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SAN JOSE — Second quarter revenue from electronic design automation was $1.09 billion, down $3 million a year ago. Product (non-service) revenue was $1.03 billion, up from $1.02 billion, boosted by PCB and IC tool demand, which offset drops in computer-aided engineering, said the EDA Consortium.

"The EDA industry continues to realign, as strength in printed circuit board, IC physical design and verification, offsets weakness in traditional markets like computer-aided engineering," said EDAC chairman Wally Rhines. "Japan continued its strong growth momentum, up 15% over the second quarter of 2004."

EDA's largest tool category, computer-aided engineering, recorded sales of $445 million in Q2, down 6% year-over-year. PCB and MCM revenue increased 3% to $86 million. IC physical design and verification was up 2% to $289 million. Semiconductor Intellectual Property revenue was up 13% to $208 million

North America purchased $528 million of EDA products and services in Q2, flat compared to last year. Western Europe revenue was essentially flat at $189 million. Japan reported revenue growth of 15% to $242 million. Rest-of-world rose 5% to $132 million.

SINGAPORE -- Flextronics today confirmed plans to build an industrial park in Chennai, India. Manufacturing production will commence next June.

"Today's announcement underscores our commitment to this increasingly important region and the needs of our customers looking to serve the India marketplace," said Michael McNamara, chief operating officer.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Lucent Technologies has entered into an exclusive, three-year contract manufacturing pact with Celestica to build its wireless products.

Lucent notified the Securities and Exchange Commission of the deal in a filing today.

BRUSSELS – The European Union has set forth the maximum concentration values for materials restricted under the pending RoHS directive.

SAN JOSE – Revenues of electronics manufacturing services providers will grow 13% this year, down from 20% last year, according to a report by research firm Technology Forecasters Inc. The burst of the housing “bubble” coupled with astronomical energy prices could wreck the current recovery, the firm said.

TFI economic analyst Matt Chanoff said, “Two macroeconomic phenomena could have significant negative impact on overall worldwide GDP over the next five years: extended very high energy costs and the collapse of the housing bubble, either of which could lead to a drastic reduction in consumer spending and ultimately, recession.”

Rosemont, IL – Members of the SMTA Great Lakes chapter and Chicago Public Schools - Education to Careers reaffirmed their commitment to a program that has brought hands-on knowledge of electronics manufacturing into the classrooms of local students eager for real-world experience and education.

At a press conference at Assembly Technology Expo last week, SMTA and CPS-ETC leaders spoke of the ongoing success of a program well into its third year that prepares students for their lives beyond the classroom, by combining a rigorous academic program with career and technical education, hands-on training, and exposure to the career world.

“This … is about the revitalization of manufacturing and jobs,” said Ross Clark, president of SMTA’s Great Lakes chapter. “It’s about young adults making our local high-tech manufacturing sector stronger, more competitive and better prepared to meet the challenges of the future.”

The Great Lakes chapter has worked for the past 2 1/2 years with the CPS-ETC program and local high-tech manufacturers to align ETC’s electronics manufacturing curriculum with industry standards. Program leaders engaged IPC, and made a substantial financial contribution that allowed ETC electronics instructors to become IPC-certified last August.

“This will bring the CPS-ETC Electronic Manufacturing Program up to current industry standards,” Clark said. “As part of this program, the Great Lakes chapter will also cover the cost for students to obtain their own IPC certifications upon graduation and the successful completion of IPC’s examination.

Working in conjunction with Chicago schools, and with Richard Wierzbicki, a teacher at Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago, the original curriculum architect, the Great Lakes chapter developed the Electronic Manufacturing Education Model program. “This model program has the potential to expand into other industries within Illinois,” said Ray Prendergast, program manager, Office of Education to Careers. “Through SMTA, we have a national conduit to expand into other regions throughout the U.S. This program is unique at the high school level, and is a shining example of the collaboration that can make our schools and business communities more successful. This potential expansion also is aligned with the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance initiative. The Illinois Manufacturers Association, the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, the Chicago Workforce Board, the Illinois AFL-CIO, Chicago City Colleges and the Tooling and Manufacturing Association support this initiative.”

In a statement, David Raby, president of SMTA, said, “We encourage SMTA’s local chapters across the country and around the world to act on their own initiative and develop innovative and helpful programs with their communities, of which this initiative is a stellar example.

For more information visit etcchicago.com, or contact Ray Prendergast at 773-553-2471; rprendergast@cps.k12.il.us.