CircuiTree articles from February 2004

CircuiTree archives from February 2004

With friends like IPC, who needs enemies?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I am confused. As I am aware of it, the membership of the World Electronics Circuits Council (WECC) is comprised of trade associations that represent their own members in their geographical sphere of activity. Thus JPCA represents the Japanese...

Keep up the good work.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... We at Adeon were honored to have CircuiTree at our booth during [Productronica]. Reading the November issue, I would like to comment about the reader's complaint that "the magazine gets thinner and filled with editorial themes about the U.S....

Don't return to protectionism.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I enjoyed Matt Holzmann's article "Risky Business...." Although I understand his frustration with the system, to make the changes he suggests, we'd have to move from our support of semi-unfettered capitalism back to the days of protectionism....

Quality replaced by trickery?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I read the article "Risky Business" and could not agree with it more. This industry did all these things and is doing all these things. It seems that the normal business model of price, service and quality has been replaced by all kind of...

Simply exceptional.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... It is a rare article that captures my attention. Your "Risky Business" article is exceptional. It is exceptionally factual, exceptionally concise and exceptionally clear about the problems to be solved. Terrific writing. Harry Munn ...

More praise for 'Risky Business'.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Thank you for [publishing] such a perceptive piece ["Risky Business..." December 2003]. We in the PCB industry certainly appreciate this kind of press, as it is a tool we can use with our customers. Bringing reality into the globalization...

'Risky Business' ... for arrogant PCB shops.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... "The Risky Business" article was interesting but I'd like to give you some feedback from the OEM buyer side. Sourcing teams have moved offshore for PCBs due to price erosion of finished product, which is at 15-20% for example in base stations...

Intel, H-P, and others defend offshore hiring.(Hewlett-Packard Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Washington, DC -- In an effort to raise U.S. competitiveness in the high-tech sector, several CEOs, including Intel's Craig Barrett and H-P's Carly Fiorina said the U.S. must get serious about establishing relationships between the private...

Who will benefit at your expense?(Columns)(Financial advisers)(Column)
February 1, 2004... Financial advisers tend to focus a lot of attention on taxes, but two other issues will affect ownership transfer: the timing of the transaction and the tender (money) that changes hands. Taken individually, each has a meaningful impact on how...

Trimming embedded resistors: third party processing.(Articles)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... As PCB manufacturers embrace embedded passives technology, requirements for tighter tolerances will become more necessary. One roadblock in the widespread acceptance of embedded passives is the question of whether passives can be trimmed or...

Clash of business models: EMS, ODM rivalry growing.(TheWayWeSeeIt)(Electronics Manufacturing Services, Original Design Manufacturers)
February 1, 2004... In early December of last year, Technology Forecasters Inc. hosted its seventeenth quarterly forum in San Jose to discuss a wide range of topics relevant to the world's electronics supply chain. Among the 80 guests, representatives from Cisco...

Next generation technologies for ultra fine circuits: subtractive or additive process?
February 1, 2004... Electronic applications continue to require higher speeds for increasing circuit density. What fabricators need to know when comparing fine trace generation processes, and the advantages (and disadvantages) of subtractive, semi-additive, and...

Where is the next 'Project Apollo' and why do we need it?(Fein-Lines)(Column)
February 1, 2004... We are in a period of recovery. No doubt about it; things are getting better. A few years ago I stated in this column that when the storm ends the coastline would be changed, and it has. The PWB landscape of today is far different than in 2000....

Enthone.(People)(Raymond Fong)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... West Haven, CT -- Enthone Inc. appointed Raymond Fong Vice President & Managing Director, Asia-Pacific region. Fong will be responsible for driving revenue growth in the Asian market while working with Enthone's global staff to develop new...

DEK.(People)(Raj Lakhotia)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... San Jose, CA -- DEK appointed Raj Lakhotia as Financial Controller for the company's U.S. operations. Lakhotia will be responsible for all accounting systems, procedures and policies for DEK's operations in the U.S. In his new role, he will be...

Honeywell Electronic Materials.(People)(Oliver Shon)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Sunnyvale, CA -- Honeywell Electronic Materials announced that Oliver Shon has joined the organization as the new Greater China Sales Leader. Shon brings over 20 years of extensive experience in the Chemicals industry. Most recently, he was the...

Express Manufacturing Inc.(People)(Thomas Ng)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Santa Ana, CA -- Express Manufacturing Inc. (EMI) announced that Thomas Ng has joined the company as Director of Engineering. Mr. Ng will spearhead the operations of EMI's Engineering Service Group. Ng has over 20 years of engineering...

March Plasma Systems.(People)(Ursula Meyer)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Concord, CA -- March Plasma Systems named Ursula Meyer its Applications Scientist for Europe. Dr. Meyer will oversee the day-to-day operations of their regional applications laboratory at the Maastricht, Netherlands facility and will focus on...

Chemcut.(People)(Chemcut appoints Yessa and Company to be its exclusive sales representation for Midwest)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... State College, PA -- Chemcut Corporation appointed Yessa & Company (South Elgin, IL) as its exclusive Sales Representative for the Midwest State of Illinois and the eastern half of Wisconsin. Yessa & Company is a supplier of PCB chemistries and...

Quality Control Solutions.(People)(Roger Bryan)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Temecula, CA -- Quality Control Solutions Inc. appointed Roger Bryan as the Director of Sales & Marketing. He will be responsible for expanding and developing new markets for QCSi's line of 2D and 3D non-contact precision measuring and process...

Taiwan Leader.(People)(Jeff Lin and Marvin Cheng appointed at Taiwan Leader)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Taoyuan, Taiwan -- Taiwan Leader appointed Jeff Lin Vice President of Pingcheng plant. With 12 years of laminates industrial experience, he will be responsible for administration of the entire plant, as well growing new and existing markets for...

MacDermid.(People)(Stephen Largan)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Waterbury, CT -- MacDermid Inc. appointed Stephen Largan as Executive VP of Operations. Reporting to Largan will be all of the operating units of the company. He had been president of MacDermid's Printing Solutions Americas Business. Largan...

Park Electrochemical Corp.(People)(Konstatnine N.(Gus) Karavakis)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Lake Success, NY -- Park Electrochemical Corp. appointed Konstantine N. ("Gus") Karavakis as Director of R & D. Karavakis will be responsible for the company's global research and development activities and will have central leadership...

It's Expo time again!(SeeingtheLight)(Column)
February 1, 2004... Whoopee! Here we go again. It's Expo time in Southern California, and all is well. I like thinking about this trip as we just got dumped on by about two feet of snow for our first big snowfall of the year here in New England, and the Patriots...

Point, counter point.(Dan Beaulieu (PCB Sales) and Steve Williams (PCB Materials for Plexus) conduct a Q & A session)
February 1, 2004... What happens when a PCB salesman and a PCB buyer participate in an open dialogue to discuss questions that might otherwise seem taboo? You're about to find out as Dan Beaulieu (PCB Sales) and Steve Williams (PCB Materials for Plexus) conduct a...

Nanotechnology ... the next small thing in flex?(FlexibleThinking)
February 1, 2004... Like many others, I have watched and read with fascination over the last few years the explosion of interest in all things "nano," culminating recently in the passing of the $3.7 billion 21st Century Nanotech Research and Development Act. ...

Lockheed-Martin, Unichem Industries complete transaction.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Lockheed-Martin has purchased a Shipley 703N Vacuum Applicator from Unichem Industries (San Clemente, CA). The unit, manufactured by Shipley Italy, was installed at the end of 2003 in Lockheed-Martin's Owego, NY facility. Installation, warranty...

Ciba Specialty Chemicals outlines R & D strategy.(Suppliers)(planning to increase sales share)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... In mid-December, Ciba Specialty Chemicals presented its strategy to increase the sales share of new products in its portfolio to 60 investors and analysts. Armin Meyer, Chairman and CEO of Ciba Specialty Chemicals, outlined the central role of...

All Enthone North American operations awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... West Haven, CT -- Enthone Inc. was awarded a single ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System (QMS) certificate for all seven of its North American operations. Specifically, facilities in West Haven, CT, Orange, CT, Londonderry, NH, Bridgeview,...

C.A. Picard reports new order.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Battle Creek, MI -- C.A. Picard Production Technology announced a recent purchase order from EIT Corporation (Endicott, NY) for five precision registration punches and accessories. The total purchase price is approximately $550,000. Delivery is...

Uyemura: transition complete.(Suppliers)(acquisitions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Uyemura announced the finalized transition of OMG-Galvanotechnik to Umicore-Galvanotechnik. This sale enables Uyemura-USA to continue to represent Galvanotechnik's Auruna electrolytic gold processes (and other plating technologies) in the North...

Christopher Group announces NSpec Meeting.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Santa Ana, CA -- Christopher Group Inc. announced the dates for its 2004 NSpec Advanced Training Seminar & Users Group Meeting. The Fourth Annual Meeting will take place February 2-4, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The two-and-a-half day seminar...

DuPont Printed Circuit Materials Europe hikes prices.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Geneva -- DuPont Printed Circuit Materials (PCM) is increasing prices of its DuPont[TM] Riston dry film photoresists and DuPont[TM] Vacrel dry film soldermasks in Europe. The increase, of between 7 and 11%, is effective immediately in Europe,...

Firan Technology Group purchases March Plasma Systems equipment.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... FTG purchased its second gas plasma treatment system from March Plasma Systems. With a growing requirement for high-performance PCBs that require plasma treatment in the manufacturing process, FTG needed March's 28-panel machine to supplement...

LPKF, Harting Technology Group sign agreement.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Munich -- LPKF Laser & Electronics AG (Garbsen, Germany) announced at Productronica 2003 that they have signed a corporation agreement with Harting Technology Group (Espelkamp, Germany). This partnership allows Harting to produce Three...

Mentor, PCBstandards team up.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Wilsonville, OR -- Mentor Graphics Corp. established a joint marketing agreement with PCBstandards.com, Inc., a supplier of CAD libraries and library tools, to make the PCBstandards.com, Inc. library available for use with Mentor GraphicsR...

GSI Lumonics acquires Westwind.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Billerica, MA -- GSI Lumonics Inc. completed the acquisition of Westwind Air Bearings Limited, (Westwind), its subsidiaries and outstanding shares from Cobham plc, an English company. The all-cash purchase price was 21,250,000 GBP or...

QPG Embedded Passive report delayed.(Suppliers)(Quantum Performance Group)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The report on "Embedded Passive Components," to be issued by The Quantum Performance Group (QPG) in January, has been delayed by six months, and will now be issued in July 2004. QPG has gathered a great deal of data and continues to report on...

U.S. defense spending shows solid growth.(Finance & Forecast)(Future Topic: The business value of forecasting)
February 1, 2004... After years of decline, U.S. defense spending is back on a growth path. Because electronics content also is trending up, military buying of electronic components, embedded systems, boards, and other hardware should increase by $44 billion by...

Plating high aspect ratio blind vias.(laser ablated, high aspect ratio blind vias through the desmear, electroless copper, and plating operations)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... This article helps with the process of laser ablated, high aspect ratio blind vias through the desmear, electroless copper, and plating operations. What influence does the type of laser and via shape have on these chemical process steps? ...

Executive explanations: Prime Technologies' Vince Cestra.(Interview)
February 1, 2004... Vince Cestra is owner and president of Prime Technologies (Costa Mesa, CA), a quick turn PCB manufacturer. Involved in the PCB industry since 1973, Vince recently celebrated his fifth year in business, along with his sixty employees. Q:...

Asia's PCB manufacturing: dramatic growth ... and decline.(VitalSigns)
February 1, 2004... Like North America, Europe's PCB industry has been around for decades. It started out with simple boards for consumer electronics, and later, more complex boards for telecommunications and the like were developed. Much of the PCB manufacturing...

AT & S China now profitable.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Shanghai, China -- AT & S China announced it is now profitable, and should achieve over EUR 60 million in 2004. In operation since May 19, 2001, the Chinese plant employs 700 people. According to CFO Harald Sommerer, AT & S invested EUR 110...

Electrotek gets ISO 9001:2000 certified.(Fabrication)(Electrotek Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Oak Creek, WI -- Electrotek Corp. received ISO 9001:2000 registration in August 2003. The company was found in complete compliance with no audit findings. Audit and certification was completed by QMI, a division of CSA Group.

Circuitech Precision adds sales team.(Fabrication)(Kerri McFarland; Circuitech Precision Electronics Ltd. acquires Worldwide Circuit Technologies and DBA Circuitech USA)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Circuitech Precision Electronics Ltd., a Taiwan and China-based company, has added Worldwide Circuit Technologies, DBA Circuitech USA to its sales team. The sales effort will be headed up by Kerri McFarland, VP of Sales and Marketing for...

DDi emerges from Bankruptcy.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Anaheim, CA -- DDi Corp., a Delaware corporation and DDi Capital Corp., a California corporation and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DDi Corp. ("DDi Capital"), have emerged from the Chapter 11 process. As previously reported, the...

Electropac expands capabilities.(Fabrication)(Electropac Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Manchester, NH -- Electropac Co. Inc. recently purchased several additional pieces of high-tech equipment for its two Canadian divisions. Electropac Ltd. (St. Catharines, Ontario) added a new Microsoft moving probe tester to its testing...

Eltek eyes North American market.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Israel -- Eltek Ltd. announced it is now building its first round of PCQ[R.sup.2] (Process Capability Quality and Relative Reliability) test panels. In its effort to break into the North American marketplace, Eltek said that this is a critical...

Cosmotronic gets AS9100:2001 and ISO 9001:2000 certification.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Irvine, CA -- Cosmotronic upgraded its quality system, with notification of registration for AS9100:2001 and ISO 9001:2000. The certification was issued by NSF International Strategic Registrations Ltd. The company is expected to complete its...

Printed optical waveguides: the next interconnect.(HappyThoughts)
February 1, 2004... This certainly is a time for straining to keep up. This also will be a time for dramatic changes! This is the time for innovation! Let me tell you about the next 50 years.... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We have a unique opportunity to watch...

Proof Of electrical test using automated ink marking system.(Testmark Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Testmark Inc. introduced a multiplatform automated ink marking system. Testmark[TM] Inc. has been issued a patent for an Automated, Permanent Ink Stamp that is used inside of test fixtures and will work on most electronic test equipment already...

AccuSystems Corp.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... AccuSystems leads the way with two ground-breaking new products: the AS-100-JCS and AS-150-MAX--V-Scoring Systems that bring the future to you. AccuSystems is your link to World Class V-Scoring performance. With hundreds of systems installed...

Atotech.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... For its horizontal Uniplate metallization systems, Atotech presents a range of innovations. The new Universal Transportation System includes a Super Thin Material Transport and Fluid Delivery, capable of handling 25 [micro]m sheets. InPulse 2...

Automa-Tech.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Automa-Tech Advanced Technologies launches a new range of intelligent controlling and measuring system: ICM 3000 and ICM 500. The ICM 3000 is a totally new multiple object control function that measures multiple objects at the same time: Solder...

Chemcut.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)(Chemcut 8000)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Chemcut Corp. introduces Chemcut 8000, its new wet-processing product line. Employing Chemcuts' latest technological advances, the Chemcut 8000 delivers unmatched levels of productivity and reliability. Designed to meet the needs of fine-line...

Coates Circuit Products.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Coates Circuit Products, a Division of SunChemical, manufacture a wide range of Liquid Photoimageable Products together with an extensive Conductive and Conventional Ink Range. New additions are a range of "Halogen Free" products in the Liquid...

Douthitt Corp.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Douthitt Corporation (Detroit, MI) will customize an exposure unit for any application. We will optimize an exact exposure unit for the size, volume and quality your facility needs. Douthitt can provide exposure units for single- or...

ECI Technology.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Electroplating and Electroless Plating Bath Analyzer. ECI Technology, the leader in bath analysis, will exhibit the QualiLab[R], multi-sampling analyzer for organic and inorganic components in electroplating and electroless solutions from all...

Electrochemicals.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... CO-BRA BOND[R] HL. CO-BRA BOND[R] is an organo-metallic adhesion promotion system designed for high performance materials multilayer PWBs. The process is characterized by reduced copper removal (30-35 microinches) and higher copper loading in...

First EIE SA.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... THE ST Photoplotters retain the principles that have made the reputation of the previous models while introducing a significant leap forward in speed and exposure quality. The 256-beam head gives 4 [micro]m spots for the high-end models,...

Grace Electron.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Grace Electron introduced GA170N7, a perfectly designed material for Lead Free and Thermal Resistance requirements. Products meet T-260 @45 minutes, T-288 @10 minutes, and T-300 @5 minutes. GA170N7 is also equipped with CAF resistance function....

MicroCraft.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... MicroCraft will unveil two new model probers: the EMX6151 and the EMX4033. Super-high accuracy with super high speed, the EMX6151 can test down to a 1.9 mil pad with a test area of 24 X 20". The EMX4033 can test down to a 1.2 mil pad with a...

Oak-Mitsui Technologies.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Oak-Mitsui announces two new additions to our FaradFlex line of materials for Buried Capacitance[TM]. BC8 and BC12[TM] are thin flexible substrates that can withstand typical innerlayer processing and are pre-tested at 500 volts. BC8 and BC12...

PhotoMachining Inc.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... PhotoMachining Inc. performs precision laser micromachining on a variety of different materials including plastics, metals, glass, ceramics, etc. Our eleven different types of lasers allow us wide flexibility to address many applications. We...

Polar Instruments.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... New PCB Stackup and construction builder: Create and document PCB stackups rapidly. From a simple 4-layer build to a complex 64+ multilayer, the new SB200 PCB stackup builder lets you create professional stackup documentation within minutes....

Rogers Corporation.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Rogers, a leading manufacturer of high performance laminates, will be featuring its new product for the R/flex[R] 3000 family of LCP-based circuit materials. Rogers' diverse portfolio of circuit materials also include RO4000[R] and RO3000[R]...

TDAO Ltd.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... TDAO's revolutionary new Optical Alignment System is retrofitted to the moving table of flatbed screenprinting machines and uses custom-designed software that aligns the screen with an accuracy of 5 microns or better in under 4 seconds,...

Technic Inc.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Technic announces the opening of their new imaging materials manufacturing facility in Woonsocket, RI. The facility incorporates manufacturing and packaging for the company's imaging materials product lines including the TechniMask ISR 1000...

C.A. Picard Pinlam EF-PA Photoregistration System.(CPCA Show 2004: Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Outerlayer and soldermask registration can be facilitated with the C.A. Picard adjustable frame. The Pinlam EF-PA provides the ability to optimize alignment of panels through its X/Y and theta adjustment capabilities. The panel adjuster...

Red flag or bloated order correction?(MarketOutLook)
February 1, 2004... U.S. Electronic equipment orders have been booming since July 2003. However the November data (released in early January) contained a sobering surprise. Communications equipment orders (combination of datacom and telecom) plunged 40% from the...

Olin Somers introduces CopperBond[R] XTF 1-micron copper foil.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Waterbury, CT -- Olin Somers Thin Strip introduced the newest and thinnest addition to its line of copper foils used for electronics applications: Olin CopperBond[R] XTF1, a 1-micron peelable ED copper foil. This 1-micron copper foil helps...

BoardBuyers.com develops 'cost of prospecting' calculator.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... El Dorado Hills, CA -- BoardBuyers.com has developed a calculator designed to assist Sales and Business managers who want to get a handle on the cost of prospecting for new customers. Usually lumped in and buried with the total cost of sales,...

Pacothane introduces multi-functional Press Pad for plastic laminators.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... New York, NY -- Pacothane Technologies launched a unique line of reusable, application-engineered, heat-lagging and pressure-equalizing Press Pads for use in the process of laminating and pressing High and Low Pressure Decorative and Industrial...

GOPEL electronic launches solution for extended test coverage.(Products)(OptiCon X-Line)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... At Productronica, GOPEL electronic announced its newest development: OptiCon X-Line. The system combines the technology of the approved OptiCon AOI systems with an X-ray inspection system for the automated analysis of hidden solder joints, e.g....

Mentor Graphics introduces three new courses.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Wilsonville, OR -- Mentor Graphics Corp. announced the availability of three introductory self-directed courses for Mentor's PADSR PCB design solutions including: PADS-DesignerT, PADS-PowerPCBR and PADS-BlazeRouterT. These courses will help...

Fischer Technology introduces 'Fischerscope'.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Windsor, CT -- Electroplating plants can now measure and test the metal ion concentration in electrolytes of electrolytic baths economically, and in only minutes with a Fischerscope X-Ray and advanced WinF[TM] software from Fischer Technology....

Valor announces two major version releases.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Lake Forest, CA -- Valor Computerized Systems released version 7 of its Trilogy 5000[TM] solution for PCB process preparation and assembly programming operations and its Enterprise 3000[TM] best-in-class DFM solution for virtual design...

3M introduces new laminate material.(Products)(Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A new laminate material from 3M lets designers and manufacturers of high-speed digital PCBs achieve higher speeds while simplifying design tradeoffs. When used as "power" and "ground" layers in a multilayer PCB, 3M embedded capacitor material...

TUC begins mass production of green laminate.(Products)(Taiwan Union Technology Corp)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Hsinchu, Taiwan -- To cope with environmental protection, Taiwan Union Technology Corp. (TUC) introduced the new generation Halogen-free all-in-one FR-4 material (TU-742, Tg 150 tested by DSC method) for lead-free soldering process and acquired...

HMS flex-plater garners productronica attention.(Products)(HMS Hollmuller GmbH)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Munich -- HMS Hollmuller presented its flex plating module as its latest development. Dubbed "Com-Plater (compact and plater), it is distinguished by its low maintenance costs due to its compact design and the maintenance-free stripping system....

AOT for ART's sake.(Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Lloyd Doyle launched a new product for PCB manufacturers, photoline, a dedicated artwork optical test system designed for use on PCB artwork. It is the only system specifically intended for this niche sector of the market. photoline has a...

Fine lines in high yield (part CI): the use of vacuum lamination in the fabrication of PWB and HDI structures.(TechTalk)(Printed Wiring Board, High Density Interconnect)
February 1, 2004... Years ago, vacuum lamination had a well established place in PWB fabrication when dry film soldermasks were prominent. But the vacuum lamination technology has all but vanished with the growing popularity of liquid photoimageable soldermasks,...

NEMI adds three new members.(National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative)(Senju Comtek Corp.)
February 1, 2004... Herndon, VA -- The National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (NEMI) added three new members. Dell Inc. (Round Rock, Texas), Endicott Interconnect Technologies (Endicott, NY) and Senju Comtek Corp. (San Jose, CA) are the latest companies to...

Has your company branded itself properly?(marketing matters)
February 1, 2004... In the middle of 2003, Steve Gold asked if I would be interested in writing a quarterly column for CircuiTree. He wanted to provide the readers with information on marketing. I told him I would consider it but needed to ensure I could fulfill...