SAN ANTONIO – SMT machine software sales hit $312.4 million in 2006 and will grow 35% to $558.3 million in 2013, according to research firm Frost & Sullivan.
The research firm says complete integration and ease of communication down the SMT line have driven software market growth. Customers are reportedly also more concerned with pricing and quality of the machine now, and not with the software that accompanies it.
“The SMT software market has been rejuvenated not only due to increase in equipment sales, but also due to increasing automation and technology of the software itself,” says Frost senior research analyst Lavanya Ram Mohan. “As the demands for increased integration, communication, quality and factory level optimization rise, these markets are likely to accrue significant revenues in future.”
HANOI -- Foxconn, the world's largest contract manufacturer, will invest up to $1 billion toward a large industrial park in Vietnam, according to published reports.
"Vietnam has become a very efficient country for production and it will become a major production area for us outside of China," Hon Hai spokesman Edmund Ding told Reuters.
Previous reports indicated the company plans a massive (50 hectacre) park where it would build computer, communications and consumer electronics.
The Commercial Times quoted Ding as saying chairman Terry Guo decided to look into Vietnam after going there himself on a business trip late last year.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil Circuit is finalizing a
previously announced deal to acquire handset case maker Taiwan Green
Point Enterprises Co. Ltd. for $871 million, the companies said Jan.
15.
SURREY, ENGLAND -- TT Electronics expects profits for the year ended Dec. 31 to be in-line with previous forecasts.
"The market for electronic components in 2006 has been significantly better than the previous year and we expect this to continue into 2007," the company said.
TT Electronics provides sensors, resistors and other components, and EMS services.
The company said its EMS operations are "performing strongly" since its restructuring.
BRUSSELS -- The latest round of exemption requests for the RoHS Directive closed Friday with an overwhelming response for allowing lead use in electronics solder.
More than 325 support responses were submitted, nearly all for item 15, a proposed exemption for lead submitted by RoHSUSA.com.
THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN – Digi-Key and Cree have signed a global distribution agreement for Cree’s silicon carbide-based power devices.
Cree manufactures silicon carbide semiconductors. Digi-Key stocks Cree’s Schottky diodes with voltage ratings reportedly ranging from 300V to 1200V and current ratings from 1A to 20A.