Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

MONTE CARLO -- Dell today made a series of announcements concerning its continuing environmental efforts. The company stated that it exceeded a 2004 product recovery goal and outlined aggressive environment goals for the current year. The company is also refreshing its corporate desktop line and making an advance toward the RoHS directive.

Dell exceeded product recovery goals set for its last fiscal year and announced expanded global environmental goals for recycling, environmental design and energy efficiency, including a 50% product recovery increase. The goals and progress on environment and social initiatives are available at www.dell.com/environment.

Last year, the company committed to increase product recovery from customers by 50% (as measured by weight recovered). Strong growth of ARS in the U.S. helped the company recover more than 24 million pounds of used product from customers, a 234% increase over fiscal year 2004 results. Worldwide, Dell recovered nearly 66 million pounds of product during the period. Dell remains committed to increasing product recovery rates, as reflected by its goal of another 50% product recovery increase during 2006.

The company’s OptiPlex GX520 and GX620 desktop systems introduced today also take steps toward compliance with the RoHS directive by featuring lead-free power supplies, motherboards and chassis.

The systems also give customers flexibility to deploy systems based on specific needs. Customers can choose from seven chassis between the two products, including mini-tower, desktop, small and ultra-small form factors that offer expandability options. The systems share a single software image across all chassis. The small form factor chassis can be installed behind an flat-panel monitor for an all-in-one, “zero-footprint” system.

In addition to the standard limited warrantythat accompanies each system, Custom Factory Integration (CFI), Deployment Services and Asset Recovery Services (ARS) help increase the value of the technology purchase.

As systems are being built, Dell’s build-to-order process enables customized image management to occur in the factory environment. Through CFI, Dell can load customer-defined images, software, asset information and integrate hardware components as part of manufacturing. Once set up, Dell can replicate the CFI process one system at a time or thousands at a time.

Customers can benefit from having a Dell technician install their new systems. Dell installation services range from simple system set-up to complex deployments that coordinate roll-outs to multiple sites and meet tight customer deadlines.

ARS take the hassle out of retiring old computer equipment. ARS will recycle the system responsibly or when feasible, recondition and offer its market value to the customer if resold.

MORTON, IL -- Preco Electronics Inc. has completed the sale of its manufacturing operation to Vansco Electronics, a Canadian EMS firm.

The Preco plant designs and manufactures electronics systems and components for heavy equipment.

The acquisiton gives Winnipeg, Canada-based Vansco a U.S. footprint, and the company is looking for more acquisitons of electronic controls makers.

ST. LOUIS -- LaBarge Inc. has been awarded a multi-year, $24 million contract by Raytheon Missile Systems to provide cables and harnesses for the Joint Standoff Weapon system.

The impact on 2005 revenues is expected to be $1.65 million, LaBarge said.

The contract has an estimated value of $24 million through 2012.

Work will be performed at LaBarge's Joplin, MO, facility. LaBarge is a contract electronics assembler.

The Navy uses JSOW in its fighter jets as a glide weapon. It uses GPS information to find its target.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Predicted growth rates for IT are at their lowest point since November 2003, according to the latest poll of the nation's CIOs.

Spending growth rates for the next 12 months fell to 4.8% in May, down from 7.9% last month, according to the monthly poll taken by CIO magazine. Spending projections in all categories fell month-over-month, except outsourced IT services.

Menlo Park, CA - OK International, which over the past few years has acquired several leading producers of benchtop assembly systems, is consolidating those product lines under the OK International name, the company said today.

In a statement, the company said that the Metcal, Techcon Systems and Impell lines of workbench products would now be sold under the OK International brand.

SALT LAKE CITY -- CirTran Corp. today announced outside investors have poured $3.75 million in cash into the contract electronics manufacturer's operations in a move that also cut interest payments by more than half.

CirTran issued a $3.75 million convertible debenture to Highgate House Funds, Ltd., a New York investment group. CirTran used the funds to retire separate notes of $1.7 million and $565,000, respectively.

CirTran gained a net cash of $1.24 million, which will be used to fund its operations in the U.S. and China," founder and president Iehab J. Hawatmeh said in a press statement.

CirTran will also save $254,000 -- 57% -- in annual interest payments.

Last week, CirTran reported EBITDA of $26,518 and positive shareholder equity for the first quarter of fiscal 2005.