Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

SAN JOSE -- Tessera Technologies, a fabless chip packaging company, has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase certain assets of Shellcase Ltd., for $33 million in cash. The deal is pending standard closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the December quarter.

Shellcase is a provider of commercial wafer-level image sensor packaging. Its technology portfolio includes wafer-level packaging for image sensors and other devices used in cellphones that integrate digital cameras.

"Tessera is one of the world's leading technology development and licensing companies. This, in combination with the Shellcase technology and team, will enable us to grow the new business substantially," said Bruce McWilliams, Tessera's chairman and chief executive officer. "Furthermore, it solidifies our position in the wafer-level packaging market for image sensors and MEMS devices, which we believe to be among the semiconductor industry's fastest growing market segments."

According to Prismark Partners, a research firm, the image sensor market is expected to grow from approximately 520 million units in 2004 to approximately 1.3 billion units by 2009. And In-Stat forecasts the MEMS market to grow from 2.4 billion units in 2004 to nearly 6 billion units by 2009.

HERNDON, VA -- A pair of trade groups will discuss implementation and adoption of material composition data exchange standards at Productronica this month.

IPC and iNEMI will sponsor the meeting, scheduled for Nov. 16 from 9 to noon.

SALT LAKE CITY -- CirTran Corp., a contract electronics manufacturer, said today that it has obtained marketing and distribution rights to The Perfect Grill, an electric indoor grill sold through infomercials in the U.S., Canada, Japan and South America. The company also obtainted worldwide manufacturing rights.

CirTran said the agreement, signed last week with Euro-G.E.M GmbH of Aschheim, Germany, is effective immediately.

CirTran-Asia, a subsidiary, already builds the device in China.

ANAHEIM, CA -- Bruce McMaster, president and chief executive of quickturn PCB maker DDi Corp., resigned today, effective immediately. The company named senior vice president and CFO Mikel Williams to replace him. A new CFO will be sought. DDi is the 8th largest U.S.-based PCB company, with sales of about $195 million last year, although in terms of revenues from U.S. operations it ranks fourth.

ENDICOTT, NY -- Endicott Interconnect Technologies, a supplier of electronic interconnect solutions and turnkey manufacturing services, announced a contract to supply several major components in support of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Program for Raytheon-Network Centric Systems.

Endicott Interconnect will be responsible for PWB design, fabrication and circuit card assembly production of multiple components in support of this program.

The E-2D Hawkeye aircraft is used by the U.S. Navy primarily as an all-weather, airborne battle management and command and control center. It has been in active service with the U.S. Navy since 1973. The major components of the Advanced Hawkeye are among the latest in a continual series of modifications and upgrades to enhance the aircraft's capabilities.

"With Endicott Interconnects new win with Raytheon, we further enhance the company's position as the 'Supplier of the Future' to Raytheon," said Jay McNamara, chief executive. "From our initial engagements through today, we've made the commitment to deliver unparalleled customer service, technical support, improved quality and manufacturability in the products we build for Raytheon. Our staff of experienced professionals will continue to support the Raytheon team with development efforts on the Advanced Hawkeye, as well as other programs," he said.

SAN JOSE – Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose 5.2% sequentially to $19.6 billion in September, the SIA reported today. Global chip sales increased 5.6% over September 2004.

Third-quarter sales were up 8.9% sequentially.