CircuiTree articles from September 2007

CircuiTree archives from September 2007

U.S. PCB advocacy group growing; CircuiTree to support efforts at Anaheim conference.(Data Transper)(Conference news)
September 1, 2007... The Revere Group, previously noted in industry reports as the "Five Horsemen," a group of industry veterans who are raising the alarm about the possible demise of the PCB industry in the U.S., has added additional members. Richard Carpenter,...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
September 1, 2007... The August 2007 Supply Line reported that Baker sold wet processing equipment to Endicott for its Center for Advanced Molecular Materials, which was incorrect. The equipment will be used in Endicott's Center for Advanced Microelectronics...

Electroless Nickel defects? It's money down the drain! The solution is: Electrochemicals Nickel Sol EN.
September 1, 2007... Nickel Sol EN Removes Electroless Nickel Deposits from Printed Circuit Boards Electrochemicals, Inc. has recently introduced Nickel Sol EN, a patent pending process designed to remove electroless nickel deposits from printed circuit...

Supplier spotlight.(News)
September 1, 2007... Much has been written about the fi ght for survival for the PCB industry in North America. Regrettably we continue to see plant closures as companies struggle to fi nd ways to be competitive and profi table. One very eff ective weapon used in...

Attacks on "Made in China" label hit full steam.(The Way We See It)
September 1, 2007... Just about anything you buy off the store shelves these days has the "Made in China" label. The other night when grilling dinner, I noticed that just about everything I used, from the knives to prep the meat and vegetables to the plates and...

Unicircuit receives DSCC qualifications.(Fab Focus News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Littleton, Colo.--Unicircuit, Inc., received the following DSCC qualifications: Mil-PRF- 31032/1, Mil-PRF-31032/2, and QPL-5510. "Achieving the Mil-PRF-31032 certification is a testament to our employees and their relentless pursuit of...

Endicott ready for high-volume commercial applications in Shenzhen.(Fab Focus News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Endicott, N.Y.--Endicott Technologies, Inc., conditionally qualified its assembly operation for high-volume commercial applications in China. It leased a 40,000 sq. ft of production space from Lorom Industrial Co. in its Shenzhen facility and...

Merix expanding in southern China.(Fab Focus News)
September 1, 2007... Beaverton, Ore--Merix Corporation plans to significantly expand the capacity and technological capabilities of its Huiyang factory in southern China, to take place over the next 18 months. Technology improvements for higher layer count product...

Viasystems expands in Mexico.(Fab Focus News)
September 1, 2007... St.Louis--Viasystems, Inc., is investing to expand the capabilities in its operations located in Juarez, Mexico; the investment will add sheet metal fabrication capabilities and will be made over a two-year period. This addition will enhance...

DuPont formalizes IMEC collaboration.(Supply Line News)
September 1, 2007... Research Triangle Park, N.C.--DuPont Electronic Technologies joined IMEC as an industrial affiliate in 45 nm and 32 nm technology development programs on cleaning, contamination control, and advanced interconnects. As part of the two-year...

EMA offering SymXpert.(Supply Line News)
September 1, 2007... Rochester, N.Y.--EMA Design Automation[TM] now offers SymXpert[TM] from Perception Software. SymXpert software automates the symbol creation process by eliminating manual data entry and simplifying pin data verification. "Our goal is to provide...

Global Ltd now exclusive U.K. distributor for TCT Group.(Supply Line News)
September 1, 2007... Leamington Spa, U.K.--Global (EU) Ltd and TCT Group/Carbide International Co. Ltd., Taiwan, announced that Global will be the exclusive U.K. distributor of the TCT range of drill and router products for PCB manufacture. Global will create a...

Orbotech receives military and aerospace approval, unveils paste inspection system.(Supply Line News)
September 1, 2007... Yavne, Israel--Orbotech Ltd.'s Newprint Legend series UV curable inkjet printers now use ink that has been approved as compliant with military and aerospace standards for use in the production of bare PCBs. Achieving this standard compliance is...

PhotoMachining expands services and facility.(Supply Line News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Pelham, N.H.--PhotoMachining expanded its facility from 7,000 to 11,000 sq ft and added fi ve more employees, bring the total number of employees to 20. A 300 sq ft showroom has also been added. These expansions allow the company to keep up...

WISE makes worldwide deals.(Supply Line News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Parma, Italy--WISE Worldwide Enterprise srl received an order for FLATSTAR from Streamline Circuits, Santa Clara, Calif., which upgraded its process by introducing this equipment into its production process flow. WISE also received an order...

Freescale names Teradyne top supplier.(Supply Line News)
September 1, 2007... North Reading, Mass.--Teradyne was named Supplier of the Year for 2006 by Free scale Semiconductor; the annual award honors the Free scale supplier that consistently maintained the best overall quarterly supplier performance rating measuring...

New agreement for valor and freedom CAD.(Supply Line News)
September 1, 2007... Yavne, Israel--Valor Computerized Systems Ltd. and Freedom CAD Services formed a new agreement, allowing Valor to implement additional Enterprise 3000 DFM verification software into its high-end PCB service bureau. This agreement enables Valor...

Pure Technologies appoints Qualitek as distributor.(Supply Line News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Atlanta, Ga.--Pure Technologies appointed Qualitek Group of Companies its exclusive distributor in China, Singapore, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines; additional non-exclusive territories include the U.S., U.K., and continental...

Rohm and Haas expands pad line.(Supply Line News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Phoenix, Ariz.--Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials, CMP Technologies, announced two additions to its IC1000[TM] pad line that offer reduced defect levels and improved cost of ownership in existing high volume manufacturing processes through...

DfR opens Oakland branch.(Supply Line News)(DfR Solutions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... College Park, Md.--DfR Solutions opened a new West Coast branch in Oakland, Calif.; its headquarters are in Maryland. This representation in the Bay Area will allow DfR to better support its clients in California and throughout the western U.S....

Sharp develops environmentally friendly development system.(Data Transfer)
September 1, 2007... Sharp Corporation developed Green-Product Assessment System (G-PAS), an environmentally friendly product development system that was introduced globally and is an industry first. The system was designed to enhance development efficiency and...

STMicroelectronics and IBM to collaborate on chip technology.(Data Transfer)
September 1, 2007... STMicroelectronics and IBM signed an agreement to collaborate on developing next-generation process technology, including 32 and 22 nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor process-technology development, design enablement, and advanced...

Sanmina-SCI hires division president.(Power People News)
September 1, 2007... San Jose, Calif.--Sanmina-SCI Corporation hired Walt Hussey to be president of the technology components group, where he will be responsible for the PCB fabrication, back plane and cable assembly, precision machining and assembly, and the...

Amador joins Christopher sales staff.(Power People News)(appointment of Dan Amador at Christopher Associates Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Santa Ana, Calif.--Dan Amador has joined the Christopher Associates Inc. technical sales staff , where his responsibilities include applications, engineering, sales, and support of the company's printed circuit fabrication product lines. Amador...

Fjelstad joins Mirror Semiconductor advisory board.(Power People News)
September 1, 2007... Irvine, Calif.--Joe Fjelstad is the newest member of Mirror Semiconductor's technical advisory board. Fjelstad--author, inventor, and IC packaging expert--is the cofounder of SiliconPipe Inc. in San Jose. He is also a columnist for several...

Gene Weiner re-elected to Wong's Kong King board.(Power People News)
September 1, 2007... Hong Kong--Gene Weiner was re-elected to Wong's Kong King International (Holdings) Ltd. board of directors for his seventh two-year term. Weiner is a 50-year veteran of the interconnect industry.

Elcoteq announces management changes.(Power People News)
September 1, 2007... Espoo, Finland--Elcoteq has appointed Mikko Puolakka CFO and a member of the Elcoteq Management Team, replacing Teo Ottola; he will be based in Zug, Switzerland. Puolakka joined Elcoteq in 2001 as controller of the Industrial Electronics...

Aspocomp announces executive committee changes.(Power People News)(Aspocomp Group Oyj )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Helsinki, Finland--Aspocomp Group Oyj renewed its executive committee to expedite the group's transformation into a more efficient global organization with the primary focus of operations in Asia; in addition, all customer-related functions...

IPC creates international relations division, names Bergman as head.(Power People News)(David Bergman)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Bannockburn, Ill.--IPC created an international relations division and appointed David Bergman to head it. Bergman is currently IPC VP of standards, technology, and international relations; he also serves as secretary general of the World...

CTS names interim CFO.(Power People News)
September 1, 2007... Elkhart, Ind.--CTS Corporation named Matthew W. Long interim CFO, replacing Vinod Khilnani, who was elected president and CEO; a search for a permanent replacement has been initiated. Long, who joined CTS in 1996, will continue as treasurer.

Prototron appoints new sales managers.(Power People News)
September 1, 2007... Redmond, Wash.--Prototron Circuits appointed Tom Carney East Coast sales manager, where he will be responsible for all sales efforts in the Eastern U.S. Previously, Carney held sales management positions with Sanmina, Hadco, and Coretec. In...

Freedom CAD promotes miller to EVP.(Power People News)
September 1, 2007... Nashua, N.H.--Freedom CAD Services, Inc., promoted Scott Miller to executive vice president. This follows his promotion to vice president just a year ago and reflects his impact on Freedom CAD since joining the company three years ago as a...

Northrop Grumman names Rabinowitz corporate VP.(Power People News)
September 1, 2007... Los Angeles--Northrop Grumman Corporation's board of directors elected Mark Rabinowitz corporate vice president and treasurer; he will succeed James L. Sanford, who is retiring at the end of the year. Rabinowitz currently serves as vice...

3M releases Interconnect System.(Technology Today News)
September 1, 2007... Austin, Tex.--3M Electronics Solutions Division released the new 3M Shielded Compact Ribbon (SCR) I/O Interconnect System, which consists of an assortment of 10-pin shielded I/O connectors and accessories. Using a robust ribbon style contact...

Kodak film aids complex PCB production.(Technology Today News)
September 1, 2007... Rochester, N.Y.--Eastman Kodak Company released Kodak ACCUMAX Photoplotter Film ABG7 1907, which will be used by manufacturers to produce smaller and more complex PCBs. Designed for use on blue and green laser photoplotters, improved speed and...

Pantheon, Quantum-SITM integration boost high-speed designs.(Technology Today News)
September 1, 2007... Atlanta--Intercept Technology, Inc., partnered with SiSoft to integrate Intercept's PCB layout software, Pantheon, with SiSoft's Quantum-SITM product family, allowing users to rapidly determine interface operating margins and achieve High-Speed...

Marantz releases new AOI solution.(Technology Today News)
September 1, 2007... Reading, England--Marantz Business Electronics released the M22XDL-350 desktop AOI machine, uniting advanced technology, cost effi ciency, and powerful operator control on a reduced footprint--the smallest in the company's range of AOI systems....

CTS authorizes buyback of company stock.(Financial News)
September 1, 2007... Elkhart, Ind.--CTS Corporation's board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to 2 million of its outstanding shares in common stock, for cash, in the open market on the New York Stock Exchange or in privately negotiated transactions....

Innovex releases financial results.(Financial News)(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Plymouth, Minn.--Innovex recorded revenue of USD 18.2 million for Q3 FY 07, compared to USD 21.9 million in Q2 FY 07. Innovex reported a net loss of USD 8.2 million, or USD 0.42 per share, for Q3 FY 07, compared to a net loss of USD 7.4...

Merix reports fourth quarter loss.(Financial News)(Financial report)
September 1, 2007... Beaverton, Ore.--Merix Corporation reported a Q4 FY 07 loss from continuing operations of USD 80.6 million, or USD 3.89 per share, on revenue of USD 93.6 million, compared to income of USD 3.8 million, or USD 0.19 per share, on revenue of USD...

Hon Hai sales up for June.(Financial News)(Financial report)
September 1, 2007... Taiwan--For June, Hon Hai reported a single-month year-over-year increase of 42.36 percent at NTD 94.11 billion. For the first six months of 2007, sales increased 41.63 percent year-over-year to NTD 510.7 billion

Titan revenue continues to grow.(Financial News)(Titan Global Holdings)(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Richardson, Tex.--Titan Global Holdings, Inc., reported continued growth for Q3 FY 07, recording USD 30.8 million in revenue, or USD 0.11 earnings per share. All business segments reported continued strong revenue growth. Revenue and net...

M-Flex shareholders vote against tendering shares.(Financial News)
September 1, 2007... Anaheim, Calif.--Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc., announced that shareholders of WBL, its majority stockholder, voted against tendering WBL's shares of MFS Technology Ltd for stock consideration in the conditional offer by M-Flex for all...

Examining test equipment for today's PCB shops.
September 1, 2007... During the late 1990s and learly 2000s, our industry saw a major shift away from universal grid test systems and toward flying probe testers. This shift was driven by several factors, including lack of skilled fixture design engineers, cost of...

Balancing the scales between rigid and flex.(Ask the Flexperts)
September 1, 2007... Q: What is the weight difference per square inch between flex circuits and rigid-flex circuits? I have an aerospace application--how do I keep weight to a minimum? A: Many of today's electronic applications are weight sensitive, whether...

Design and manufacturing collaboration, a new paradigm?(Guest Editorial)
September 1, 2007... When someone shows you a typical process diagram for electronic product development, manufacturing is illustrated as a box at the end of the process. Many design organizations make the mistake of thinking that collaboration with manufacturing...

The importance of being earnest (about suppliers).(IPC Issues and Answers)
September 1, 2007... Over the last several months, I've read a couple articles where former industry suppliers have criticized their now-shuttered PCB customers. I'm not going to comment on whether or not the criticisms are justified. I think the most important...

Evalucation of Photoimageable solder resists with regard to the VOC and EuP directives.(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... The coming energy-using products (EuP) directive of the European Parliament (Eco-Design Requirements for Energy-Using Products)1 is supposed to create a frame to stimulate the integration of environmental aspects in the development and design...

IPC/EIPC EMS management meeting--10 October, 2007.(PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To register go to www.eipc. IPC/EIPC EMS Management Meeting--10 October, 2007 10:00h Keynote: Management Success in Electronics - Stefan Herr, Simon Kucher & Partners 11:30h The...

IPC/EIPC executive market & technology forum conference.(PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS)(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... IPC/EIPC Executive Market & Technology Forum Conference Day One--11 October, 2007 9:30h Keynote Address: Business Outlook for the Worldwide Electronics Industry 11:00h Geographic Strategies for Global Expansion:...

North American PCB shipments down over 2006; signs of improvement ahead.(Data Transfer)
September 1, 2007... IPC released the June findings from its monthly North American PCB Statistical Program, showing rigid PCB shipments were down 10.7 percent and bookings were down 9.8 percent from June 2006; year-to-date, rigid PCB shipments were down 10.9...

Worldwide PC shipments up more than 12 percent.(Data Transfer)
September 1, 2007... According to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker, worldwide PC shipments were up 12.5 percent in Q2 FY 07. As in Q2 FY 06, Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) is the fastest growing region, with volume increasing more than 20 percent over the...

Fine lines in high yield (part CXLIV): image-to-hole registration.(Tech Talk)
September 1, 2007... I recently learned about an elegant, novel way from Innalab to align pads to drilled holes that I'd like to share with you. (1) First, let's take a look at more traditional ways to register holes to circuit features. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Back to basics 17--terminations and interconnection features for flex circuits.(Flexible Thinking)
September 1, 2007... The next few installments of this series on flexible circuits will focus on the very important topic of termination and interconnection features used for flexible circuits. These include all of the plated through-holes (PTHs), interconnection...

PCBs, semiconductors, and nanotechnology.(Circuits Unusual)
September 1, 2007... Nanoscale materials are more easily defined as particles, films, coatings, and fine structures that fall into the 1 to 100 nm range. Nanoparticles were used long before anyone muttered the word "nano." Tires have used nanoparticles of carbon...

Excimer Laser Projection Imaging for high-Performance Circuit Board patterning.
September 1, 2007... A new class of laser projection imaging (LPI) systems has been developed that represents a breakthrough in cost-effective production of high-performance, high-volume PCBs and other microelectronic systems fabricated on large substrates. The new...

Seasonal recovery versus Wall Street.(Market Outlook)
September 1, 2007... We are in a "good news, bad news" situation. The electronics industry is entering the autumn busy season, end market demand is stable, inventories are under control, and electronic component orders are recovering from their current downward...

Evaluation of photoimageable solder resists with regard to the VOC and EuP directives.
September 1, 2007... The coming energy-using products (EuP) directive of the European Parliament (Eco-Design Requirements for Energy-Using Products) (1) is supposed to create a frame to stimulate the integration of environmental aspects in the development and...