SAN FRANCISCO -- Aggressive pricing pressure and excess capacity are hurting margins at providers of EMS and ODM services, a top investment bank said today.

Noting the "disappointing" margins of the last quarter turned in by Taiwan-based ODMs Hon Hai, Asustek and Quanta, Deutsche Bank asserted that further downsizing is ahead for the industry.

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The National Physical Laboratory seeks papers for its "Electronics Assembly" conference and exhibition to be held July 13 at NPL's Teddington, UK, facility.
 
A program committee, drawn from university and industry members, will review submitted papers in a range of disciplines, including: emerging technologies, components, assembly, lead-free and business trends.
 
For more info, visit: http://www.npl.co.uk/ei/clubs/sstc/.
 
While visiting the site, also note that the FAQ page ( www.npl.co.uk/ei/news/faqs.html ) has been updated and extended.
 
It now poses the "Top 37 Questions" giving answers and offering advice on a range of topics relevant to lead-free soldering, including the WEEE/RoHS directives, compliance, solder replacements, equipment upgrades, component compatibility, reliability and training.

HARRISBURG, PA - Tyco Electronics Corp. will close its Austin PCB manufacturing plant by July 1, and lay off about 190 employees, according to a news article.

Mike Ratcliff, a spokesman for Tyco, told a local paper that work from the 240,000 sq.-ft. plant will be transfered to other Tyco plants. The Austin location has stopped taking orders for PCBs but will fulfill existing orders.

"The printed circuit group has been evaluating how best to operate the business, reduce costs where possible and eliminate duplication," Ratcliff says. "It's a competitive industry."

Tyco purchased the plant from Raytheon, which in turn obtained it through a large purchase of the defense business from Texas Instruments.

There has been no report at this time of other Tyco operations closing down.