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BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC has released its 2004-2005 International Technology Roadmap for Electronic Connections. This version of the roadmap features more input from Asia and Europe than in previous years, and is split into two volumes.

The roadmap provides direction for product and process development for companies building electronic and optoelectronic equipment. Each chapter contains specific recommendations addressing current, near-term, mid-term and long-term requirements, proposed actions and opportunities.

SINGAPORE -- Solectron Corp. today opened a facility dedicated to manufacturing medical products such as high-performance liquid chromatographs and fluidics subassemblies.

The Singapore Medical Center of Excellence is sited in Chai Chee, Singapore's Techno Park, and employs staff who have worked at leading medical OEMs.

GREENVILLE, SC -- Kemet Corp. today announced a definitive agreement to purchase the tantalum capacitor business of Epcos AG for $101.9 million. The deal is expected to close next spring, subject to standard closing conditions and receipt of required regulatory approvals.

SHANGHAI -- Tyco Electronics is "aggressively" expanding its operations in Shanghai, adding thousands to its workforce while it trims its capacity in the U.S. and Europe.

According to a report today from Deutsche Bank analyst Carter Shoop, Tyco is Electronics hired 4,000 employees in China in fiscal 2005, and plans to add another 6,000 to 7,000 in fiscal 2006. A new engineering center is planned as well.

SAN FRANCISCO -- 2005 was a year for consolidation among distributors, and market conditions will drive further merger activity in 2006, an analyst said today.

In 2005, Avnet bought Memec, Arrow acquired Ultra Source, World Peace teamed with SAC and RichPower. Also, Yosun acquired two smaller Asia-based distributors for Texas Instruments.

"Look for more of the same in 2006," wrote Carter Shoop, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, in a research note issued today.

Shoop said that lack of growth in North America and Europe, "coupled with incentives from suppliers to develop a more comprehensive Asian footprint and pressure from customers to offer a broader line card, are driving consolidation in the fragmented Asian distribution market."

Munich, Germany, and Westford, MA – Zuken has signed an eight-year, $1.2 million contract with the Transportation Systems Group (TS) of Siemens. Zuken will provide an integrated, enterprise-wide PCB design environment for the group's Rail Automation Division.

After identifying the need for more advanced schematic and library software for PCB design, Siemens TS decided to implement Zuken’s CR-5000 design environment. It is already installed in sites in Braunschweig and Berlin.

Siemens TS is a leading supplier to the railways industry. The Rail Automation Division, based in Braunschweig, provides products and services from electrical interlockings and level crossing protection systems to power supply systems.