Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - White Papers

News

SAN JOSE, Oct. 26 — ZiLog Inc. today announced that several of its microcontroller families will receive programming support from BP Microsystems.

By extending programming support to the Z8 Encore and eZ80Acclaim flash MCU families, ZiLog devices are now supported by programming equipment common to large volume programming houses, effectively decreasing the time from design win to volume ramp up, the company said in a press statement.

The new ZiLog support software can be downloaded directly to existing BP Microsystems programmers at www.bpmicro.com.

BRUSSELS, Oct. 25 -- The European Union today said it would lift tariffs on U.S. goods in response to the repeal last week of a U.S. law that gave tax breaks to American companies manufacturing abroad. The World Trade Organization will consider possible loopholes in the new law, however, and could reinstate action against the U.S. if it is found to be in violation of international trade agreements.

The Extraterritorial Income (ETI) Act tax regime repealed Friday gave U.S. companies tax breaks on manufacturing income earned overseas. ETI was repealed by the passage of the dubiously named American Jobs Creation Act, which offers a 9%, phased-in deduction for domestic manufacturing income. Also included are a temporary tax break for repatriated income, reforms of various foreign tax credit rules and a number of other tax cuts targeted at businesses and individuals.

Yet the Associated Press today reported a warning from EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy that sanctions -- which added up to more than $300 million in 2004 -- could potentially return next year if the WTO confirms EU "doubts" about the new law. "Legally speaking, we will suspend the sanctions and we will keep our options open," Lamy said.

A spokesman for the U.S. trade representative's office told the AP the U.S. is now in compliance with WTO rules.

An IPC spokesman said that while the ETI had little effect on most domestic manufacturers, its repeal could have sparked higher taxes had the American Jobs Creation Act not been passed. "The bulk of domestic manufacturers don't export and so they weren't affected, but they would have received a tax increase," John Kania, director of IPC government relations, told Circuits Assembly. Come January 2005, those companies will receive a tax deduction on a portion of their manufacturing income.

Not everyone agrees that the new U.S. law is legal, however. The EU trade commissioner is petitioning the WTO for another ruling to determine whether the new law fully complies with global trade rules. A ruling is expected within 90 days.

"There is the possibility of (renewed) sanctions," Lamy told the AP. "We'll see what WTO says."

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22 -- Celeritek shareholders Thursday approved the sale of its the company's defense electronics business to a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies for $33 million in cash.

Celeritek's defense electronics business designs andmanufactures gallium arsenide-based RF and microwave components and subassemblies for electronics warfare, radar and other military applications. Teledyne intends to relocate the business from Santa Clara, CA, and consolidate it with Teledyne Microwave in Mountain View, CA.

The division had sales of $19.7 million for its fiscal year ended March 31. Teledyne expects this acquisition to be neutral to earnings in 2004.

Ashburn, VA - Zestron, Kester, Heller Industries, Trek Industries and cleaning expert Dr. William Kenyon are hosting a one-day workshop in Tampa. Topics include cleaning, lead-free and its potential long-term risks. The workshop will take place Nov. 9, at the Embassy Suites Hotel - Airport/Westshore in Tampa.

Attendees can learn essentials on material technologies and understand the actual impact of lead-free on subsequent process steps such as cleaning or the climatic reliability of electronic assemblies.

To register, visit http://www.zestron.com/leadfree_tampa/home.htm.

For more information, contact Danny Chaplow: (703) 589-1198 ext. 110.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, Oct. 25 -- The IC market will grow 29% in 2004, buoyed by high demand for PC applications, a research firm said today.

The microprocessor market will hit nearly $30 billion, 90% of it coming from devices for computing systems, according to IC Insights in its monthly report.

Moreover, flash sales will reach $15.6 billion by year-end. up 33%, following a 51% gain in 2003. DSPs is expected to grow 26%, to $7.7 billion, the firm said.

London, Oct. 21 - An investor group led by Francisco Group and Shah Capital Partners has purchased C-MAC MicroTechnology from Solectron Corp. Terms were not announced. Solectron had acquired C-MAC for $2.7 billion in August 2001 during its acquisition spree.

C-MAC designs and manufactures electronics products, typically for harsh environments. It has design and manufacturing facilities in the U.K., France, Belgium and Canada, where it performs thick-film printing on ceramic and other substrates, and builds surface mount and other advanced assemblies.

The new C-MAC board includes Duncan Ralph, chief executive; Andrew Gray and David Stanton of Francisco Partners, and Ajay Shah of Shah Capital Partners.

ESD Assn Offers Webinar to Demystify Standard

If you are interested in developing an ESD program that meets the criteria of ANSI/ESD S20.20, the ESD Association is offering an online course to help. Ron Gibson, chairman of the ESDA Standards Committee and co-author of the ANSI/ESD S20.20, will facilitate the program scheduled for Nov. 17, 2004, at 1 p.m., EDT.

The 60-minute presentation will include an explanation of criteria required for an S20.20 compliant facility; discussion of issues including grounding, packaging, training and documentation; and a brief question and answer session. Cost is $95.

For more information, contact (315) 339-6937; info@esda.org.