors.

www.kester.com

Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.

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Tyco Electronics (Willow Grove, PA), a business segment of Tyco International Ltd., is highlighting the Kanetic product line at the APEX show taking place Feb. 24-26 in Anaheim, CA.

Tyco Electronics signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Kanetic that resulted in Tyco assuming all responsibility for the manufacture, sales and support of the Kanetic product line. This agreement provides customers Kanetic's product offerings along with Tyco's financial strength and worldwide sales and service capability.

The product line features an adjustable length edge belt workstation, magazine unloader, an inline board destacker, inverter, and magazine loader. All products have adjustable length, dual speed adjustment, thin board capabilities, a control board and flow reversibility.

Tyco Electronics Automation Group (TEAG), a business unit of Tyco Electronics, is a supplier of automated equipment that is used in the manufacturing of printed circuit board assemblies and systems.

http://automation.tycoelectronics.com

Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.

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Valor Computerized Systems (Yavne, Israel), a provider of software solutions for the electronics design and manufacturing industry, announced that the agreement with Denmark-based TraceXpert A/S, a provider of real-time production monitoring, machine-control and traceability solutions, has now been executed.

The completion of all legal and financial aspects of the agreement, first announced in December 2003, signals that Valor-Denmark is now fully open for business: to deliver the TraceXpert Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to the global electronics industry. The TraceXpert product delivers productivity-maximization, exact traceability and shop-floor parts-management solution. It includes real-time data-rich interfaces to surface-mount assembly lines from machine vendors such as Siemens, Universal and Fuji, and a major expansion program is to be implemented immediately, to substantially increase the machine-types coverage offered to the market.

Valor-Denmark A/S is a joint venture company, 50% owned by Valor and 50% owned by the shareholders of the predecessor-company, TraceXpert A/S. All intellectual property, management and employees of TraceXpert A/S will be transferred into Valor-Denmark, and Valor Ltd., Israel, will make a $4 million investment into the newly formed business in order to facilitate an immediate ramp-up in the rate of development of the TraceXpert solution. After 3 years of operations, Valor Ltd., Israel, will have first option to purchase all shares in Valor-Denmark.

www.valor.com

Copyright 2004, UP Media Group. All rights reserved.

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UP Media Group Inc. (Atlanta, GA) today announced the winners of the 2004 Service Excellence Awards (SEAs) for Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Providers and Electronics Assembly Equipment, Materials and Software Suppliers. Circuits Assembly magazine recognized the companies that received the highest customer service ratings, as judged by their own customers, during a ceremony at APEX 2004 in Anaheim, CA.

Participating EMS companies' customers rated each company on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (superior) in five service categories: dependability/timely delivery; manufacturing quality; responsiveness to requests and changes; technology; and value for the price. Overall winners in the EMS category were Plexus Corp. (Neenah, WI) in the large-company category (revenues over $500 million); Sparton Electronics (Jackson, MI) in the medium-company category (revenues between $100 and $500 million); and Masstech EMS (Woburn, MA) in the small-company category (revenues less than $100 million).

Large, medium and small EMS company winners
The large, medium and small EMS company winners.

Circuits Assembly also gave awards to the small and medium EMS companies with the highest scores in each of the five individual service categories. The overall EMS winners were excluded from winning individual categories. In the small-company category, Key Electronics (New Albany, IN) won for dependability/timely delivery and tied with Able Electronics (Hayward, CA) for responsiveness. Able Electronics also tied for the manufacturing quality award with Nu Visions Manufacturing LLC (Springfield, MA). Nu Visions Manufacturing won the value award and tied with Elcoteq—Dallas NPI (Dallas, TX) in the technology category. In the medium-company category, Creation Technologies (Burnaby, Canada) had the highest scores for dependability/timely delivery, manufacturing quality, responsiveness and technology, while Reptron Manufacturing Services (Tampa, FL) won in the value category.

Winners from small EMS company category
Lisa Hamburg Bastin (right), Circuits Assembly, presents Gary Tanel (middle), Elcoteq—Dallas NPI, and Stephen Pudles (left), Nu Visions Manufacturing, awards for the highest technology ratings in the small EMS company category.

For the equipment, materials and software suppliers awards, companies were rated on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (superior) in five service categories: dependability; ease of use; responsiveness; technology; and value for price. Aegis Industrial Software Corp. (Horsham, PA) received top honors in the manufacturing software category, and Agile Software Corp. (San Jose, CA) won the supply chain management software category.

Electronics assembly equipment award winners were: Asymtek (Carlsbad, CA) for dispensing; Assembléon (Eindhoven, The Netherlands) for pick-and-place; Petroferm Inc. (Fernandina Beach, FL) for cleaning; DEK (Flemington, NJ) for screen printing; and FEINFOCUS USA (Stamford, CT) for test and inspection. EFD Inc. (Lincoln, RI) won the electronics assembly materials suppliers award in the solder paste category.

Equipment, materials and software supplier winners
The electronics assembly equipment, materials and software supplier winners gather with their awards.

A donation of $5,000 was made on the participants' behalf to the Surface Mount Technology Association's (SMTA, Minneapolis, MN) Charles Hutchins Educational Grant. Part of each participant's entry fee was included in the donation.

This is the twelfth year for the awards program sponsored by Circuits Assembly.

Hutchins Grant donation
JoAnn Stromberg (left), SMTA, accepts the Circuits Assembly donation of $5,000 for the Charles Hutchins educational grant from Lisa Hamburg Bastin (right).

UP Media Group (UPMG) is a privately held company that specializes in magazine publishing and trade show and conference production. UPMG currently publishes two high-tech magazines: Printed Circuit Design & Manufacture (www.pcdandm.com) and Circuits Assembly. In addition, UPMG produces three annual conferences and trade shows for the design and manufacture industry—PCB Design Conference West (www.pcbwest.com) and HDI Expo (www.hdiexpo.com) in San Jose, CA, and PCB Design Conference East (www.pcbeast.com) in the Boston area. UPMG also hosts the PCB Design Conference Road Series (www.pcbshows.com) of courses in cities throughout the U.S.

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