ANAHEIM, CA – The electronics segment of the Electronics West show held at the Anaheim Convention Center earlier this month was small, covering perhaps three or four rows, only half applicable to electronics manufacturing. But overall, the show seemed really busy.

What couldn’t be discerned: how many of the floor walkers were among the ranks of the unemployed looking for leads on new jobs.

No matter their reason, the attendees were there. Not present, however, were new products. A few companies did mention plans to roll out new gear at Apex. The hot topic was – surprise – the economy.

Several EMS companies exhibited, a nice surprise and a wise tactical move considering the larger show targeted the medical and industrial sectors. Not surprisingly, then, Stellar Microelectronics, a big name in medical product assembly, was present, as were Altron Inc., Accurate Electronics, Winland Electronics, ACME PCB Assembly and Quality Systems.

Among the suppliers that exhibited were InnovX Systems, Revco Products, ITW Chemtronics, Henkel, OK International and others.

What we may see more of is models like those of Express Manufacturing Inc., a privately held EMS firm based in the US but with growing (but manageable) capacity in low-cost regions. The contract assembler runs four plants in Santa Ana, CA, plus a new factory in China. The 1100 total workers (750 in the US, 350 in China) run the two sites as a seamless two-factory operation, says John Koon of EMI. Moreover, a quarter of EMI’s sales are from offshore customers.