ESSEX, ENGLAND – PCB solder finishes are one of the most common causes of soldering defects and rejection of PCBs during assembly, according to recent surveys, says Bob Willis.

Design and process engineers highlighted solder finishes 35%, with delamination at 25%; third place were cosmetic faults.

As part of the NPL Defect Database, one survey showed that currently open joint failure is the most common issue. PCB solder finish was seen as the second biggest issue.

A free poster guide covers different pad finish examples at different magnifications, two solderability testing methods, and many of the common process problems associated with PCB surface finishes.

The guide is available at www.bobwillisonline.com/posters.

SHENZHEN – Nam Tai Electronics today reported second-quarter net sales of $113.9 million, up 11.9% year-over-year.

TEMPE, AZ – Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in July for the 12th consecutive month, says the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI was 55.5%, down 70 basis points.

A reading above 50% indicates the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.

New orders fell 5 percentage points to 53.5%. Production decreased 4.4 points to 57%. Inventories grew 4.4 points to 50.2%, and customer inventories were up 1 point to 39%. Backlogs dropped to 54.5%, down 2.5 points.

“Manufacturing continued to grow during July, but at a slightly slower rate than in June. Employment, supplier deliveries and inventories improved during the month and reduced the impact of a month-over-month deceleration in new orders and production. July marks 12 consecutive months of growth in manufacturing, and indications are that demand is still quite strong in 10 of 18 industries. Prices that manufacturers paid for their inputs were slightly higher but stable, with only a few items on the short supply list,” said ISM spokesperson Norbert J. Ore.

The overall economy grew for the 15th consecutive month, according to the firm.

SAN JOSE -- Global semiconductor sales rose 7.1% sequentially in the second quarter to $74.8 billion.

June sales were up 0.5% over May to $24.9 billion, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today.

SINGAPORE -- Surface Mount Technology Holdings said its fiscal first-quarter loss narrowed to HK$6.6 million ($850,000) from HK$16.4 million ($2.1 million) last year.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Inspection equipment OEM CyberOptics reported second-quarter net income rose to $969,000, up from a net loss of $1.92 million last year.

OLATHE, KS -- Elecsys Corp. announced a net loss of $20,000 for the quarter ended April 30, up from a net loss of $70,000 last year.

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics reported second-quarter net income of $20.8 million, up 75% over a year ago.

MINNEAPOLIS -- HEI Inc. generated net income of $79,000 for its second quarter ended July 3, reversing a net loss of $168,000 last year.

MUNICH -- ASM Pacific Technology has reached an agreement to buy Siemens' electronics assembly placement equipment business. ASM will pay €1 for the unit, and Siemens will provide €29 million as a nonrefundable cash-payment.

WASHINGTON – As the US bleeds manufacturing jobs, a House of Representatives committee has approved a bill designed to stem the tide.

The legislation would require the president to direct a board of federal officials, private sector executives and a bipartisan group of governors to assess the state of manufacturing and make recommendations. The goal is to produce a four-year national strategy for building US manufacturing competitiveness.

Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), who sponsored the bill, asserts America has lost one-third of its manufacturing jobs during the past decade. "[T]these job losses were not inevitable, and I do not accept the notion that there is nothing we can do."

The bill could be voted on by the full House today, and Lipinski is in discussion with Senate colleagues on a similar bill.

CHENNAI, INDIA – Foxconn halted operations this week at its plant here in response to protests after more than 250 staff became sick and were taken to a local hospital.

Foxconn said it closed the facility to be "checked and cleared by the relevant local authorities."

The firm’s license reportedly has been temporarily revoked, but Foxconn expects to reopen its plant by next week.

According to published reports, the firm believes the incident was caused by pesticide exposure. However, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, responsible for revoking the firm’s license because of negligence, said symptoms were consistent with inhaling a manufacturing cleaning liquid.

A policy analyst noted India’s numerous healthy and safety regulatory laws have not been well implemented.