CircuiTree articles from May 2006

CircuiTree archives from May 2006

Much work to do, and not much time to do it.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... The debate between Lee Ritchey and Tony Senese [CircuiTree "Letters to the Editor," March 2006] is interesting in that in some respects they are both right and their differences reflect a much larger problem facing the PCB industry. There...

Industry-government cooperation looks bleak.(Inbox)
May 1, 2006... I spent over twenty years in the PCB industry, and have been out of the industry now for about two years. My last assignment was with Taiyo America, Inc., as its Midwest Technical Sales Engineer. Previously, I had spent five years with...

iNEMI makes recommendations for Pb-free manufacturing requirements.(electronic component assemblies recommendations)
May 1, 2006... Herndon, VA -- iNEMI's High-Reliability RoHS Task Force has published recommendations for Pb-free manufacturing of complex, thermally challenging electronic assemblies. These recommendations, which focus primarily on thermal requirements for...

High reliability profits.(semiconductor industry forecast, investment advice,)(CircuiTree LIVE technical conference plans)
May 1, 2006... I've been noticing lately that more than a few gray hairs are starting to make their presence known on my head. Since I'm not a Grecian Formula kind of guy, I suppose they will only increase, inconveniently reminding me of my position as...

Drilling flexible PCBs: a report on drill bit development and drilling techniques for flexible printed circuit boards.(printed circuit boards)
May 1, 2006... Due to the unique advantages over the traditional rigid printed circuit boards, such as reduced weight, small size and cost savings, flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) are widely implemented in many sectors throughout industry. Currently,...

Winonics selects Excellon.(Supply Line)(Excellon Automation Co.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Rancho Dominguez, CA -- Roy Cripps, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, announced that Winonics Inc. (Brea, CA) placed an order for an Excellon Cobra Hybrid Laser System. The Cobra Hybrid laser system offers the flexibility to run all kinds...

RBP Chemical Technology appoints Matrix Electronics Ltd.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Milwaukee, WI -- Matrix Electronics Ltd., a distributor of electronic equipment, laminates, dry film and chemicals, is the newest addition to the RBP Chemical Technology distribution network. Under the agreement, Matrix will be the sole...

Circuit Foil Group hikes prices.(Supply Line)
May 1, 2006... Circuit Foil Group, a global supplier of electrodeposited copper foils, announced it is obliged to forward a general price increase of 20-25% to its customers in the European, North American and Asian markets as of April 1, 2006.

Viking announces sales, rep agreements.(Supply Line)
May 1, 2006... Viking Test Services sold a MicroCraft Emma test system to PE Print Electronics (Israel); a third MicroCraft Emma test system to Melta Printed Circuits (Israel); a third MicroCraft Emma test system to Central Circuits (Johannesburg, South...

Plasma Etch warns of counterfeit plasma machines.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Carson City, NV -- Plasma Etch Inc. has discovered counterfeit plasma machines are still being marketed and sold in the Pacific Rim. The machines, which bear the name Plasma Etch Inc., will yield inferior results. Kilo-Walker (Beijing) Science...

OM Group to acquire Plaschem Specialty Products.(Supply Line)
May 1, 2006... Cleveland, OH -- OM Group Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire Plaschem Specialty Products Pte Ltd. and its subsidiaries. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the company believes that the addition of Plaschem would be...

CEMCO-FSL sells HAL machine to GSPK.(SPK Circuits Ltd., hot air leveling machine)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Hampshire, UK -- CEMCO-FSL sold a 24" Quicksilver Hot Air Leveling machine to GSPK Circuits Ltd. GSPK Circuits Ltd. is a long-established user of Quicksilver and this latest machine will allow the use of lead-free solder and new touch screen...

March Plasma Systems opens direct offices in Shanghai.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Concord, CA -- March Plasma Systems established direct operations in Shanghai, China. The new March offices are located at 828 Xin Jin Qiao Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201206, China. The office telephone number is: +86-21-5854-2345; the fax number...

Sanmina-SCI Asia facility receives auto certification.(Fab Focus)
May 1, 2006... San Jose, CA -- Sanmina-SCI's Kunshan, China, facility passed the registration audit for ISO/TS 16949 certification. The newly received certification is the highest international standard for the automotive industry and a significant milestone...

Electropac adds ENIG.(Electropac Company Inc. adds new finishing process)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Manchester, NH -- Electropac Co. Inc. added ENIG as a process that will now be done in-house. This is in addition to ENTEK HT as lead-free finishes. ENIG is the first of various lead-free finishes slated for Manchester's final finish wing....

GSPK offers RoHS calendar guide.(Fab Focus)(GSPK Circuits Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, UK -- GSPK has developed a RoHS calendar guide to assist its customers. This month-by-month guide offers simple steps and advice to facilitate a smooth transition in the lead up to the RoHS conversion deadline of...

Nanya PCB spurred by flip chip sales.(Nanya Technology Corp. on its printed circuit board sales)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... According to DigiTimes, Nanya PCBs sales may grow 7-8% sequentially during the first quarter and another 10-15% in the second quarter, as the maker continues to ramp up its IC substrate capacity. The company will have sales between $259-262...

AT&S ramps up new Shanghai lines, snags supplier award.(AT and S awarded for its services)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... AT&S said that it currently has "excellent visibility in the telecoms sector," which accounts for 65% of its revenues, and management is expecting revenues of EUR 455 million for financial 2006/07, which began on April 1, 2006. For 2007/08 the...

Endicott Interconnect Technologies appoints European sales rep firm.(Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. appoints NovaPack Technologies as its sales representative)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Endicott, NY -- Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. appointed NovaPack Technologies as its sales representative firm. NovaPack Technologies has particular expertise in marketing and sales of high frequency, high speed micro- and...

EIT, Meadville Technologies sign Memorandum of Understanding.(Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc., Meadville Technologies Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Endicott, NY -- Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Meadville Technologies Group Ltd. to produce CoreEZ[TM] organic substrates at their Shanghai Meadville Science & Technology Ltd., Silicon...

High-capacitance thick film dielectrics?(embedded passive components research)(Column)
May 1, 2006... In my last column two months ago, I bemoaned the sad state of affairs with screen-printable thick film dielectrics. Even when packed to 95%+ by weight with randomly-dispersed high-k barium titanate and printed at 10 microns thick, the overall k...

Chemcut, Atotech release new Horizontal Electroless Copper Processing System.(Technology Today)
May 1, 2006... State College, PA -- Chemcut Corp. and Atotech USA Inc. released a new market-sized Horizontal Electroless Copper Processing System designated the Model 990D. At just 41' long and 71" wide, the system is designed to fit the needs of current...

Arlon launches AD300A Microwave Laminate.(Technology Today)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Bear, DE -- Arlon Inc. announced the availability of the AD300A Microwave Laminate, specifically designed to support Base Station Antennas and Power Amplifiers where low loss and low PIM is critical. It is also well suited for RFID Reader...

DownStream Technologies begins shipment of BluePrint for PCBs.(Technology Today)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Marlborough, MA -- DownStream Technologies LLC began shipping BluePrint for PCBs Release 1.0. BluePrint is a revolutionary new software solution that helps users quickly create the documentation that drives PCB fabrication, assembly and...

Park Electrochemical introduces new substrate in Asia.(Technology Today)
May 1, 2006... Melville, NY -- Park Electrochemical Corp. announced that its new N4000-29 180[degrees]C Tg substrate is now commercially available in Asia. Park's Nelco Products Pte. Ltd. subsidiary located in Singapore will manufacture and support the...

Supplier spotlight: soldermask.(Sun Chemical Circuits)(Company overview)
May 1, 2006... We at Sun Chemical Circuits (formerly Coates Circuit Products) have been viewed in the past as another Green Paint Supplier ("soldermask" to the connoisseur). Business in the 21st century is challenging, and our focus in these trying times is...

Process control of microvia drilling in BGA board materials.
May 1, 2006... Most modern PCB drilling systems use air-bearing spindles due to the need for extreme accuracy and high speeds up to 300,000 rpm. These motorized spindles rotate miniature drill-bits as low as 50 microns in diameter, and offer further benefits...

Predicting plated through hole life from thermal stress data: development of a test method and data analysis that utilizes thermal stress, cycle to failure data, and laminate material properties to predict plated through hole life consumed during assembly and the remaining field life.(Reprint)
May 1, 2006... Over the past ten years, two new test methods, Interconnect Stress Test [1] and Highly Accelerated Thermal Shock [2], have been developed to perform thermal cycle testing to measure plated through hole reliability. Along with traditional...

DDI.(Power People)
May 1, 2006... Anaheim, CA -- DDI Corp. named Robert Houghton Vice President, Information Technology. Houghton is chartered with leading DDI's IT efforts to drive technology throughout the company's manufacturing facilities, while increasing efficiencies in...

Innovex.(Power People)
May 1, 2006... Maple Plain, MN -- Innovex announced the resignation of Tom Paulson, Innovex's CFO. Paulson, who has been Innovex's CFO since February 2001, will accept a position as CFO of Tennant Company. For a list of positions available, check in at...

Landrex Technologies.(Lyle Sherwood appointed)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Santa Clara, CA -- Landrex Technologies Inc. announced that Lyle Sherwood has joined the company as Sales and Marketing Manager for North America and Europe. Sherwood will be responsible for marketing and sales support, management of local...

Enthone.(Power People)
May 1, 2006... West Haven, CT -- Kent Lindsay has been appointed Sales Engineer, PWB Chemistry by Enthone Inc., a business of Cookson Electronics. Lindsay will be responsible for providing sales and product support to Enthone customers in California and...

Kestrel and Merlin PCB Group.(Kestrel and Merlin PCB Group appoints Ed Smith)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Kestrel and Merlin PCB Group appointed Ed Smith as Area Sales Manager. With over 17 years of experience in the PCB industry at ISL, Viasystems and Circatex, Ed will develop new business opportunities and provide close support for a wide...

Orbotech.(Orbotech S.A. appoints Joachim Barthold )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Orbotech S.A., the European subsidiary of Orbotech Ltd., appointed Joachim Barthold Vice President of Sales for Central Europe and Customer Support for Electronics Assembly Europe. He will be responsible for all aspects of Orbotech's sales in...

Excellon Automation.(Rancho Dominguez Bank N.A. appoints Mike Joy )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Rancho Dominguez, CA -- Excellon Automation announced that Mike Joy has joined Excellon as their Northeastern Region Systems Specialist. Mike has extensive experience in the repair and service of Excellon equipment with over 13 years in this...

Multek Technology workshop wraps up four-city tour.(technology forum )
May 1, 2006... Santa Clara, CA -- In late March, Multek hosted a technology forum for its customers in Santa Clara, Calif., with topics ranging from the company's Variation Reduction Initiative (VRI), "Advanced Fabrication Solutions," and its strategy...

More do-it-yourself forecast tools.(survey of economists, economic forecasting)
May 1, 2006... The Survey of Professional Forecasters is one of the best-kept secrets in business forecasting. Every three months, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia polls scores of professional forecasters--primarily economists associated with major...

Advanced Electronic Packaging.(Advanced Electronic Packaging: IEEE Press Series on Microelectronic Systems, 2d ed.)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... Advanced Electronic Packaging, 2nd Edition, IEEE Press Series on Microelectronic Systems, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Edited by Richard K. Ulrich & William D. Brown. [c] 2006, ISBN-10 0-471-46609-3 The first edition of Advanced Electronic...

Fine lines in high yield (part CXXVIII): HDI trends and developments.(high density interconnect structure manufacturing process)
May 1, 2006... Traditional HDI (high density interconnect) structures feature microvias in so-called build-up layers. The microvias in adjacent build-up layers are off-set, or "staggered." Coreless structures, such as the ALIVH process can form staggered as...

What's in your promotion toolkit?(marketing communications, sales promotions)
May 1, 2006... Pulling together a promotion plan can be both an exciting and daunting task. You must effectively communicate your company's message across the universe of potential customers. There are many tools available along with multiple venues and...

Lean Sigma (part 1).(using lean manufacturing methodology)
May 1, 2006... "We strive to decide our own fate. We act with self-reliance, trusting in our own abilities. We accept responsibility for our conduct and for maintaining and improving the skills that enable us to produce added value."--Excerpt from...

Made in Europe: how Panasonic's laminate factory located in Pisticci, Italy, has retooled to serve Europe's changing PCB manufacturing requirements.(printed circuit boards, Matsushita Electric Corporation of America)
May 1, 2006... The last time I visited Pisticci, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, it was over fifteen years ago, my task being to vendor-assess what was then the most modern laminating plant in Europe. The company was Lamitel, which later merged...

Walt & Jon overreact in February: business is noticeably better than expected.(Market Outlook)
May 1, 2006... In our February article entitled "Achtung: This 2" X 4" to the Head Should Get Your Attention," we expressed concern about slowing U.S. end-market demand and the imbalance between electronic equipment and component orders. As a result we felt...

Back to basics part 9: flex circuit design--fundamental principles.(Flexible Thinking)
May 1, 2006... Flexible circuits are unique among electronic interconnection and packaging technologies. The technology offers a wide variety of advantages unobtainable using conventional rigid interconnection methods. Free-form integration of electronic...