Circuits Assembly articles from April 2009

Circuits Assembly archives from April 2009

History repeats (we hope).(Caveat Lector)
April 1, 2009... Many industry business leaders are a bit shaken over the idea of a Democrat in the White House, and the notion that President Obama may lead broad and deep cuts to the country's Defense Department budget is unsavory to the new president's...

Sanmina-SCI.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Sanmina-SCI (sanmina-sci.com) will lay off 550 workers at its Tatabanya, Hungary, plant.

CyberOptics.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... CyberOptics (cyberoptics.com) appointed Hitech Electronics (hitech.com.br) as its exclusive representative in Brazil.

DCI Inc.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... EMS firm DCI Inc. installed a DEK (dek.com) Horizon 03i platform.

Ixia.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... IP test systems OEM Ixia (ixiacom.com) selected Plexus (plexus.com) as a strategic supplier.

EKRA.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... EKRA (ekra-america.com) in January shipped its 700th screen printer into the Americas. EKRA America's 2008 sales matched 2007 as its best year to date.

Express manufacturing.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... EMS company Express Manufacturing (eminc.com) installed Aegis Software's (ais- corp.com) MOS software.

Jabil.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Jabil installed Seratel's (seratel.ie) Reel aMounts component counting system in Hungary, China and Malaysia.

N.E.S Tech.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... EMS company N.E.S Tech installed a Juki (jas-smt.com) KE-2060 light placement machine.

Electronic Systems Inc.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... EMS provider Electronic Systems Inc. (electronicsi.com) has received ITAR registration from the US Department of State.

Catalyst Manufacturing.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Catalyst Manufacturing (catalystems.com) received the Raleigh, NC, Performance and Community Award.

Indium.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Indium (indium.com) named Foundation Technologies its representative for Ohio.

YesTech.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... YesTech (yestech.com) moved into Asymtek's (asymtek.com) 123,000 sq. ft. facility in Carlsbad, CA. Both companies are subsidiaries of Nordson Corp.

InaVein.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... InaVein named Sunburst EMS (sunburstems.com) to manufacture its TRIVEX vascular surgical tool.

Circuits assembly names service Excellence winners.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... LAS VEGAS--Mack Technologies, EIT Inc. and Krypton Solutions won the top prizes in the 2009 Service Excellence Awards. CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY sponsors the annual awards, which are presented to EMS providers and assembly equipment, materials and...

Virtual PCB draws more than 2,150 registrants.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... SMYRNA, GA--More than 2,150 PCB designers, fabricators and assemblers registered for Virtual PCB (virtual-pcb.com), the industry's only virtual trade show and conference, which took place Feb. 24-25. The show will remain accessible in an...

Technical devices.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Technical Devices (technicaldev.com) has acquired all marketing, sales/distribution, and service rights for Austin American Technology's (aat-corp.com) AquaTherm batch and X-Series vertical stencil cleaners.

Sunburst electronics.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... EMS firm Sunburst Electronics (sun-burstelectronics.com) achieved ISO 13485 certification.

Foxconn.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Foxconn (fih-foxconn.com) has received government approval to build a $200-million cellphone plant in Vinh Phuc province, Vietnam. Production may be put on hold for economic reasons, however.

Nortec group.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Nortec Group (nortecid.com) tests showed excellent label compatibility when exposed directly to Zestron (zestron.com) cleaning agents.

ACI.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... ACI (aci-usa.org) installed an RPS Automation (rpsautomation.com) selective soldering machine.

Stoneridge electronics.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Stoneridge Electronics selected MTEK Consulting's (mtek.se) FeederSTAR feeder handling tool.

Bureau veritas consumer products services.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services (bureauveritas.com) has relocated to a 60,000 sq. ft. test center in Littleton, MA.

Advanced manufacturing technologies.(In Brief)
April 1, 2009... EMS firm Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (amtinc.biz) renovated its 30,000 sq. ft. production facility and headquarters.

Andre Papoular.(People)
April 1, 2009... Assembleon named Andre Papoular chief executive. He has experience at Philips, Semiconductors, Components, Consumer Electronics and Consumer Lifestyle units, and engineering degrees in electro-mechanics, power electronics and automation. ...

Flextronics to sack 1,400 in Malaysia.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... KUALA LUMPUR--Flextronics (flextronics.com) will close its factory in Shah Alam, putting nearly 1,400 employees out of work, Reuters reported in March. Reuters cited a spokeswoman for Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources, who reportedly...

Economy gone south the talk at electronics West.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... ANAHEIM, CA--The electronics segment of the Electronics West show held at the Anaheim Convention Center in February was small, covering perhaps three or four rows, only half applicable to electronics manufacturing. But overall, the show seemed...

France to enact stiff REACH penalties.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... PARIS--A top France administrator has agreed to set enforcement laws, which include tough sanctions for companies found to commit serious offenses under REACH regulations. France Secretary of State for Ecology Chantal Jouanno said offenses...

John Shen.(People)
April 1, 2009... John Shen (pictured) has been named general manager of Zestron China Corp. The company also named Sheldon Brennan South East sales manager. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Ed Smith.(People)
April 1, 2009... Avnet named Ed Smith president of Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas.

Pat Scott.(People)
April 1, 2009... STI Electronics promoted Pat Scott to director of training services. She has 20 years' experience in electronics manufacturing, technical instruction and instructional systems design and development. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Lior De Picciotto.(People)
April 1, 2009... Valor Computerized Systems named Lior De Picciotto executive VP, business and strategy.

Johnson Ma.(People)
April 1, 2009... Rehm Thermal Systems named Johnson Ma general sales manager (China-Taiwan). He has held management and business development roles with Desen Automation, Siemens and Sun East Technology. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Paul Socha.(People)
April 1, 2009... Indium promoted Paul Socha to manager of applications engineering, responsible for the day-to-day management of the Americas-based technical support team's operational activities. He has 20 years' experience in the solder-related industry and...

Imre Benedekffy.(People)
April 1, 2009... AdoptSMT named Imre Benedekffy to handle sales of spare parts for board assembly equipment in Hungary.

David Anderson.(People)
April 1, 2009... R&D Circuits named David Anderson to its engineering management team.

Terry Orosco.(People)
April 1, 2009... TXP Corp. named Terry Orosco executive VP of global sales and business development.

Mirtec buys facility for sales, service division.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... OXFORD, CT--Mirtec Corp. (mirtecusa.com) has purchased a 5,000 sq. ft. facility to accommodate its North American sales and service division. The Oxford, CT, facility will be equipped with demonstration and training facilities for the company's...

Sparton to shutter Michigan site.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... JACKSON, MI--Sparton Corp. (sparton.com) will close its Jackson, MI, manufacturing operations by June 30, hoping a reduction in excess capacity will help restore the EMS company to profitability. The move will put 206 employees out of work. ...

Plexus establishes Romanian plant.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... NEENAH, WI--Plexus Corp. (plexus.com) has signed a deal to lease a 72,000 sq. ft. facility in Oradea, on the Hungary/Romania border, its first in the Eastern European nation. Production is expected to begin in the second half of fiscal 2009 and...

Paper: Flextronics to close suburban Chicago Ops.(Industry NEWS)
April 1, 2009... ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL--A Chicago paper is reporting that Flextronics (flextronics.com) has filed documents in Illinois indicating plans to close operations in Elk Grove Village this Spring, a move that would cost 113 workers their jobs. The...

Nothing in Storage.(Market WATCH)
April 1, 2009... Trends in the U.S. electronics equipment market (shipments only). -- % Change-- Nov Dec (r) Jan * YTD Computers and electronics...

Manufacturing contracted in February (again).(Market WATCH)
April 1, 2009... TEMPE, AZ--The US manufacturing sector contracted in February for the 13th consecutive month, according to the latest survey of the nation's executives. The PMI index was 35.8%, down 20 basis points from January. A reading below 50% indicates...

Industry market snapshot.(Market WATCH)
April 1, 2009... Book-to-bills and growth rates of various components/equipment. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Semiconductor equipment 0.70 0.96 0.97 0.86 (r) 0.48 (p) (1) Semiconductor ...

Smartphone shipments to rise 11% this year.(Market WATCH)
April 1, 2009... EL SEGUNDO, CA--Although the outlook for the overall mobile handset market continues to dim, smartphones remain a bright spot with global unit growth as high as 11.1% in 2009, iSuppli Corp. (isuppli.com) predicts. iSuppli forecasts global...

CEA: consumers remain 'anxious'.(Market WATCH)
April 1, 2009... ARLINGTON, VA--Consumer confidence in the overall economy was virtually unchanged in February, according to figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association and CNET (ce.org, cnet.com). Despite positive growth in certain categories,...

Brakes are on China's automotive electronics market.(Market WATCH)
April 1, 2009... EL SEGUNDO, CA--China's automotive electronics revenue in 2008 grew 11.7% to $13.6 billion, down 23 points from 2007, according to iSuppli Corp (isuppli.com). The global automotive electronics industry will not rebound until after 2010,...

Metals index.(Market WATCH)
April 1, 2009... Price Per Lb. Date 3/10/08 12/15/08 1/12/09 2/2/09 3/2/09 LME Cash Seller and $8.73 $5.33 $5.26 $4.81 $5.01 Settlement for Tin LME Cash Seller and...

The green dog: in outsourcing, Envy--or imitation--is neither fun nor useful.(Global Sourcing)
April 1, 2009... The fourth of the Seven Deadly Sins is one of our favorites. In fact, it was the inspiration for this series of columns. Envy is unique in that it is the only sin that lacks a pleasurable angle. It is in no way fun-just mean-spirited and...

Whoops! Forgot the paste: there is one process control item that is remarkably simple, yet often forgotten.(Screen Printing)
April 1, 2009... For those of you who regularly follow this column, no doubt you have read many of my rants about good process control. When it comes to printing, the Ashmore motto is: good inputs = good outputs. Just how those good inputs are achieved has been...

Vapor phase (re)visited: out of favor for decades, the reflow process is undergoing a renaissance.(Better Manufacturing)
April 1, 2009... Vapor phase was the original and principal mass reflow method for a few years in the early 1980s. Somewhat displaced by IR and, eventually, convection dominant reflow, it has remained in limited use, primarily for prototypes, lower-volume...

New opportunities in electronics manufacturing: MEMS, HDI, embedded passives and LEDs present a sea change in the way boards are designed and built, and could shift the market back to the West.(America's Next Model?)
April 1, 2009... One result of outsourcing is a loss of ability to understand new technologies on a basic level because they are not on the factory floor. From understanding comes opportunity. In response to IP and product piracy and the hypercompetitive...

Near-term opportunities for large area flexible electronics: photovoltaics, displays and sensors could lead an industry revolution.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2009... In 2007, the iNEMI Roadmap included (for the first time) a chapter on Organic and Printed Electronics. For the 2009 edition, the scope of this chapter has been expanded to include the variety of technology platforms being investigated in this...

The in-house micro facility: self-contained manufacturing cells eliminate risk and increase predictability for customers and EMS firms.(Workcell Design)
April 1, 2009... The traditional perception of a Tier 3 EMS is that of a company that uses automated SMT and inspection equipment to build electronics assemblies in a high-mix/low-to-medium volume environment. Some Tier 3 EMS companies' service offerings extend...

A sort of homecoming: whether geographic, technical or product-related, the STI team knows no bounds.(STI Electronics)
April 1, 2009... Huntsville, Alabama, 1961. The cradle of the contract electronics manufacturing industry. It's where Space Craft Inc. was launched in a local entrepreneur's basement, building assemblies on a contract basis for NASA. Years later, when Olin...

Revisiting rework: excess copper dissolution remains a big problem for assemblers.(Pb-Free Lessons Learned)
April 1, 2009... No one, save for a few equipment suppliers, likes rework, but it's an ugly fact of life. At best, it is performed properly and costs only time and money. At worst, it results in a product that leaves the factory with a latent defect destined to...

Processes for SnCuNi solder paste.(Reflow Soldering)
April 1, 2009... The SnCuNi alloy (SCN) has been used in wave soldering applications because of its applicability in achieving acceptable soldering results and its lower rates of reaction with copper (used in PCBs and components) and iron (used as a based...

Adding rework to the test and inspection suite: the two processes don't talk to each other. They should.(Test and Inspection)
April 1, 2009... Not long ago, I was on a tour at a small contract manufacturer's site that prides itself on quality. This EMS builds medical and aerospace products, among other things. In speaking about its quality plans and how it defines quality, there was a...

Limitations of refractive index: contamination can artificially decrease readings.(Process Doctor)
April 1, 2009... Albert Einstein wrote, "To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science." Let's consider the great physicist's observation in the context...

Leveraging synergies for profitability: in pursuit of lowest cost/watt, module manufacture will be outsourced to EMS partners.(Solar Technologies)
April 1, 2009... An economic crisis is not the best backdrop for any event, but as was clear at the World Future Energy Summit held in January in Abu Dhabi, the downturn has done little to dent the alternative energy industry's optimism--or its potential. In...

Secondary helpings: lead contamination can affect reflow profiles.(The Defects Database)
April 1, 2009... Secondary reflow of Pb-free solder joints is not an uncommon defect found in manufacture. X-ray inspection of a lifted J-lead (Figure 1) was part of an investigation to pinpoint the possible cause of open joints. In this case, a known amount...

Insufficient solder topside fillet: the dwell time, flux and temperatures are main culprits.(Wave Soldering Trouble-shooting)
April 1, 2009... Insufficient solder topside fillet occurs where the joint has not formed a good topside fillet. Per IPC acceptability standards, a total maximum of 25% depression, including both the primary solder destination and the secondary solder source...

CT, tomosynthesis Dual mode X-Ray.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... VT-X series x-ray inspection system is said to shorten tact time for inline PCB inspection. Dual-mode system combines CT scanning with tomosynthesis scanning. Shortens inspection time for four BGAs to 60 sec., depending on specific board...

25-ml max. Dispenser.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... DXH-3 handheld dispenser weighs 5.3 lbs., and features a 25 ml maximum output per stroke. For dispensing in tight spaces or smaller-sized applications. Is said to dispense a variety of ratios for two-component reactive resins. The refill...

Automatic stencil cleaner.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... StencilWasher MP automatic misprint and stencil cleaner removes non-reflowed solder paste and adhesives from assemblies, stencils and screens, including reflowed assemblies. Is said to be capable of removing all solder pastes, including rosin,...

Manual vacuum-tweezer tool.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... Pen-Vac Pro-Series vacuum tweezer is for manually handling SMD packages, optics or other small parts. Has no vacuum hoses or batteries. Comes with four cups and probes. Pickup tip sizes are 1/8", 1/4" and 3/8" vacuum cups on bent probes, and...

PADS documentation automation.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... BluePrint-4-PADS for Mentor PADS simplifies and automates documentation for PCB fabrication, assembly and inspection. Is node-locked and includes drag-and-drop and automatic formatting of PCB views; uses PADS ASCII file for intelligent PCB view...

FusionQuad dummy parts.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... FusionQuad packages are lead-frame-based plastic, offering integration of ExposedPad TQFP and MLF technologies. Are said to extend I/O range of classic lead-frame packaging to nearly 400 unique pins; deliver approximately 50% reduction in...

Automated, noncontact hole inspection.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... Laser Radar Driver 5.1 software inspects hole feature position and diameter in large-scale applications up to a reported 30 times more accurately and repeatably than previous versions. Supports automatic freeform surface measurement and feature...

Oven profiling software.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... Easy Oven Setup software for reflow ovens automatically calculates the best reflow oven settings based on product and process limits. Uses new search engine to process thousands of oven settings before recommending options. Can run the product...

ESD Drawer storage cabinets.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... These cabinets are certified to meet specific electrical property requirements, reportedly ensuring static dissipation at a safe rate. Can be protected by static dissipative powder coat finishes in three standard colors. Drawer interiors can...

Pb-free rosin flux.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... NS-F850 rosin-based flux for Pb-free wave soldering ensures wetting and hole fill, and facilitates solder drainage to minimize bridges and icicles. Is said to prevent solder balls from adhering to solder mask. Matte finish facilitates...

Low surface area ratio stencil.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... UltraSlic FG solder paste stencil has paste release below surface area ratios of 0.5. Uses Datum Alloys' fine grain stencil material. Is said to provide superior aperture registration, higher performance and lower cost compared to electroform....

Self-filleting die attach.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... Ablestik AAA3300 nonconductive paste is for die-to-substrate laminate-based devices; Ablestik AAA3320 nonconductive material is for die-to-die attachment, and Ablestik 3900 conductive adhesive is for die-to-substrate leadframe packages. Use...

14-zone reflow, curing ovens.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... RO-Vario reflow and curing oven is expandable up to 14 zones. Modular design permits full convection reflow, IR curing with special slow forward feed, or UV hardness system. Optional transport systems. A mesh belt has an operation width of 600...

Top-loading PCB destacker.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... ASD-700 is top-loading, has a small footprint, and is capable of holding up to 80 PCBs ranging in size from 2 x 3 to 18 x 20". A center support mechanism prevents larger PCBs from flexing when lowered to edge belts. Load and pass mode functions...

High-speed inline work cell.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... ACE automated, high-speed inline work cell runs higher volumes of products requiring secondary selective soldering. Designed for flexibility for high-mix environments, the configurable line reportedly offers a higher degree of productivity...

Quick-mount LCD assembly.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... Quick-mount LCD connector assemblies are installation-ready and include an acrylic display bezel and mask, as well as an environmentally protective and shock-absorbent retainer that holds two conductive Zebra connectors. Mount LCDs to PC boards...

Precision stencil for WLP, BGAs.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... VectorGuard Platinum stencil platform is for wafer-level packaging, direct chip attach, flip chip and BGAs. Is said to be capable of aperture accuracies of less than 3 [micro]m, and positional tolerances of better than 20[micro] at pitches down...

Automated inline SPI.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... aSPIre-2 is fully automated, runs inline and is reportedly up to 50% faster than previous systems. Includes SPC, analytical tools and hardware. Has 4-axis projection; 3-D volume measurement; short programming time; greater configurability and...

8'-long wave solder machine.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... ECO-300 is a small-footprint Pb-free wave solder machine with a 220-Ib. titanium solder pot. Reportedly consumes 40% less energy than single-wave systems. Is just over 8' long. Features include a transducer-controlled pump motor, an...

Solar cell drying/storage case.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... McDry provides low-humidity storage without use of nitrogen for solar cells. Remove humidity by use of a zeolite desiccant, which is automatically recycled and does not require replacement. Come in 1% and 3% RH models. Offer natural air flow...

Digital X-ray inspection.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... [XD7600NT.sub.100] has 0.1 [micro]feature recognition for finite analysis of inspection applications. Is equipped with a 2 MP camera; offers oblique angle viewing of up to 70 [degrees] in any position around any point of a 16 x 18" inspection...

Benchtop mass soldering.(Product SPOTLIGHT)
April 1, 2009... Auto-Dip is fixtureless and simulates wave action without dislodging components when boards are dipped into the solder bath. Reportedly applies solder evenly while surface tension "floats" PCBs at correct through-hole wetting height. Processes...