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MINNEAPOLIS – Sungchul Joo, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology is winner of the 2006 Charles Hutchins Educational Grant.

The SMTA Grant Committee selected Joo for his project, Rapid Prototyping of Micro-Systems Packaging by Data-Driven Chip-First Approach Using Nano-Particle Metal.

Recently his experience has been in chip-first approach, embedded actives, and nano-interconnection, as well as evaluation of nano-particle metal, demonstration of embedded actives packaging, reliability testing at fine pitch, demonstration of data-driven process and rapid prototyping systems.

Joo has a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Inha University in Korea, and a master's in mechanical engineering from Yonsei University in Korea.

Joo hopes to work in the field of electronics assembly and packaging. He believes that he can combine his interest in applying creative thought to the electronic packaging field to help create new packages of his own in the future. His goal is to help create smaller and lighter laptop computers, more functional cell phones, and faster desktop computers, leading to increased convenience and comfort to consumers.

The award includes a $5,000 honorarium for the student, plus travel expenses to SMTA International. UP Media Group, parent company of Circuits Assembly, donates $5000 from the proceeds of its Service Excellence Award program toward the grant each year.

This grant was established in memory of past SMTA president and industry colleague Charles Hutchins, who died in May of 1997. For more information, or to make a donation, visit the Hutchins Grant section on smta.org or contact SMTA executive administrator JoAnn Stromberg at 952-920-7682 or joann@smta.org.

http://www.smta.org/hutchins/hutchins.cfm

SAN JOSE -- Flextronics announced today that it has entered into a agreement with Juniper Networks to manufacture the company's security and networking products worth an estimated $350 million in revenue in calendar 2007.

Juniper did not state how the addition of Flextronics will affect its current EMS vendors, which include Plexus and Celestica, which currently split the business evenly.

ANGLETON, TX -- Electronics contract manufacturer Benchmark Electronics today reported sales of $749 million for the June quarter, up 33.5% over last year. Net income was $27.5 million, or up 47% from a year ago.

Benchmark guided for third quarter sales of $710 million and $750 million, and raised its full year guidance to $2.76 billion to $2.85 billion.

GLENVIEW, IL -- The worst kept secret in the industry was made official as Illinois Tool Works has finalized its acquisition of solder-paste supplier Kester Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

NEWTOWN, CT – TUV Rheinland of North America, a provider of compliance testing and certification, is offering North American component manufacturers testing services for European certifications. This includes DIN, EMC testing, ENEC, HAR, and other certifications required by the European Community.

“We are very pleased to be expanding our testing portfolio to include component testing for European certifications,” says Dan Sullivan, division manager, product safety at TUV Rheinland of North America. “Our customers have been asking us to provide these services to help them expand their marketplace into Europe and we are pleased to now be able to help them certify their products for sale in the European Union. This service will help manufacturers with meeting their time-to-market objectives.”

NEENAH, WI -- Plexus Corp. will add about 60,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space in China, bringing its total in the Xiamen Xiangyu Free Trade Zone to 120,000 sq. ft. The company will use the space for high-mix, mid-to-low volume production.

The addition is expected to be completed by mid-2007, and production is expected to begin 60 to 90 days later.