Beginning October 2, Circuits Assembly is seeking participants for its 14th annual Service Excellence Awards (SEAs) for Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers and Electronics Assembly Equipment, Material and Software suppliers.
 

 
“We are proud of the decade-long recognition we’ve received from Circuits Assembly magazine and its Service Excellence Awards program,” said Karen Vincent, Director of Sales & Program Management, at previous winner MassTech EMS. “The awards both validate and raise awareness of our commitment to delivering outstanding services in engineering and creative supply chain solutions that help customers reach their larger business goals. What means most to us is that the awards reflect our clients’ perspective on our services. We look forward to participating in this program year after year.”
 
Customers are surveyed to determine a participating company's level of customer satisfaction in various categories, including: dependability/timely delivery; ease of use; manufacturing quality; responsiveness to requests and changes; technology; and value for the price. All customer responses and ratings are tabulated by a third party and provided in a confidential report to the participating company.
 
This year, Circuits Assembly will recognize three categories of EMS providers based on revenues (under $100 million; $100 million to $500 million; $500 million and over) and the following categories of suppliers: dispensing; pick-and-place; repair and rework; screen printing; test and inspection; materials (solder paste); and manufacturing or supply chain management software.
 
Circuits Assembly will honor winners during Apex 2006 in Anaheim, CA. Proceeds from the program help fund the SMTA's Charles Hutchins Educational Grant.
 
For more information, contact Circuits Assembly associate editor Robin Norvell at rnorvell@upmediagroup.com or visit circuitsassembly.com/cms/sea.

DES PLAINES, IL — Kester has opened a facility in Suzhou, China, just outside of Shanghai. The manufacturing and technical center will enable the company to meet the demands of China’s rapidly growing electronics assembly sector.
 
The new facility was created to enhance Kester’s ability to deliver globally. Its global distribution and manufacturing operations now allow customers to receive Kester’s full line of soldering and solder-related products 24/7 throughout the world.

LOS ALTOS, CA -- Rising oil prices are dampening the world economy, with Europe and Japan feeling the brunt worse than the U.S. and China. The result: A significant economic slowdown next year. 

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PHOENIX -- Suntron Corp., a publicly traded electronics manufacturing services company, today said its chief financial officer, Peter W. Harper, will leave Oct. 7, to accept a position with another company.

Harper released a statement saying, "I have greatly enjoyed my experience with Suntron and I am proud of our accomplishments over the past several years. My departure should not be viewed as a negative reflection on the company."

Vice president, controller and chief accounting officer James A. Doran has been named interim CFO.