SAN JOSE, CA -- Probe 2000 Inc. and BEST Electronics & Components Co. will set up a new probe card repair and manufacturing operation in BEST Electronics' semiconductor test factory in the Philippines. Named P2KP, the test and wafer handling operations are certified to ISO 9001 and TS 16949 standards at the 72,000 sq. ft. facility in Paranaque City.
 
For analog and mixed signal fabless companies, P2KP can provide integrated one-stop test services including probe card test program development and conversion, wafer back lapping and sorting (at three temperatures), sawing, chip-scale packaging, assembly, electrical
test, tape and reel, and drop shipment to an end customer .
 
According to the companies’ press release, key benefits include “faster release and time to market in Asia; shorter cycle times and lower cost of wafer test; improved yield at wafer sort; and comprehensive data analysis.”
 
Probe 2000 specializes in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance epoxy probe cards and related accessories. BEST Electronics & Components offers total parametric and functional test solutions for analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits.

HELSINKI -- Qualcomm has filed a complaint against Nokia, accusing the world's largest maker of cellphones of infringing on six patents related to GSM technology.

The complaint, filed with to the U.S. International Trade Commission, asks for a ban on the import and sale of certain Nokia products.
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SANTA CLARA, CA -- An opponent of pending ban on lead in solders in Europe has launched a signature drive to request an exemption.

John Burke, the principal behind RoHSUSA.com, a Website dedicated to stopping the RoHS movement, today set up a petition to the European committee responsible for the mandate, requesting an exemption for lead.


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ERIE, PA -- In order to meet manufacturing requirements for RoHS type product, Sunburst Electronics, an electronics contract manufacturer, has purchased an Electrovert OmniExcel 7 solder reflow oven and an Electrovert wave solder machine.

Speedline Technologies manufacturers the Electrovert brand.

Sunburst said in a statement that it already has orders for Pb-free products. Sunburst also said it is partnering with local and regional companies to position them for RoHS compliance by identifying lead times associated with RoHS compliant parts, searching for alternative components or suppliers, evaluating current levels of non-compliant materials, determining strategies to maximize inventory use and creating compliant bills of materials.