Circuits Assembly articles from October 2004

Circuits Assembly archives from October 2004

Model behavior.(Caveat Lector)
October 1, 2004... Billions have been spent in the past decade trying to find the right mix of capacity, inventory and demand. The result? Red ink, as for the better part of the past three years, OEMs haven't made money, EMS companies haven't made money, and...

Pb-free 'like a massive ECO,' says Celestica GM.(Industry News)
October 1, 2004... Toronto -- Celestica Inc. is rolling out what it calls the EMS industry's first end-to-end environmental services offering, to aid OEMs converting to lead-free designs and processes ahead of European Union legislative mandates. The EMS...

Flextronics acquires flex maker.(Industry News)
October 1, 2004... San Jose -- The PCB division of Flextronics (flextronics.com) will acquire one of the oldest and largest makers of flex circuits in North America in a stock-for-stock deal. The acquisition is expected to increase Flextronics' annual revenues by...

ECS adding EMS services.(Industry News)
October 1, 2004... Taipei -- Notebook PC maker Elitegroup Computer Systems (ecsusa.com) will branch into EMS services following a recent internal reorganization. The company is aiming for notebook contract orders from regional vendors and system integrators,...

Reptron, Clear-Com ink multimillion dollar deal.(Industry News)
October 1, 2004... Tampa, FL -- Reptron Electronics (reptron.com) has signed a multimillion dollar contract to build electronics assemblies for Clear-Com Communication Systems. Full production is expected to ramp by the end of 2004. Under the deal, Reptron...

NEMI revises tin whisker guidance.(Industry News)
October 1, 2004... Herndon, VA -- A group of technology experts has issued new recommendations for testing assemblies for tin whiskers and evaluating devices with tin finishes. The recommendations by the National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative's Tin Whisker...

Stencil us in: Speedline inks Japanese sales deal.(Industry News)
October 1, 2004... Franklin, MA -- Speedline Technologies Inc. (speedlinetech.com) has signed an agreement covering sales and marketing of its screen printers in Japan. Tamura FA System Corp. will market Speedline's Accuflex and AP Excel stencil printers...

IMI begins LCD shipments for Seiko.(Industry News)
October 1, 2004... Laguna, Philippines -- IMI (imiphil.com) has begun shipping liquid LCD modules for cellphones for Seiko Epson Corp. Volume is expected to ramp to 750,000 modules per month by the first quarter of 2005. The EMS provider assembles thin-film...

electronica Expos to hit Munich, Hong Kong.(Industry News)
October 1, 2004... Hong Kong -- A pair of major components shows are set this fall in opposing corners of the globe. This month in Hong Kong is electronicaAsia, an exhibition for components, assemblies, production and display technology. The Oct. 13-16 show...

Lehigh student nabs Hutchins Grant.(SMTA News)
October 1, 2004... Minneapolis -- A Lehigh University student who is researching cure kinetics of developmental epoxy systems is the latest recipient of the SMTA Charles Hutchins Educational Grant (smta.org/hutchins). Brian McAdams, a graduate student in...

Flextronics' Yi to receive SMTA Founder's Award.(SMTA News)
October 1, 2004... Minneapolis -- Sammy Yi, vice president of manufacturing at Flextronics (flextronics.com) and a leading assembly technology expert, was recognized last month for his contributions to the SMTA (smta.org) and the industry. In a Sept. 29...

Specialty Coating Systems.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Specialty Coating Systems (scscookson.com) new 1,700 sq. ft. cleanroom in Indianapolis is now operational. The design features ISO Class 7 and Class 6 rooms, and an ISO Class 5 area for component fixturing and examination.

AIM Specialty Materials.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... AIM Specialty Materials (aimsolder.com) has formed a subsidiary which will produce solder spheres, preforms, epoxies, fluxes and pastes for semiconductor packaging materials. AIM Semiconductor Packaging Materials will also supply touch-up...

Speedline Technologies.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Speedline Technologies (speedlinetech.com) has signed a number of service agreements to beef up its sales and marketing in southeast Asia. Niche Tech (2004) will provide services in Thailand, Sigmatek Corp. in Taiwan, SIP Technology Sdn Bhd in...

March Plasma Systems.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... March Plasma Systems (marchplasma.com) is celebrating its 20th anniversary of building gas plasma treatment equipment. Founded in 1984, March Plasma was acquired by Nordson Corp. in 1999.

DEK.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... DEK (dek.com) has licensed its VectorGuard stencil technology to Christian Koenen GmbH. The Munich-based company will provide DEK customers with a second source for stencils in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

BTU International Inc.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... BTU International Inc. (btu.com) received a $1.7 million order for multiple Pyramax 98N and Pyramax 150 X5 reflow solder systems. The systems will be installed in Jurong Hi-Tech's manufacturing facilities in Singapore, Malaysia, China and...

YESTech.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... YESTech (yestechinc.com), a supplier of yield enhancement solutions, has purchased a 5,400 sq. ft. building in San Clemente, CA, to accommodate its growth. The new corporate headquarters will house management, engineering, sales, marketing and...

Plexus Corp.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Plexus Corp. (plexus.com) will take over complete PCB assembly for Fluke Precision Measurement products, which is consolidating its base of EMS providers. Plexus may in the future take over new product introduction, including design,...

IPC.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... IPC (ipc.org) has relocated to Bannockburn, IL. The office can now be contacted at 3000 Lakeside Dr., Suite 3095, Bannockburn, IL, 60015; (847) 615-7100.

Pro-Mation Inc.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Pro-Mation Inc. (pro-mation-inc.com) has secured an automation contract from EoPlex Technologies (EoPlex.com), a miniature component and subassemblies manufacturer. The companies have been working together for over a year to develop a modular...

Cobar Solder Products.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Cobar Solder Products (cobar.com) has signed Automation South to represent its line of solder pastes, fluxes and other electronics soldering materials in the southeastern U.S.

Azores Corp.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Azores Corp. (azorescorp.com) is partnering with Kromax International to represent Azores's line of photolithography systems and accessories in southeast Asia and Taiwan.

Transition Automation.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Transition Automation (transitionautomation.com) president Mark Curtin has established an open exchange industry forum for SMT users to share stencil printing experiences and testing capabilities. Discussions include advice pertaining to the...

Speedline Technologies.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Speedline Technologies (speedlinetech.com) reported second-quarter sales rose 61% over last year. Bookings were up 85% yoy.

Micron Technology Inc.(In Brief)
October 1, 2004... Micron Technology Inc. (micron.com) plans to produce NAND Flash memory solutions targeting memory cards, USB devices and other mass storage applications. The company anticipates bringing its first NAND Flash solution, a 2 Gb component, to...

Three-Five Systems.(People)
October 1, 2004... Three-Five Systems promoted David A. Prunier to senior director and general manager of new product introduction and the firm's medical manufacturing facility. Prunier was senior director for medical products and also held management posts at...

IMAPS.(People)
October 1, 2004... Michael O'Donoghue has been named executive director of IMAPS effective Sept. 1, replacing Richard M. Breck.

Machine Vision Products.(People)
October 1, 2004... Machine Vision Products appointed Debra Waltemyer East Coast sales engineer. She previously worked at Agere Systems Inc. for five years in optoelectronic components. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Siemens Dematic Electronic Assembly Systems.(People)
October 1, 2004... Gregg Schoenrade joined Siemens Dematic Electronic Assembly Systems as senior sales engineer for the south central U.S. including Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Feinfocus.(People)
October 1, 2004... Feinfocus appointed Dr. Frank Gitmans as managing director of the company's global headquarters in Garbsen, Germany. Most recently, Dr. Gitmans was managing director of Peter Wolters Surface Technologies GmbH, a German machine tool company...

Sanmina-SCI Corp.(People)
October 1, 2004... David L. White has been named executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer of Sanmina-SCI Corp., replacing acting chief financial officer Mark Lustig, the company controller who had been serving as interim CFO since Rick...

FlexLink Systems Inc.(People)
October 1, 2004... FlexLink Systems Inc. named Nino DiPietro to the position of vice president, finance. DiPietro joins FlexLink after eight years as corporate controller for Southco Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Kemet Corp.(People)
October 1, 2004... Kemet Corp. promoted Dr. Philip Lessner to vice president, tantalum technology and technical marketing, responsible for product direction and new product and process execution. Dr. Lessner, who has been with Kemet for eight years, was director...

ICs turn down.(Market Watch)
October 1, 2004... Trends in the U.S. electronics equipment market (shipments only). % Change May June July* YTD Computers and electronics products ...

August manufacturing growth slower.(Market Watch)
October 1, 2004... Tempe, AZ -- The rate of growth in the manufacturing sector slowed in August but new orders and production remained strong. Manufacturing grew for the 15th consecutive month, said the Institute for Supply Management (ism.ws), based on its...

Industry market snapshot.(Market Watch)
October 1, 2004... Book-to-bills of various components/equipment. April May June July Semiconductor equipment (1) 1.13 1.10 1.08 1.05 Semiconductors (2) 36.6% 36.9% 40.3% 1.0%...

Server shipments up 25% over 2003, report says.(Market Watch)
October 1, 2004... Stamford, CT -- Worldwide server revenue rose 7.7% in the second quarter, topping $11.5 billion, reported tech research firm Gartner Inc. Shipments were up 24.5% over last year, to 1.6 million units. Based on server revenues, IBM (ibm.com)...

Gartner boosts chip revenue outlook.(Market Watch)
October 1, 2004... Frankfurt -- Dismissing fears of an impending downturn, Gartner Dataquest in late August inched up its 2004 forecast for global semiconductor sales. The research firm predicts revenues will grow 27% this year, to $226 billion. Gartner...

The doctor is in! Why your area array could use a good colonoscopy.(On the Forefront)
October 1, 2004... Ed.: Filling in for the vacationing Phil Zarrow is Dr. H.J. Zapfardt, well-known (and antagonistic) assembly process guru. The good doctor has selected some letters from his mailbag. We conscientiously profile every assembly we reflow, but...

IMI: 'driving' toward tier 2.(Talking Heads)
October 1, 2004... EMS provider IMI (imiphil.com) offers a range of manufacturing services including PCB and component assembly and subassembly, and box-build, plus metal stamping and plastic injection. Its customers include some of the world's largest OEMs in...

Thanks, but I'll build it myself: eight companies list their reasons for bucking the outsourcing trend.(EMS Insight)
October 1, 2004... Two years ago I wrote a column looking at when it does not make sense to outsource manufacturing. (1) The topic warrants further discussion because although the percentage of cost of goods sold (CoGS) spent on outsourcing manufacturing has...

Airing it out: fumes from lead-free solders are more harmful than those of tin-lead. What precautions are you taking?(Fume Extraction)
October 1, 2004... Will lead-free soldering cause more harm to employees inside the factory than tin-lead does? A study by the Danish Toxicology Centre assessed the toxicity of lead and the metals used in lead-free alloys. While lead was found to be highly toxic...

The remanufacturing equation: remanufacturing is a $50-billion market, and assemblers own the skills and knowledge to compete.(Business Opportunities)
October 1, 2004... Remanufacturing is the restoration of used products to like-new condition, providing them with performance characteristics and durability as least as good as the original product. (1) This important segment of the economy is frequently...

A study of lead-free hot air leveling: controlling copper buildup in automatic soldering equipment using lead-free solder.(Pb-Free Solder Pots)
October 1, 2004... Questions have arisen about copper dissolution into lead-free alloys, particularly in alloys that may require added solder pot maintenance. This study investigates whether satisfactory control of the lead-free hot air leveling process is...

For NPI, Texas Prototypes doesn't mess around: product launch to lifecycle management, under one roof.(Texas Prototypes)
October 1, 2004... Young Michael Shores wanted to be a doctor. One poor chemistry test in college, however, changed the arc of his history. Medicine's loss became electronics' gain, as he navigated a new course in what he calls a Global Product Launch Model at...

Controlling Pb-free processes through AOI: allocating test resources during qualification will reveal which method is optimum for new soldering processes.
October 1, 2004... AOI is an established in-line or offline tool for the verification of screen print, component assembly and solder joint integrity. Depending on product requirements, AOI can be deployed in various positions in the SMT line. AOI typically uses...

Preventing voids in CSP and BGA underfill encapsulants: the right underfill can be as effective as the best solder paste.(Underfill Selection)
October 1, 2004... CSPs and BGAs are capable of surviving thermal cycling requirements without being encapsulated, but are not designed to withstand repeated mechanical shock. Yet handheld devices must survive drop testing. In mobile phones, in which the PCB is...

Pin inserter.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... P350 automatic x-y insertion machine comes with three product-specific insertion heads, each with a rotary insertion finger. Monitors insertion force in real-time and is reportedly capable of inserting 350 pins per min. with a insertion area of...

Defluxer/cleaner.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Vitrex flux remover reportedly needs no additives, and operates at temperatures between 100[degrees]-150[degrees]F (37[degrees]-65[degrees]C). Compatible with a range of operation parameters. May be used on multiple-pass cleaning applications....

Surface prep brushes.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... FybRglass surface preparation brushes are for soldering, painting and epoxying. Can be used for flux removal, edge connector cleaning, trace cleaning for soldering and tarnish removal. The Eraser Co., eraser.com

Pb-free x-ray.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... VJE X2500 fully automated x-ray inspection system provides high-contrast resolution at high viewing angles. Features integrated motion control, image measurement analysis, a simple 1-2-GO interface and on-screen board representation. V.J....

Pick-and-place software.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Easyplacer version 7.0 expands the component range and increases production speed (up to 5,000 cph) of the CLM9000-PLUS pick-and-place machine. Serial optical inspection enables direct quality control of PCBs. BMS option automatically...

Direct metering pump.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Titan DMS uses progressive cavity metering pump technology to directly meter highly filled, abrasive and shear-sensitive materials from 1 gal. containers to robotic mounted dispense valves. Includes a 1 gal. follower plate, dual air cylinder...

Pb-free no-clean solder.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... NC368 lead-free, no-clean solder paste is said to achieve bright, smooth and shiny solder joints, and reduce solder defects such as voiding under [mu]BGAs and solder beading by discretes. Reportedly prints at high speeds without slumping,...

Fine-pitch Pb-free solder.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... F620 series of lead-free, no-clean solder pastes are said to print through narrow stencil openings. Offers superior wetting and printing, fewer slump-related defects and exceptional lot-to-lot performance. Can be soldered in air and nitrogen on...

Thermal interface film.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... PowerstrateXtreme is a reworkable phase-change thermal interface material for use between a heatsink and heat-dissipating components. Comes as a freestanding film between two release liners, flows at phase-change temperature and adheres to...

Label printer.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... A1000 applicator, in combination with thermal transfer printers, is for semiautomatic labeling. Integrates into automated production lines. Cab Technology Inc., cabtechn.com Booth 703

Stable Pb-free paste.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... M705-GRN360-K lead-free solder paste reportedly exhibits stabile viscosity in storage and use, has good color tone of flux residue and prevents flux residue cracking and solder-balling. Senju, senju-m.co.jp Booth 404

Air-reflow Pb-free solder.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... NC-SMQ230 air reflow, lead-free no-clean solder paste processes in higher temperatures. Is said to provide stable tack life and open time, consistent fine-pitch deposition. Indium Corp., indium.com Booth 608

Pb-free fluxing.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Nozzle-free Ultra-Spray technology with reciprocating motion is for uniform, repeatable application of no-clean, low-solids flux. Provides through-hole penetration for wave soldering. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ultrasonic Systems Inc.,...

Multi-machine inspection.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... SVS application v. 4.7 software manages inspection programs between systems, supporting multiple machines on single or multi-sites. Features improved solder performance on warped flex boards, support for an expanded range of fiducial shapes,...

Adhesive dispenser.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... MIXPAC S-50 two-component adhesive dispensing system works with manually operated dispensers and battery-powered handheld dispensers. Can accommodate volumetric ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, 10:1 and 3:2. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ConProTec...

Automatic cutter.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... MMC100 can process round or flat material up to 3.94" wide X .63" thick (100 X 16 mm). Maximum force of 600 Ibs. for cutting copper wire and cable, silver solder, power cords, latex, belting, etc. Programmable for up to 10 batches and three...

Multiple parts feeder.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Multi-Pick Feeder picks-and-places multiple discrete interconnect pins in a single cycle. Automatically translates 24-mm tape carrying pins from horizontal to vertical and uses a single motion to push multiple pins into a retainer, awaiting...

Tabletop AOI.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... The compact YTV-1000 provides automated off-line inspection of solder and lead defects, component presence and position, correct part, polarity and through-hole parts. Effective for pre/post-reflow or final assembly inspection. Said to have low...

Automated gold wire bonder.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Model 8000 gold ball-and-stitch thermosonic wire bonder is ideal for complex multichip applications, high I/O count devices and gold ball bumping for flip chip. Incorporates a 300 X 150 mm x-y range linear motor-actuated positioner. The 72...

Pick-and-place machine.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... FX-1 places 25,000 components per hour and uses linear motors for quieter operation. Its single-piece frame reduces manufacturing time while reportedly increasing machine ridgidity, accuracy and durability. Dual head on a single X beam design....

Wafer sort and final memory tester.(Product Spotlight)
October 1, 2004... Versatest Model V5400?s algorithmic pattern generator (APG) and tester-per-site (TPS) architecture provide configuration flexibility and up to four times higher throughput for wafer sort and final memory testing. Tests standard and stacked...

Relearning defects: lead-free means changes in processing--and the way we assess failure mechanisms.(Standard Features)
October 1, 2004... Even though my last standards update in July discussed standards for lead-free assemblies, we receive queries daily for information. So here's the good news: Balloting is underway to ratify IPC-A-610D and J-STD-001D. We've reached this...

Leveraging your assets: considerations for shifting to high-mix without retooling an entire line.(Problem Solved)
October 1, 2004... To paraphrase and old saying, "Nothing's certain in a production environment except that technology requirements will change, and productivity must improve 10 to 20% annually, regardless of economic conditions." Since the 2001-02 meltdown,...