Printed Circuit Design & Manufacture articles from January 2007

Printed Circuit Design & Manufacture archives from January 2007

Protecting innovation.(OUR LINE)
January 1, 2007... For many us, 2006 was spent planning and implementing programs designed to comply with the RoHS and WEEE initiatives. And for some, the past few months may have been spent evaluating what impact the latest EU regulation, REACH, may have on our...

Soaring semis.(MARKET WATCH)
January 1, 2007... SOARING SEMIS Trends in the U.S. electronics equipment market (shipments only). % CHANGE AUG. SEPT. (r) OCT. * YTD Computers/electronics...

Manufacturing slumps, but electronics holding.(MARKET WATCH)
January 1, 2007... TEMPE, AZ -- The manufacturing sector failed to grow in November for the first time in 42 months despite gains in the broader economy. Computer and electronic products was one of eight industries reporting growth in November. The monthly...

SIA: 9% annual chip growth through 2009.(MARKET WATCH)
January 1, 2007... SAN JOSE -- Demand for semiconductor devices will continue unabated through 2009, the Semiconductor Industry Association (sia-online.org) said last month. Strong demand for consumer electronics will push sales to $321 billion in 2009, a...

Report: PC growth falling.(MARKET WATCH)
January 1, 2007... LOS ALTOS, CA -- Year-over-year global PC unit growth was 7.3% in the third quarter, down considerably sequentially, according to Henderson Ventures (hendersonventures.com). U.S. deliveries contracted 1.1% during the quarter. Global PC...

Industry market snapshot.(MARKET WATCH)
January 1, 2007... INDUSTRY MARKET SNAPSHOT Book-to-bills of various components/equipment. JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. Semiconductor equipment (1) 1.14 1.06 1.00 1.00 0.95 Semiconductors (2) ...

Apple claims 7 Taiwanese PCB suppliers for iPod.(LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN)
January 1, 2007... CUPERTINO, CA -- Apple Computer Inc. now has a total of seven PCB suppliers in Taiwan for its iPod series, with Gold Circuit Electronics (GCE) being the latest addition to the supplier list, according to industry sources. GCE recently...

Compeq handset PCB shipments to set record in Q4.(GREAT EXPECTATIONS)
January 1, 2007... TAOYUAN, TAIWAN -- Compeq Manufacturing expects to see its handset PCB shipments set a record of 55-57 million units in the fourth quarter due to strong continued sales of old handset models and the launch of new ones, according to Commercial...

Study reveals state of RoHS-compliance in China.(CHARTING PROGRESS)
January 1, 2007... HONG KONG -- Thirty-four percent of flexible PCB manufacturers in Greater China have not yet started to produce RoHS-compliant products, according to Global Sources' "China Sourcing Report: Flexible PCBs." "Most Greater China manufacturers...

PCB Design Conference East will return to Durham, NC, in 2007.(Repeat Performance)
January 1, 2007... ATLANTA -- Responding to a sold-out PCB East 2006 exhibit floor plus input from 2006 exhibitors and attendees, UP Media Group Inc. has announced that PCB Design Conference East 2007 will return to the Durham Marriott at the Civic Center in...

Mentor enables institute to offer educational opportunities for EEs.(HEAD OF THE CLASS)
January 1, 2007... WILSONVILLE, OR -- Mentor Graphics Corp. is enabling Silicon Valley Technical Institute (SVTI) to develop and offer a broad range of continuing education courses based on Mentor's tools in the areas of design for manufacturability (DFM),...

October 2006 book-to-bill ratios released.(HEAD OF THE CLASS)
January 1, 2007... BANNOCKBURN, IL -- IPC, Association Connecting Electronics Industries, announced the findings from its monthly PCB Statistical Program for October 2006. The North American rigid PCB industry book-to-bill ratio decreased to 0.99. The North...

EIPC/CPCA call for papers announced.
January 1, 2007... The EIPC/CPCA International Symposium, which is being held in Shanghai on March 19-20, 2007, has issued a call for papers. This will be an opportunity to brief Chinese PCB experts on how to learn about technology of PCBs needed in the European...

German Electronic sales expected to grow.
January 1, 2007... Germany's Electronic Manufacturers Association (ZVEI) said Monday that it expects sales to grow 5% in 2007 to 184 billion euros (US$245 billion). Sales for the current year were expected to reach 175 billion euros, an increase of more than 6%...

Handset PCB makers predict conservative Q1.
January 1, 2007... Three leading Taiwan handset PCB makers claim that demand trends remain unclear for the first quarter of 2007. Compeq Manufacturing is confident that its first quarter shipments trend will outstrip the average seasonal pattern. Currently, the...

TTM Tech lays off 300 in Oregon.
January 1, 2007... TTM Technologies laid off 300 employees at its plant in Dallas, OR. The firm said it is transferring PCB production at the site to other sites in Utah and Redmond, WA. TTM acquired the Dallas manufacturing site as part of its acquisition of...

DEK International.(FACES)
January 1, 2007... DEK International promoted Darren Brown to the position of Alternative Energy Development manager. Brown will support DEK's global sales teams and distributors as they develop the company's worldwide fuel and solar cell business.

Electronic Design Automation Consortium.(FACES)
January 1, 2007... The board of directors for the Electronic Design Automation Consortium (EDAC) appointed Robert Gardner as the new executive director. Gardner will manage all of the industry group's operations and serve as one of its spokespersons. He has been...

Mentor Graphics Corp. named Ethan Manuel as treasurer and officer.(FACES)
January 1, 2007... Mentor Graphics Corp. named Ethan Manuel as treasurer and officer. He served as Mentor's director of financial planning and analysis for the last four years. Manuel has worked at Mentor since 1999, when he joined the company as senior financial...

LPKF Laser & Electronics.(FACES)
January 1, 2007... LPKF Laser & Electronics promoted Jim Greene to the position of vice president, sales and marketing. Greene will be responsible for the control and management of sales and marketing throughout North America. He began his career with LPKF North...

Viasystems Inc.(FACES)
January 1, 2007... Viasystems Inc. announced the hiring of Greg Lucas as Technical Account Manager. Greg has more than 40 years of printed circuit board engineering and technical experience. Greg will support Viasystems' technology position in China.

NamTai Electronics Inc.(FACES)
January 1, 2007... NamTai Electronics Inc. announced that Warren Lee has been appointed CEO. He became a director of Yu Ming Investment Management Ltd. in 1996, before joining Yu Ming in 1997.

Global Innovation Corp.(FACES)
January 1, 2007... Global Innovation Corp.'s board of directors appointed J. Brent Nolan as president. Nolan has been the company's vice president and COO since November 2003. He joined the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Lone Star Circuits, in 1993 and was...

Sarantel signed a memorandum of understanding on outsource manufacturing and distribution with Sanmina-SCI.(IT'S A DEAL)
January 1, 2007... Sarantel signed a memorandum of understanding on outsource manufacturing and distribution with Sanmina-SCI. According to the MoU, Sanmina will provide Sarantel with procurement, manufacturing and logistics services from its Singapore facility....

Firan Technology Group Corp. (FTG) renewed a license agreement with Hadco Santa Clara Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanmina-SCI Corp., for use of Buried Capacitance material in advanced printed circuit board designs.(IT'S A DEAL)
January 1, 2007... Firan Technology Group Corp. (FTG) renewed a license agreement with Hadco Santa Clara Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanmina-SCI Corp., for use of Buried Capacitance material in advanced printed circuit board designs. FTG's facilities in...

Stablcor Inc., part of Thermalworks Inc., has entered into a license agreement with Eltek Ltd.(IT'S A DEAL)
January 1, 2007... Stablcor Inc., part of Thermalworks Inc., has entered into a license agreement with Eltek Ltd., to incorporate its patented technology into PCBs and substrates manufactured at its facilities in Israel and Germany.

Japanese market intelligence firm Data Garage Inc. and U.S.-based iSuppli Corp. have decided to merge in order to create a worldwide specialist in analysis of the electronics industry.(IT'S A DEAL)
January 1, 2007... Japanese market intelligence firm Data Garage Inc. and U.S.-based iSuppli Corp. have decided to merge in order to create a worldwide specialist in analysis of the electronics industry. iSuppli provides market intelligence services for the EMS,...

Event.(HAPPENINGS)(Calendar)
January 1, 2007... JANUARY 6-10 6th International Conference of Embedded System Design Bangalore, India Contact: sum_mahesh@yahoo.co.in 17-19 Internepcon Japan Tokyo Big Sight, Japan ...

Realistic resolutions: being grounded and specific with your goals for the New Year will result in success.(ROI)
January 1, 2007... HAPPY NEW YEAR... again! Here we are at the beginning of a new year with all the promise of it being the best yet. With the added motivation of a few extra pounds gained while enjoying the holidays it's now time to sit down and write out the...

Microminiaturization, Motorola style: enabling wickedly compelling mobile devices with greater functionality and elegant form factors.(THE OEM VIEW)
January 1, 2007... THE FIRST WAS as thick as a brick... The next is as thin as a razor," was the advertising slogan used for the market introduction of the RAZR phone. Less than 20 years ago the mobile phone was a large, expensive, single-purpose device with few...

EMC effects from the hidden schematic: smart designs consider the return current path to ensure EMI/EMC performance.(EMC FOR THE REAL WORLD)
January 1, 2007... ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS ARE quite familiar with schematic drawings. While schematics are accurate for the intended signal flow, there is a very important piece of the signal path missing. Signal voltages are usually referenced to "ground", and the...

Endicott Interconnect: filling the gap: an investigation of blind and thru via fill techniques for semiconductor package and printed circuit board applications.(FROM THE FIELD)
January 1, 2007... MY CONVERSATIONS WITH Endicott Interconnect (EI) began in search of details about one of the technologies used in semiconductor packaging products (first level package) and printed circuit board (second level package) applications, via fill. EI...

2007: the year of HDI? A reader survey reveals 2007 will be the year microvias and embedded passives make their mark.(PCB TRENDS)
January 1, 2007... What bare board technologies are expected to gain ground during the next 12-18 months? In a first-of-its-kind survey of some 5,100 designers and assemblers undertaken by UP Media Group in late October, we learned that 2007 will be the year when...

Achieving high density designs without compromising manufacturability: successful DFM is a team concept that requires good communication throughout the design process.(DFM GUIDELINES)
January 1, 2007... Today many designers are faced with trying to put more and more components in the same space of previously less dense assemblies. Knowing what the limits are means knowing what questions need to be asked to ensure the finished design will be...

2007 buyers guide: special supplies section.(Buyers guide)
January 1, 2007... The annual PCD&M Buyers Guide is the industry's only comprehensive source of supplier product and process information. For 2007 the PCD&M Buyers Guide has been redesigned. You can now use the interactive online guide at pcdandm.com/bg. Both the...

2007 Buyers guide: products and services.
January 1, 2007... ARTWORK GENERATION/PHOTOTOOLING SERVICES Adiva Corp. Advance Reproductions Corp. Agfa-GevaerT N.V., Specialty Industries American Circuit Technology Avatar Engineering B & C International Ltd. C.A. Picard,...

Common job search errors: avoiding these mistakes will help you stand out in a crowd.(CAREER CARE)
January 1, 2007... EVEN THOUGH THE job market has turned around and is rich for candidates, I still meet people who are having problems with their job search. Generally their problems are self-induced. Here is a list for you to consider if your employment search...

Spray nozzle.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The Mini-Eductor tank nozzle's design minimizes clogging while ensuring consistent circulation at a higher flow rate. Its compact size of 1-5/8" in length and outside diameter of 11/16" makes it ideal for small tanks and are suitable for any...

X-ray flourescence analysis.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The Fischerscope XDV-SD is an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer developed for challenges related to RoHS/WEEE analyses and as the assay determination of gold and other precious metals. Extremely short measurement times are possible due to high...

Air-controlled dispenser.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... Designed for all budgets, the SLI01 air-controlled dispenser is CE certified and RollS compliant. Offers 3 modes of operation as well as 10 memory positions to give user optimum control and flexibility. Is available in both 110 and 220 volt...

Drilling/routing system.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... MX-2 two station drilling and routing system is equipped with 125,000-r.p.m drilling and routing spindles, as well as the unique large capacity tool chain that holds 3,300 toots. Able to provide several different depth-control routing options....

XRF analyzer.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The NITON XLt 797X features an Xray analysis area more than 20 times smaller than that of other analyzers. A color CCD camera locates, specifies and saves the image together with the chemical analysis of an individual component. Is said to be...

Planarizing machine.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The Flatstar is a grinding machine for the removal of residues from resins, pastes and inks left behind after the hole plugging process. Includes three independent brushing phases. This single-side processing series is available in two...

High-res x-ray analysis.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The Nanotom is a 150 kV nanofocus computed tomography system tailored for material science, micro mechanics, electronics and biological applications. System consists of granite based CT-construction with a 160 kV high-power nanofocus X-ray tube...

Thermal fluid heated press systems.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The Fleetline and Vac-Q-Lam thermal fluid heated press systems have temperature uniformity within +/-2[degrees]C across the plate. The vertical press door design reduces the clearance requirement between Hot Presses, allowing you to optimize...

XRF tools.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The Benchtop XRF tool systems provide non-destructive measurement of restricted metals, and allow for lead content quantification for reverse RollS applications including military/ aerospace demands requiring 2-5% min. lead content. Measures...

Flex material Etch and Strip line.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The Cupric Etch/Dry Film Resist Strip process line reportedly has a guaranteed damage-free leaderless transport system for 9/25/9 flexible circuits materials using the Ultraflex Transport System, which features airknife module separation for...

Measurement equipment.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The latest TherMoire PS200 lab tool delivers improvements in the new JEDEC standard for temperature-dependent warpage measurement of packages (JESD22B112), which requires faster heating and cooling rates. This allows the user to more precisely...

Digital legend printing.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The LGP-809 digital legend printing system is said to offer the industry's fastest start-to-finish production time. Combines heat-curable ink with unique legend printing technologies to reportediy ensure the highest level of quality,...

Epoxy adhesive.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... Araldite 7047 epoxy adhesive is a high purity, 100% solids system designed for void-free bonding of circuitry and microelectronic chips to PCBs. It features an extended work life of up to four days at room temperature and cures in one hour at...

High-speed/low-loss laminate.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... N4000-13EP 210[degrees]C Tg substrate offers an enhanced performance option that expands the range of the N4000-13 material system within the lead-free assembly market. The series of laminate and prepreg materials is designed to provide...

Front-end automation solution.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The bundled front-end automation solution includes i-Quote, an intelligent, Web-enabled quotation system. It automates the quoting process by capturing customer specifications, and using predefined workflows and a rules-based costing engine to...

Etching system enhancement.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... The Etch Adjust Module can be added to an etching system to improve etching uniformity on fine-line, tight tolerance circuit boards and chemically milled parts. Contains an adjustable spray system that provides corrections via the solution...

Immersion silver.(IPC EXPO/APEX 2007: PRODUCT PREVIEW)
January 1, 2007... AlphaSTAR microvoid resistant immersion silver reportedly delivers high first-pass yields and lead-free solderability that results in exceptional reliability. The process selectively deposits a high performance silver coating that is said to...

Tracking transmission line losses: bit rate and interconnect length influence lossy line effects.(THE SIGNAL DOCTOR)
January 1, 2007... WITH THE START of the new year, I am giving my column a new name and look. Starting with this issue, it will have a question and answer format and be called The Signal Doctor. Since presenting four Webinars *, eight keynote lectures and 10...

PCB Design Conference West.
January 1, 2007... CONFERENCE: MARCH 25-30, 2007 EXHIBITION: MARCH 27-28, 2007 Santa Clara Convention Center in santa Clara, CA www.pcbwest.com The premier conference and exhibition for PCB engineering, design and manufacture professionals Join your...