Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Riding the Storm Out at SMTAI

ORLANDO – Orlando: You’ll come for the rain. You’ll stay for the wind.

Or because of it, perhaps.

Tropical Storm Fay, which as of this writing was still threatening to upgrade to hurricane status, put a damper on the second annual SMTA International trade show, although those who braved the elements were treated to a strong technical conference and an eye-opening keynote.

The show floor was slow by most standards. While the weather did not attain epic storm proportions, it cast an ominous pall over the area, and doubtlessly convinced many to stay away. (It also reminded many of the earthquake that hit Anaheim, CA, during Nepcon West about 20 years ago.) There were a few new products, including a very low cost BGA rework system from Shenzhen-based Jovy Systems (shown by AV Repair, its distributor in the US).

In her luncheon keynote Wednesday, Dr. Sharon Nunes, vice president of Big Green Innovations at IBM, who got her start in flex circuits some 20 years ago, stressed the role IT could play in helping companies and governments conserve resources. Noting that many of the earth’s minerals, including lead, tin, copper, indium and others, were on pace to run out within 50 years, Dr. Nunes said greater collaboration would be needed, and in short order, to head off worldwide crises. Most populated regions, including the entire Middle East, most of Asia, Central America, and Africa will have no access to clean, potable water at some point in most of our lifetimes, she said. Meanwhile, overall population growth – especially among the middle class – is rampant, stressing not just the earth’s natural resources, but transportation and energy systems to the max. Today, China and India are planned cities capable of handling 10 million to 20 million, she noted. The US, meanwhile, houses 3% of the world’s population, yet consumes more than 25% of its resources. And while Europe is attempting to tackle the situation, a resolution will require global participation.

Using true bidirectional communication, well designed IT systems can help governments and businesses achieve greater efficiency and cost-savings for water management, carbon management and energy use, she said, pointing to several successes in IBM-led pilot programs.

Also at the luncheon, SMTA presented its annual awards.
The SMTA+ Corporate Award, for an SMTA corporate member company that has shown exceptional support of the SMTA, went to Circuits Assembly. The magazine joined Celestica as the only two-time recipients of the award.

The Founder’s Award, for the person who has made exceptional contributions to the industry and the SMTA, went to Dr. Paul Vianco of Sandi National Labs.

Dr. Bev Christian of RIM and Dave Hillman of Rockwell Collins received the Member of Technical Distinction Award, for individuals who make significant and continuing contributions to the SMTA over a period of at least three years.

Dale Lee of Plexus won the Excellence in Leadership Award for exceptional dedication to the SMTA. Bob Willis garnered the International Leadership Award.

Lei Nie, a graduate student at the University of Maryland, received the Charles Hutchins Educational Grant, a $5,000 stipend toward her research work. (Circuits Assembly provides the stipend.)

SMTA’s Oregon chapter was named chapter of the year.