Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Current Issue

News

ARLINGTON, VA - After bouncing back in February from the annual January dip, electronic component orders took a slight downturn in March, according to the monthly order index compiled by the Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA).

"Many manufacturers believed that this year's first quarter would be a repeat of the strong growth in Q1 2004," said Bob Willis, ECA president. "Depending on what happens with end markets, the fluctuations might continue into the second quarter."

In addition to general industry caution, Willis sites factors such as the rising price of wholesale oil, trade imbalance and the federal deficit having a dampening effect on the market.

The ECA represents manufacturers and producers of passive and active electronic components, component arrays and assemblies, and materials and support services. It is a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) that reportedly represents 80% of the U.S. electronics industry.

April 8 -- PBR Seminars will launch "Differential Traces and Impedance," a two-hour technical Webinar, on April 27 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. PDT (1-3 p.m. EDT). Doug Brooks, a signal integrity expert who regularly speaks at the PCB Design Conferences, is the featured speaker.

According to Brooks, differential circuits and differential signaling are becoming more common on today's PCBs. Differential circuits have several advantages over their single-ended counterparts, including a better signal/noise ratio, more precise signal timing and immunity from external noise sources. Brooks will explain the advantages and disadvantages of differential circuits compared to single-ended circuits, and cover the sometimes confusing issue of common-mode noise as it applies to each type of circuit.

For more information or to register, visit www.pbrseminars.com.The Webcast will also be available after the seminar, and additional Webinars will be announced soon.

PBR Seminars is a joint venture between UP Media Group and PCB007.

Eindhoven, The Netherlands, April 8 -- Assembléon, has appointed APS France Equipments to represent its SMT placement line in France. APS is a member of the Propelec S.A. group, which represents Assembléon in Spain and Portugal.

Assembléon's director region Europe, Ton Cornelissen, said, "Propelec has a very positive attitude to the SMT market and to its customers ... We've shared a very satisfying relationship with the Propelec group in Spain, and have every confidence in the company's capability to represent us in France in cooperation with Assembléon France SAS."