CircuiTree articles from January 2007

CircuiTree archives from January 2007

In response to Fein-Lines, December 2006.(Inbox)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... Dan, Great article. You presented an objective, balanced, hard-hitting but non-partisan view of our country's and our industry's most significant issues. Wish other observers and political practitioners would do the same more often. Recent...

And another.(Inbox)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... Dan, Regarding your Fein-Lines article [CircuiTree, December 2006], I enjoyed reading the subject matter and found it appropriate for this era. Thanks, Bud Baudreau We want to hear from you! Send your comments to:...

Editor's note.(CircuiTree thanks Dr. Richard Ulrich)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... This month marks the last in the "Embedded Passives Update" series of columns by Dr. Richard Ulrich, who has decided to take a break from column writing. CircuiTree thanks Rick for all his on-time, on-target technical contributions over the...

Technology drivers signal integrity.(High Speed Materials)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... With the data rates in enterprise applications moving up from 622 Mbps for the Gigabit Ethernet, all the way up to 10 Gbps with OC-192 platforms, and with the edge rates below 50 Ps, the definition of high speed digital transmission is changing...

Material selection.(High Speed Materials)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The cost performance coordinates coupled with the design needs help a designer choose the right material set. Designers use time domain tools and/or frequency domain tools to determine the suitability of a product for a certain high speed...

Isola offering.(High Speed Materials)(product introduction of Isola Group)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Isola has a range of products catering to the specific needs of OEMs ranging from mainstream moderate Dielectrics and Mid Dk/Df systems to very low Dk and Df systems. * Isola IS41 -- launched to address Signal integrity gaps associated...

Putting technology first: standards in China.(The Way We See It)
January 1, 2007... Neehow from Dongguan, China, stop two of the 2006-2007 PCB trade show season, the IPC/HKPCA 2006 International Printed Circuit & Electronics Assembly Show. Although I made it here, the journey was not without incident and somewhat along the...

New final finish candidate for IC packages: the use of electroless nickel electroless palladium immersion gold on PCBs and IC packages.
January 1, 2007... The rapid growing demand for handheld devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, camcorders, etc., pushes technology to produce smaller, faster, lighter, and more functional devices. It increases the number of features without...

Do you believe in business cycles?(Growth Curves)
January 1, 2007... When was the last time you saw a consumer stride up to a store counter and demand, "Show me one with the latest in PCBs. I want the exciting buildup type they were talking about on the TV last night." No? That is because the market for PCBs is...

Mentor Graphics introduces HyperLynx 7.7.(Technology Today News)
January 1, 2007... Wilsonville, OR -- Mentor Graphics[R] Corp. announced the immediate availability of HyperLynx[R] 7.7, the latest version of its powerful and easy-to-use tool suite for pre- and post-layout signal integrity (SI) simulation and analysis. Visit:...

Taiyo introduces new products.(Technology Today News)
January 1, 2007... Carson City, NV -- Taiyo America Inc. announced the introduction of a new, single-part, thermally cured epoxy hole-plugging ink, THP-100DX1. This hole-plugging ink is platable and has excellent thermal properties. Taiyo also introduced...

New 3M polyimide tape designed for high temperatures.(Technology Today News)
January 1, 2007... Austin, TX -- 3M has a new polyimide film tape designed for high-temperature applications requiring a tough, thin backing that resists solvents. 3M polyimide film tape 1218 is UL recognized for use at temperatures up to 130[degrees]C. Unlike...

Showa Denko develops chlorine-free epoxy resin.(Technology Today News)
January 1, 2007... Showa Denko KK, working with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, has devised a way to manufacture a high-performance epoxy resin for PCBs without using chlorine and other environmental toxins. The new epoxy...

Understanding CAM tooling (Part 4).(Happy Thoughts)(a note on Computer-Aided Manufacturing)
January 1, 2007... Design Analysis and Review The design analysis and review step is a refinement of the initial design review performed earlier but is the first step in the Computer-Aided Manufacturing, (CAM)/soft-tooling process. This is focused on the...

Is climate change the next big thing in global environmental regulations?(Environmentally Speaking)
January 1, 2007... After having spent the last several years bringing their processes into compliance with RoHS, many electronics companies are asking, what's next in global environmental regulations? Although global climate change and man's ability to affect the...

Nam Tai Electronics names new CEO.(Data Transfer)
January 1, 2007... Vancouver, British Columbia--Nam Tai Electronics Inc. announced that Warren Lee was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the company. Lee, since March 2004, has been a Director of one of the company's subsidiaries Nam Tai Electronic &...

IPCA.(Power People News)
January 1, 2007... The Indian Printed Circuit Association (IPCA) announced Anil Kumar, Director of SLN Technologies (Bangalore, India), has been elected President of the IPCA. IPCA, consisting of technical and leading experts in PCB manufacture, promote...

LPKF Laser & Electronics.(Power People News)
January 1, 2007... LPKF Laser & Electronics announced the promotion of Jim Greene to the position of Vice President, Sales & Marketing. In this new position Greene will be responsible for the control and management of sales and marketing throughout North America....

On Demand Circuit Services.(Power People News)(appointment of Chrissy Osenbaugh)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... On Demand Circuit Services announced Chrissy Osenbaugh, who previously worked with On Demand founders Bob Norman and Andy Hicks many years ago, will join the company as the director of operations. "Andy and I are so happy to have the...

Teknoflex.(Power People News)(appointement of Keith Netting )(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Keith Netting rejoins Teknoflex in the role of Technical Director having spent two years away from the flexible printed circuit industry. Keith has responsibility for Product and Process Engineering, CAD/CAM and Applications Engineering. His...

Exception PCB.(Power People News)
January 1, 2007... Exception PCB appointed Roger Smith to environmental officer. The appointment marks a serious commitment on the part of the PCB manufacturer, which has adopted several 'green' initiatives over the last 18 months to lessen its impact on the...

Titan Global Holdings.(Power People News)
January 1, 2007... Titan Global Holdings Inc. announced the appointment of industry veteran Michael Kadlec to Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Titan's Electronics and Homeland Security division. Kadlec will have dual executive responsibilities...

Park Electrochemical Corp.(Power People News)
January 1, 2007... Park Electrochemical Corp. announced the election of Stephen E. Gilhuley as Executive Vice President and Secretary and General Counsel, of the company. Park also announced the election of James L. Zerby as Vice President and Chief...

M.E. Baker Company.(Power People News)(appointment of Troy Vittum)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Troy Vittum has joined M.E. Baker as Product Development Manager. Vittum moves to Baker from Tele Atlas, where he served as Manager, Database Operations. Previous to that, he was Engineering Program Manger at MacDermid. Vittum attended NH...

Electronic recycling heads south.(Data Transfer)
January 1, 2007... The green movement just keeps growing in the tech industry. Electronic Recyclers International Inc., which claims to be the largest recycler of electronics in California, announced that it has partnered with the Burillo Azcarraga Group of...

Innovative solutions for leading edge designs.
January 1, 2007... PCBs of yesterday come nowhere close to matching the technologies and requirements of today's PCBs and packages, and the continual move toward new technologies means the boards of tomorrow will bring even more exciting challenges. As the...

Concurrent engineering helps meet thermal challenges of high speed design.(Data Transfer)
January 1, 2007... Cisco Systems has defined a temperature aware design flow that significantly improves co-design between electrical and mechanical engineers. "The new concurrent electronic/thermal engineering approach has reduced the time required to identify...

Back to Basics Part 13: flex circuit design--conductor sizing and routing.(Flexible Thinking)
January 1, 2007... Allow me to start by wishing you all a Happy, Prosperous, and Peaceful New Year. May this year be the best one ever for everyone. For Back to Basics, the New Year begins with a discussion of circuit conductor sizing and routing. Though it...

Arlon celebrates grand opening of Suzhou manufacturing facility.(Supply Line News)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Suzhou, China -- At grand opening ceremonies, Arlon announced the official opening of a new manufacturing facility in Suzhou New District in the Peoples Republic of China. The new company, Arlon Material Technologies Co., Ltd., complements...

Excellon announces Laser Drill sales.(Supply Line News)(Financial report)
January 1, 2007... Rancho Dominguez, CA -- Excellon announced PC Test & Laser Drilling (Minneapolis) has installed an Excellon COBRA hybrid C[O.sub.2]--UV laser system. Excellon also announced that Nova Drilling Services Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) has installed...

Transene receives ISO certification.(Supply Line News)
January 1, 2007... Danvers, MA -- Transene Co. Inc., a manufacturer of high purity chemicals and materials for semiconductor, integrated circuit, and circuit board applications, has received ISO 9001:2000 certification.

PPG to restructure facility.(Supply Line News)
January 1, 2007... Pittsburgh, PA -- PPG Industries' Wigan, England fiber glass plant is proposing to transform its manufacturing processes and workforce to direct its focus on the European market for single-end, direct-draw rovings. The proposed restructuring...

HMS Hollmuller opens plant in Poland.(Supply Line News)
January 1, 2007... HMS Hollmuller opened its fourth facility, in Wykroty, Poland in November; production will begin in January 2007. The facility features approximately 2,500 square meters of manufacturing and office space and was built on property with expansion...

Albemarle to raise price of brominated flame retardant.(Supply Line News)
January 1, 2007... Baton Rouge, LA -- Albemarle Corp. will raise the price of SAYTEX[R] 8010 flame retardant (ethane 1,2 bispentabromophenyl) globally by up to $0.30/kg effective January 1, 2007, or as contracts allow. Albemarle is committed to serving its...

Ciba and Max Planck Institute sign printable electronics pact.(Supply Line News)
January 1, 2007... Ciba Specialty Chemicals and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, are to collaborate for three years on novel conductive polymers for printable electronics. It is hoped to enable products such as organic...

Cemco-FSL announces sales.(Supply Line News)(Financial report)
January 1, 2007... Hampshire, UK -- CEMCO-FSL announced the sale of a 24" lead free compatible Quicksilver Hot Air Leveling machine to One Way Circuits, Norwich UK. CEMCO-FSL also sold the same machine to Unal Elektronik, including a lead free upgrade to be...

Bairnco announces improved 3Q 2006 results.(Supply Line News)(Financial report)
January 1, 2007... Lake Mary, FL -- Bairnco Corp. reported sales for the third quarter were up 9.2% to $43,299,000, as compared with the same period in 2005, and excluding the Offer Fees and Property Tax Benefit, net income increased $561,000 to $776,000 and...

Mentor Graphics reports 3Q results.(Supply Line News)(Financial report)
January 1, 2007... Wilsonville, OR -- Mentor Graphics Corp. announced record third-quarter revenue of $190.6 million, up 16% from the prior year third quarter. Earnings per share were $0.03 on a GAAP basis, and $0.12 on a non-GAAP basis. Bookings climbed 5% over...

Han's Laser Technology of China opens U.S. branch.(Supply Line News)
January 1, 2007... Houston -- Han's Laser Technology Co. Ltd. announced the opening of a U.S. office in Houston. The branch will provide sales and support services in the U.S. and Canada for the more than 80 different laser systems manufactured by the China-based...

Camtek Ltd. announces results for 3Q 2006.(Supply Line News)(Financial report)
January 1, 2007... Migdal Haemek, Israel -- Camtek Ltd. announced revenues for the third quarter of 2006 were $26.3 million, 48% above $17.7 million in the third quarter of 2005, and sequentially 6% below the $27.9 million reported in the second quarter of 2006....

ThinFlex, Matsushita open FCCL plant in China.(Supply Line News)
January 1, 2007... Taiwan-based ThinFlex and Japan-based Matsushita Electric Works held an opening ceremony for their joint venture in China, a plant in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province that produces flexible copper clad laminates.

Kyocera Tycom to sponsor Technical Conference.(Data Transfer)
January 1, 2007... Irvine, CA--Industry leader Kyocera Tycom Corporation is sponsoring "Preview 2007: Solutions & Trends: A One-Day Technical Conference" Thursday, January 25th in Irvine, California for PCB professionals interested in improving performance and...

Fine Lines in High Yield (Part CXXXVI): touch-ups and repairs.(Tech Talk)(repairs and maintenance of printed circuit boards)
January 1, 2007... The subject of touch-ups and repairs is probably not well suited to feature under the tag line of Tech Talk, "Fine Lines in High Yield," because touch-ups and repairs are either incompatible or impossible with very fine line circuits....

CAC completes relocation to new facility.(Data Transfer)
January 1, 2007... Lake Forest, CA--CAC Inc., manufacturer of CAC (Copper Aluminum Copper) products used in printed circuit board fabrication, announced that it has successfully completed the relocation from the Chandler, AZ facility to over 35,000 square feet of...

IPC Expo product preview.
January 1, 2007... On February 19-22, 2007, IPC will host its annual Printed Circuits Expo, APEX, and Designers Summit in Los Angeles, California. After perusing these products and services, stop by the booths and meet these exhibitors face to face for more...

2007 begins: modest global growth for most sectors.(Market Outlook)(Industry overview)
January 1, 2007... 2006 was a decent year for the world electronic food chain. A composite of 61 large, global OEMs saw sales grow 10% in 3Q'06 vs. 3Q'05, with a 20% increase in net income and a 15% increase in inventories (Chart 1). Through October N American...

Measurements of Copper Dissolution in Lead-Free Solder Alloys.(Data Transfer)
January 1, 2007... National Physical Laboratory is launching a new collaborative industry project: Measurements of Copper Dissolution in Lead-Free Solder Alloys. One of the problems associated with the switch from tin-lead to lead-free is the increased tendency...

Book-to-bill for October 2006.(Data Transfer)
January 1, 2007... PCB Book-to-Bill Ratio The North American rigid PCB industry book-to-bill ratio for October 2006 decreased to 0.99. The North American flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio held steady at 0.91. The combined (rigid and fl ex) industry...

Advanced Circuits extends service hours.(Fab Focus News)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Aurora, CO -- Advanced Circuits announced the extended availability of its sales support team to meet the needs of the company's growing customer base and continue its commitment to customer excellence. In addition to 24-hour online ordering...

GSPK Circuits wins oil and gas industry contract.(Fab Focus News)
January 1, 2007... Knarsborough, UK -- GSPK Circuits Ltd. was approached to take on the demanding task of manufacturing the high specification product range of Measurement While Drilling and Logging While Drilling systems for a customer in the oil and gas...

TTM Technologies completes acquisition.(Fab Focus News)
January 1, 2007... Santa Ana, CA -- TTM Technologies completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the Tyco Printed Circuit Group. The purchase price of $226 million was financed with a $200 million, six-year term loan and cash on the balance...

Eltek announces 3Q results, new orders.(Fab Focus News)(earnings of Eltek Ltd. in the third quarter)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Petach-Tikva, Israel -- Eltek reported revenues of NIS 44.1 million ($10.2 million) compared with NIS 36.6 million ($ 8.5 million) for the third quarter of 2005. Net income for the third quarter totaled NIS 2.1 million ($ 480,000), or $ 0.07...

Fuba Printed Circuits Tunisia launches multilayer production.(Fab Focus News)
January 1, 2007... Tunisia -- Fuba Printed Circuits Tunisia, partner of the German Fuba Printed Circuits, has just inaugurated the extension of its El Azib factory, located beside Bizerte, Tunisia. This extension will be dedicated to the realization of...

Coretec earns award, releases 3Q financial results.(Fab Focus News)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Toronto -- Coretec Inc. announced that it has been presented with the 2006 Pollution Prevention Award from The Canadian Association of Metal Finishers (CAMF). This prestigious award recognizes Coretec's ongoing commitment to environmental...

DDi completes acquisition of Sovereign Circuits.(Fab Focus News)(acquisitions of Dynamic Details Inc. and Sovereign Circuits Inc.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Anaheim, CA -- DDi Corp. completed the acquisition of Sovereign Circuits Inc., a privately-held PCB manufacturer, for a combination of $5,153,180 and 1,201,964 shares of DDi common stock, plus the assumption of Sovereign's net debt of...

Aspocomp to invest in Chennai.(Fab Focus News)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Aspocomp will set up a PCB manufacturing plant on a 15-acre plot of land near Chennai, India. Located in Sriperumbudur, the plant will have the capacity to make 50 million HDI PCBs per year and will employ 2,700 people. Aspocomp India has...

Hitachi using smart tags to ensure RoHS compliance.(Fab Focus News)
January 1, 2007... Tokyo -- Hitachi Ltd. has begun using smart tags in its production processes to keep track of PCBs that are compliant with the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. The production system automatically identifies...

Dynamic to refocus Taiwan plant.(Fab Focus News)(Dynamic Electronics )(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Dynamic Electronics plans to move its traditional PCB production to China and refocus its Taiwan site on HDI board production, according to the company. Dynamic will shift a part of capacity at its plant in Gueishan, Taoyuan County to HDI board...

Huntsman selects UL as RoHS compliance partner.(Data Transfer)
January 1, 2007... Global Manufacturer Will Be Among the First Chemical Companies To Receive the UL RoHS Mark The Woodlands, TX -- Huntsman Corporation announced that it has selected Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) as its RoHS compliance partner. Through...

Where are we going with embedded passives?(Embedded Passives Update)
January 1, 2007... If you can remember back to the advent of surface mount technology replacing through hole, you'll recall it followed the classic pattern of an electronic manufacturing innovation being introduced in the high-cost, high-complexity...