News
BOSTON -- On May 4 Charles R. McClinton, technology manager for the Hyper-X Program at NASA's Langley Research Center will talk on breaking the hypersonic barrier.
The Nepcon East/Electro and Assembly East events take place May 4 and 5 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
Last November, NASA's X-43 research vehicle made aviation
history with the second successful flight of a scramjet-powered airplane at
hypersonic speeds, which are speeds of nearly Mach 10 -ten times the speed of
sound. Compared to a rocket-powered vehicle like the Space Shuttle, scramjet
(supersonic combustion ramjet) powered vehicles promise more airplane-like
operations for increased affordability, flexibility and safety for ultra
high-speed flights within the atmosphere and into Earth orbit. Because they do
not have to carry their own oxidizer, as rockets must, vehicles powered by
air-breathing scramjets can be smaller and lighter - or be the same size and
carry more payload. Over the past four years, McClinton has been instrumental
in various planning capacities for hypersonic air breathing technology
development programs.
McClinton has been technology manager for the Hyper-X program since 1996. Prior
to that, he formed and led the Numerical Applications Office, of the National
Aero-Space Plane Office, to provide flow field details using the
state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods.
BRUSSELS - HP is applying for an exemption from the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive on the grounds of reliability, according to a news report last week.
The exemption HP seeks is for fine-pitch components "with electrical terminations spaced with centers 0.65mm or less apart."
Tin whiskers,
which are known to cause shorts, are behind HP's request, a company
spokesman told Electronics Weekly.
HP is pushing for a composition that includes 15% lead mixed with tin.
Tin whiskers was also behind Sony's application for an exemption. Sony seeks inclusion of five to 10% lead in the electroplated tin coating that goes on flexible circuits that are used as plug-in connectors between PCBs.
In the EMS category, the overall winners were Plexus Corp. (for companies with revenues over $500 million); Reptron Manufacturing Services and Creation Technologies (revenues between $100 and $500 million); and Key Electronics (revenues less than $100 million).
LAGUNA, Philippines - Integrated Microelectronics Inc. today acquired the EMS and ODM assets of Saturn Electronics & Engineering Inc. and its subsidiary Saturn Electronics Philippines, Inc.
The transaction includes Saturn facilities in Tustin, CA - a technology and design center (with capabilities for advanced interconnect research, new product design and development, and engineering and manufacturing process development), prototyping and manufacturing facilities. IMI also acquired Saturn's high-volume SMT assembly facilities in Cebu, Philippines.
The sale will not affect any of Saturn's automotive business or non-flexible circuit electronics business.NORTH BILLERICA, MA - BTU International, a maker of thermal processing equipment, swung back to profitability despite lower quarterly sales.
Net sales for the quarter ended Dec. 31 were $13.6 million, down from $15.4 million sequentially but up from $7.8 million a year ago. Net income was $70,000, versus a net loss of $2.4 million sequentially and a net loss of $1.6 million last year. BTU took a one-time restructuring charge of $1.6 million in the third quarter.
For the year net sales nearly doubled to $54.6 million, versus $28.5 million. The net loss for was $4.2 million, including $1.6 million in charges. BTU lost $6.8 million in 2003.
In a press statement, chairman and CEO Paul van der Wansem said, "The general trend in capital spending levels in many of the markets we serve has been cautious, with an indication of growth in Asia and Europe. The operations in China are proceeding according to plan."
This week the staff of Circuits Assembly is reporting live from the Apex trade show. Click here to read the latest news from Anaheim, CA.
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