CircuiTree articles from October 2003

CircuiTree archives from October 2003

InPlan CAM instructions.(Enrich CAM directly from the honey pot)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Here is the next logical step in CAM-planning integration. Now planners can easily and directly send job specific tooling instructions as electronic files to CAM--and automatically manage their control & execution. Corrective actions can be...

Superior clear liquid phototool protection.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Scotchgard[TM] Phototool Protection System is the right choice for superior performance in phototool protection. The ultra-thin liquid coating, which is transformed to a solid by a cool UV light source, delivers 100% adhesion, eliminating...

IPC: we're in America's corner.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... Regarding some of the recent letters you've received, IPC is doing a tremendous amount to support the competitiveness of U.S. PCB manufacturers. Some of the recent initiatives of the IPC Government Relations committee include: Buy...

'Buy American' proposal un-American?(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... IPC's support of the "Buy America" proposal is misguided and counter-productive to the real task at hand. If I didn't have a personal interest in the outcome of the results of this discussion in Congress, I wouldn't be writing. On the other...

Your new step to the future: Evolution 3 directed light unit.(AUTOMA-TECH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... --A fully automatic double-sided exposure unit --All technology HDI: inner, outer, solder, conformed, lead frame, LCD... --High energy (until 120 mw/c[m.sup.2]) --High throughput: 4 to 5 panels/minute --Setup time ...

Stable via filling for vertical and horizontal application.(Advanced Solutions for Acid Copper Plating)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... More and more PCB and IC substrate designs require copper via filling. Based on comprehensive R & D and two years production experience, Atotech has developed and established solutions for vertical and horizontal application. [ILLUSTRATION...

We can handle the heat; manufacturers of release film for all temperature ranges.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Airtech has been handling the heat for laminators since 1973. With three manufacturing facilities across the globe, we supply release films for rigid, rigid-flex and flex circuit manufacturers worldwide. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Wither Europe?(The Way We See It)(the decision is being made to move 100 percent of manufacture there, and ... often it's the wrong decision)
October 1, 2003... When Flextronics Vice President of Sales Caroline Dowling urged her company's OEM customers to use European and North American PCB and assembly facilities rather than automatically selecting Chinese facilities, it came as a shock. Here is the...

The decline of the laminate industry? Are Asian manufacturers taking the lead? A report from the European front.
October 1, 2003... A glance at the market figures for the laminate industry in the West (i.e., the U.S. and Europe) underlines just how catastrophic the situation has become, even for the supplier industry. In 2000, laminate consumption was at 44 million...

I have an idea: if no one hears it, what would happen?(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Would it restart a heart? Would it pinpoint someone lost at sea? Would it teach people to read? Would it cure the sick? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An idea by itself can't change the world. That takes something profoundly greater. It takes...

The idea: give teams of industry experts the resources they need to test, analyze and solve customer problems.(www.shared-intelligence.com)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... First we considered your needs. Today that means maintaining quality and yields with fewer in-house capabilities. Then we thought, why not offer a team of highly skilled scientists and application engineers working with the world's most...

P.D. Circuits.(People)(Andy Slade hired as quality manager)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... P.D. Circuits Inc. hired Andy Slade as the company's Quality Manager. He brings a wealth of experience and technical knowledge, having started in circuit board manufacturing in 1976. Over the years he has held positions in both Engineering and...

Ceco Industries.(People)(Tony Sy hired as Asia business director)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Anaheim, CA--Ceco Industries Inc. hired Tony Sy as Asia Business Director. With a B.S. in Math/Industrial Engineering from Tunghai University (Taiwan), an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from St. Mary's University (Texas), and post-graduate...

MacDermid.(People)(Salim Haji joins company as vice president of strategic planning and development)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Waterbury, CT--MacDermid Inc. announced Salim Haji joined the company as Vice President Strategic Planning and Development. Haji will bring his experience to help organize top line growth initiatives. Prior to joining MacDermid, Haji was a Vice...

Merix.(People)(Kevin P. McClelland hired as director of quick-turn operations)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Forest Grove, OR--Merix Corp. hired Kevin P. McClelland to fill the newly created position of Director of Quick-Turn Operations. McClelland has over 20 years experience in PCB manufacturing operations, specifically in the quick-turn...

Park Electrochemical.(People)(Murray O. Stamer elected CFO and Senior Vice President)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Lake Success, NY--Park Electrochemical Corp. elected Murray O. Stamer as CFO, as well as Senior Vice President of the company. Stamer has held several financial positions at the company since 1989. He was elected Senior Vice President, Finance...

Dielectric Polymers.(People)(Pamela J. Siano becomes vice president of sales and marketing)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Holyoke, MA--Dielectric Polymers Inc. announced Pamela J. Siano as the company's Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Formerly with Tyco Adhesives, Permacel and Avery Specialty Tapes Division, Pam brings extensive experience in the pressure...

Sefar America.(People)(Daniel Gilsdorf promoted to manager of the technical center; Rick Adams promoted to national sales manager for screen printing division)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Sefar America promoted Daniel Gilsdorf to an expanded role within his current position as Manager of Sefar America's Technical Center. He will now be a member of the R & D team for corporate screen printing, Switzerland, in addition to his...

RD Chemical.(People)(Louis Quinones appointed sales and technical service representative)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Mountain View, CA--RD Chemical appointed Louis Quinones as Sales and Technical Service Representative. He has extensive knowledge of both PCB manufacturing and experience in the application of process chemicals. Quinones' responsibilities...

Static electricity: a flex circuit manufacturing's phantom menace.(Flexible Thinking)
October 1, 2003... Welcome to October. This is the month in which Halloween, the festival of mischievous ghosts and goblins, is celebrated. What better time to discuss the phantom menace of static electricity, one of the banes of flex circuit manufacturing? ...

Are you ready for tomorrow's journey?(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Reliability and cost-control are two of the toughest demands we see on the horizon. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Park/Nelco's solution is the N4000-7 FR-4 substrate system which has been engineered to provide CAF-Resistance on a high value...

Fine lines in high yield (part XCVII): size-holding of phototooling films.(Tech Talk)
October 1, 2003... Size-holding problems with artwork are quite common (Ref. 1) and can often be traced back to misunderstandings about the fundamental variables and their controls. My colleague, Bob Seyfert, recently reported on one such misunderstanding and...

Aspocomp Oy sells Teuva PWB facility.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Helsinki -- According to the Helsinki Stock Exchange Daily Bulletin, Finnish PWB manufacturer Aspocomp Oy sold its fixed assets and inventories at its Teuva, Finland, factory to Cibo-Print Oy. The factory's 100 employees will be hired by...

Lamination: a neglected process.
October 1, 2003... Improperly handling materials can cost your company thousands of dollars every year. What you need to know about lamination procedures. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The lamination process is the "Rodney Dangerfield" of printed circuit board...

Shadow[R] evolution with Fixer Technology.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... PWB manufacturers have been driven to provide product with high density circuitry utilizing through hole and blind microvias. Current metallization systems have not proven to be as reliable as Shadow[R] with Fixer Technology. SHADOW[R]...

March Plasma moves into new headquarters.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Concord, CA -- March Plasma Systems moved into new headquarters. March occupied their new 12,000 square foot facility in August 2003. Located just around the corner from their current facility, the new building will house March's engineering...

Gould says restructuring to improve financial strength.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Eastlake, OH -- Gould Electronics Inc. was restructured by its Japan-based parent company, Nippon Mining Holdings Inc. and its three primary business groups: Nikko Metals, Japan Energy Co. and Nikko Materials Co. Ltd. The producer of printed...

Turning Point Capital buys Excellon.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Torrance, CA -- Investment firm Turning Point Capital (Portland, OR) acquired Excellon Automation. Rick Tippett, continuing as Excellon President, said, "For many years Excellon has been a driving force in the PCB industry and we are very...

MacDermid reports $12 million profit, Leever 'optimistic'.(Suppliers)(CEO Daniel H. Leever reports continued solid performance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Waterbury, CT -- During a recent conference call, MacDermid Inc. said its profits increased by 25 percent during the second quarter, but sales remained flat. The specialty materials provider to the PCB industry reported over $12 million in...

Cookson gets license for GETEK[R] laminate and prepreg materials.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Londonderry, NH -- Cookson Electronics Inc. entered into a license agreement with GE Electromaterials (Coshocton, OH), a business component of GE Plastics. In conjunction with this license and related agreements, Cookson's PWB laminates...

Dainippon Screen enhances North American presence.(Suppliers)(Mark Fine Co. Ltd. enters distribution agreement)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Santa Ana, CA -- Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd. entered into a sales and service agency agreement with Mark Fine Co. Ltd. (Kyoto, Japan) and Christopher Associates Inc. (Santa Ana, CA, USA) for distribution of the PI-8000 automatic optical...

DDi goes live with PROMS Enterprise Solutions.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... DDi went live with PROMS's ProCIM Enterprise Solution at the Silicon Valley facility in June. DDi has fully integrated its business solutions with PROMS's ProCIM Manufacturing Solution that enables the business to manage its entire enterprise....

Viking Test Services announces more sales.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Viking Test Services sold another Emma flying probe tester into the U.K. Paragon Circuits (Peterborough) chose the Emma system because of its fast test speeds and easy operation. Paragon Circuits' is a privately owned, independent PCB...

Increase your yields... use a Teknek clean machine.
October 1, 2003... The Teknek CM6 gives unrivailed cleaning performance. The robust design of the clean machine includes our high performance adhesive roll, guaranteed to be thicker and last longer than any other roll, providing superior cleaning 24 X 7 X...

When the old ways become arid and impassable it's time to choose new solutions!(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Flying grids NEWTEST S24-25A-L-C PATENTED BARE BOARD TESTING SYSTEM --Fixtureless! --High speed accuracy testing --4 independent flying grids --720 probes --2 independent test systems --Automatic optical...

Revolutionary thermal shock technology.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... HIGHLY ACCELERATED THERMAL SHOCK* Ground Breaking Test Methodology Saves Time & Money: * 36 coupon capacity with 4 nets per coupon * Reduced operating cost over dual chamber systems * Temperature cycles from -60 to +160C *...

Embedded passive technology from a PCB maker's perspective.
October 1, 2003... As demand for embedded passives technology enters the mainstream, this article focuses on reduced tolerances and improved long-term stability, related to embedded resistor technologies. In addition, approaches like laser trimming, modification...

The next generation of buried capacitance material is here.(FARADFLEX[TM])(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... OAK-MITSUI TECHNOLOGIES HAS DEVELOPED A NOVEL THIN SUBSTRATE THAT IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF ZBC[TM] LICENSED MATERIAL. FARADFLEX[TM] is the only licensed polymer film based substrate that can be used when enhanced performance is required...

Coates Circuit Products, the height of knowledge, manufacture and products in circuits for a range above the rest, see our product guide.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... LPI--SOLDERMASKS (FULL RANGE INCLUDING HALOGEN FREE AND LDI), ETCH/PLATING RESISTS, HOLE PLUGS, PEELABLES, CONDUCTIVE INKS Coates Circuit Products Together, From Good to Great A Division of SunChemical UK and Corporate...

Coretec's quarterly sales improve, but still reports losses.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Toronto, Canada -- Coretec Inc. reported sales in the second quarter of 2003 were $17.7 million, a 2% increase from sales of $17.3 million in the second quarter of 2002. Gross profit in the second quarter of 2003 was $4.2 million (24% of sales)...

Endicott Interconnect, Maxtek reach agreement.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Endicott Interconnect Technologies Inc. (EI) reached a service supplier agreement with Maxtek, a provider of microelectronics packaging and interconnect services, to design and develop turnkey microelectronics packaging solutions joining the...

Merix gets improved web site.(Fabrication)(MarComm Design completes Merix's web site)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Portland, OR -- MarComm Design completed Forest Grove-based Merix's Web site. "The website ties in nicely with our redesigned brochures, technical notes, tradeshow displays and annual report," John Stephens, Director of Market Development for...

Samtec evolves from connector supplier to PCB maker.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... New Albany, IN -- Samtec announced it has gone from being a manufacturer of connectors with a focus on quick delivery, to a company that can also help its customers design and build their entire system. The company is betting that a key part of...

Printline A/S expands focus to export markets.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Printline A/S announced it will increase its focus on export markets. The Danish PCB manufacturer opened a sales office in Germany and plans to open more sales offices in Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Although the company says it...

Gold Circuits transfers work to mainland.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In a move being made by more Taiwanese PCB manufacturers, Taiwan-based Gold Circuits Electronics Co. Ltd. announced it has transferred its 4-, 6-, and 8-layer PCB motherboard production lines to its offshore factory in Suzhou, China. C. N....

IMI chooses Coherent laser system.(Fabrication)(IMI Inc. installs new laser system for trimming circuit boards)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Haverhill, MA -- IMI Inc. purchased and installed a Coherent model K150, 150 Watt Class One, Diamond 64[per thousand] sealed C[O.sub.2] laser system from Laser Advantage (Nashua, NH). IMI will use the new laser system for enhanced laser...

DDi files Chapter 11, reduces debt.(Fabrication)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Anaheim, CA -- DDi Corp. and DDi Capital Corp., a subsidiary of DDi Corp., filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The reorganization involves a restructuring of only the debt and equity securities of DDi Corp....

When the Beatles toured America in 1963, pop music was never the same.(FABFOUR)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... When the FABFOUR tours America, North American sales and service will never be the same! Has the recession been a Hard Day's Night? Do you need Help remaining competitive? Our FABFOUR combines the talents of four top-notch European...

Chemical sensors and measurement in process control part III: controller & delivery systems.(Happy Thoughts)
October 1, 2003... This is the final part of a three-part series on chemical sensors and measurements. In Part II, I described the intermediate devices and advanced systems in PCB manufacturing: Spectrophotometers, Amperes-hour, Electro-Analytical (Voltametric),...

Point. Click. Build.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
October 1, 2003... NEW RELEASE! CAM350 8.0 is Now Available CAM350 Release 8.0 Improves the Manufacturability and Reliability of PCB Designs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] First-time manufacturability of PCBs that capture your design intent can only...

DownStream announces Customer Training and Educational Services Program.(Products.)(DownStream Technologies L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Bolton, MA -- DownStream Technologies LLC announced a new Customer Training and Educational Services Program. The program is designed to help new and existing customers maximize their investment in the CAM350 product line by providing detailed...

Ultrasonic Systems Develops Thin Film Coatings.(Products.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Haverhill, MA -- Ultrasonic Systems Inc. developed the Prism 100 coating system, designed to coat the entire surface of a flat substrate quickly. The system uses USI's patented Ultra-Spray ultrasonic technology that delivers improved control...

The Printed Circuit Buyer's Resource Center takes off.(Products.)
October 1, 2003... El Dorado Hills, CA -- The founders of BoardBuyers.com introduced The Printed Circuit Buyers Resource Center (PCBRC), the only Resource Center dedicated to the PCB Buyer and Specifier. Developed to support purchasing professionals, Engineers,...

Christopher Group announces lead-free solder pastes and fluxes.(Products.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Santa Ana, CA -- Christopher Group Inc. now offers a complete range of solder pastes and wave soldering fluxes for lead free processing applications from Koki Company Ltd. JS-11-E no clean wave soldering flux has been formulated to be used with...

Lackwerke Peters announces photoimageable via fillers.(Products.)
October 1, 2003... When printing via hole fillers, smearing around the via to be filled can hardly be avoided. If, however, the surface near the via must remain uncoated, as for instance in the case of pads, the smears must be removable. Here the two-pack via...

Orbotech launches imaging system with solid state laser.(Products.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Yavne, Israel -- Orbotech Ltd. introduced its new DP-100SL[TM] direct imaging system with solid state laser following successful completion of production testing and acceptance at two leading European PCB manufacturing facilities. Featuring a...

Rogers' materials help make cars 'smarter'.(Products.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Rogers, CT -- Rogers Corp. announced a variety of its materials have been designed into automotive applications that assist today's drivers to avoid both moving and stationary objects, as well as provide improved comfort and convenience....

Mentor Graphics releases new Boardlink version.(Products)(Mentor Graphics Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Wilsonville, OR -- Mentor Graphics Corp. released the latest version of its FPGA BoardLink[TM] tool, automating the integration of FPGA and PCB design processes to reduce design times. FPGA BoardLink's automated synchronization takes only...

DDi files Chapter 11, reduces debt.(Dynamic Details Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Anaheim, CA -- DDi Corporation and DDi Capital Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DDi Corp., filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The reorganization involves a "restructuring" of only the debt and equity...

Total electrolytic copper solutions.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Advanced Chemistry [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Technic Cu 2300 * Two Component Replenishment * Excellent DC Distribution * Widest Operating Range * Lowest Cost [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Technic Cu 3300 * Three...

Why doesn't Japan import more boards?(Asian Aspects)(Column)
October 1, 2003... First, I have to thank Dr. Hayao Nakahara for providing me with the topic for this month's column. Dr. Nakahara was kind enough to respond to my column in the June issue with a letter to the editor in the August issue. I think that the two of...

Creating dream materials.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Introducing High Tg, All-in-one FR-4 Material (Tg 175[degrees]C) for Lead-Free Soldering Processes [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When it comes to developing next generation High Tg, FR-4 material, TUC realizes it has to be combined with CAF...

Exhibition season: PCB industry prepares for fall classics in Tapei and Munich.
October 1, 2003... October is upon us. That means one thing for the electronics industry: Time to check out the latest equipment, materials, and services at two of the world's largest PCB trade shows. This fall, the Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA) Show...

The perfect assortment.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Experience a variety of activities at IPC Printed Circuits Expo 2004. From the unsurpassed technical conference to quality workshops and tutorials to solid standards development meetings, Expo is the preeminent event in the printed circuit...

Growth of the survivors.(Market Outlook)
October 1, 2003... As the global PCB market (Chart 1) plunged 26% from $42.6 billion in 2000 to $31.6 billion in 2002, the N. American market was hit even harder. For all the reasons we are tired of hearing about (including the Asian shift), N. America PCB...

If you thought we were tough before, you should see us now.
October 1, 2003... Introducing Duratool[R]Eclipse[TM]. It's virtually indestructible. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] InteliCoat has developed a revolutionary diazo film so powerful it just made all other phototools, including our own, obsolete. Introducing...

Many may claim to be your partner {but few are partners you want}.(Samsung Electro-Mechanics has the technology and services to supply you quickly with the quality printed circuit boards you need)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Words are easy, but finding a real partner is another matter. Search no more. Samsung Electro-Mechanics has the technology and services to supply you quickly with the quality printed circuit boards you need. We are a friend you can truly rely...

TRI--successful community information program or burdensome regulatory boondoggle?(Environmentally Speaking)(Toxic Release Inventory)
October 1, 2003... On June 30, EPA released the 2001 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data, including data from approximately 8,500 first-time reporters forced to file under the lowered reporting threshold for lead and lead compounds. As industry representatives...

Book review of Dr. Eric Bogatin's Signal Integrity Simplified.(Book Review)
October 1, 2003... We had the privilege to read the draft manuscript of this publication that is scheduled to issue in September 2003. First a word about the author: Eric Bogatin, the Chief Technology Officer at GigaTest Labs, has over 23 years of experience in...

EFT Fast Quality Service, Inc.
October 1, 2003... FULL SERVICE * FINAL FINISHES ELECTROLESS NICKEL IMMERSION GOLD OMIKRON IMMEPSION TIN ELECTROLYTIC "HARD" GOLD OSP IMMERSION SILVER NICKEL/PALLADIUM GOLD QUALITY GUARANTEE OVER 30 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE...

CircuiTree takes another giant leap!(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Our new Market and Technology Research page on CircuiTree.com offers subscribers exclusive access to some of the most important research in the industry. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Need to find out about how embedded passive technology...

Date with the future.(Calendar)
October 1, 2003... Productronica 2003 is the international electronics-manufacturing industry's largest and most important event in the world. It features the entire spectrum of important market trends and new solutions. If you get your information here, you know...

APICAL[R] polyimide film your needs are our future.
October 1, 2003... APICAL[R] Polyimide Film is designed to fit your needs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At Kaneka, we're always working to make sure that we have exactly the right film for your industry's requirements. AVAILABLE NOW * APICAL[R] AV, NP...

Making the Connection.(Shipley Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Make the connection with Radiance, Shipley's new Universal Dry Film Resist. The advanced proprietary formulation provides broad process latitudes with superb adhesion, resolution, tenting, conformance and chemical resistance. Radiance improves...