ISM2000 Fortress now supports 32 and 44mm size reels. Guarantees to keep components safe while providing easy, intelligent inventory management. Includes ESD package certification and humidity control as standard features. Supports a combination of 7" reels from 8 to 16mm in height, 13"/15" reels up to 44mm in height, and JEDEC trays. Patented multiple outlet system permits simultaneous extraction and insertion of up to 27 reels at a time. Also supports extraction of a single reel in quick fashion. Maintains an internal environment with humidity of less than 5%.

Juki Automation Systems, www.jukiamericas.com

SAINT-HUBERT, QC -- Varitron Group has acquired fellow EMS Altronics Manufacturing for an undisclosed sum. Altronics' management will be retained, with founder Jeff Altschuler becoming executive vice president of the New Hampshire division.

Martial Vincent remains chief executive officer of Varitron in Québec, and Varitron Group president Michel Farley will also serve as Varitron–Altronics Manufacturing's president.

Hudson, NH-based Altronics was founded in 2003 and serves the commercial, military, industrial and medical industries.

In a press release, Varitron said the deal gives it an "essential presence for meeting US content requirement for its customers, locally and abroad."

Varitron and Altronics provide similar services but also have complementary offerings intended for different markets," said Farley "By pooling our expertise, we will be able to serve more customers and to provide added value in terms of volume with the aim of consolidating the U.S. market and developing new niches."

"Our two companies have much in common, particularly in terms of corporate culture, market vision and work philosophy," Altschuler said. "Altronics was at a crossroads, and this acquisition enables us to grow our business more rapidly and develop new markets. This is why I am pleased to be taking up this new challenge as part of the Varitron team, which is the ideal partner for us."

Altronics is ISO 9001:2008 registered, ITAR registered, and has J-STD Class 1,2,3 certifications.

Varitron was founded in 1991 and has plants in Saint-Hubert and Granby, Québec and serves the energy, telecommunications, aerospace, medical, military and automobile industries.

STERLING, VA -- A collaborative effort between iNEMI and the MIT Microphotonics Center is one of the first projects to receive funding under the new NIST Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) Program. The joint project was one of 19 grant recipients announced last week under the new NIST program, and the largest grant awarded.

AMTech allocated $539,990 for the iNEMI / MIT Consortium for Integrated Photonic Systems Manufacturing for a 19-month program that will address the technology gaps and challenges limiting the advancement of hardware technology for use in integrated photonic system manufacturing. As outlined in our joint proposal, CIPSM will establish a community of academics, technologists and companies to define gaps and roadblocks for an integrated photonic technology roadmap and build a common manufacturing platform for cost-effective, high-volume manufacturing.

The new AMTech Program and CIPSM are both excellent examples of how government, industry and the academic research community can leverage resources and knowledge for the greatest impact.

Former iNEMI CEO Jim McElroy will serve as the Executive Director of CIPSM, with iNEMI Senior Consultant Robert C. Pfahl Jr. and Lionel C. Kimerling, the Thomas Lord Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT and director of the MIT Microphotonics Center, as co-directors. We will begin setting up the structure to manage and deliver all required aspects of this program immediately, working toward the June 1 launch date. Please watch our website for details.