News
FRANKLIN, MA – On Oct. 18, Speedline will present a free Webcast on upstream solder joint defect inspection and the transition from “quality through inspection” to “quality through design,” with a concentration on the printing process.
The one-hour presentation will begin at 11 a.m. EST.
Specific areas of discussion will include an overview of the printing process; different inspection techniques; the effects of components and paste types on defects, and a review of experimental research currently underway. The ultimate goal is to predict the likelihood of solder joint defects before they occur, and to adjust design and processes to limit their occurrence.
To register, visit www.speedlinetech.com/seminars.
EL SEGUNDO, CA – Lenovo Group Ltd. regained the No. 3 ranking in the global PC market in the second quarter, but Acer Inc.’s aggressive acquisition strategy leaves analysts wondering how long Lenovo will maintain its rank.
Chinese PC OEM Lenovo shipped 4.9 million PCs worldwide in the quarter, up 22.9% sequentially, according to preliminary data compiled by iSuppli Corp. This marked the largest increase among the world’s top 10 PC suppliers – although it was only marginally ahead of the 17% sequential growth achieved by Apple Inc., says the research firm.
Hewlett-Packard cemented its position as the worldwide leader in PC shipments for the quarter. iSuppli’s latest PC forecast calls for unit growth of 11.7% in 2007 compared to 2006.
On a unit basis, Lenovo’s shipments rose by 908,000 sequentially. Lenovo reclaimed its rank from Acer, which took the No. 3 place from Lenovo in the first quarter.
This was a remarkable accomplishment, considering that overall shipments declined sequentially during the period, decreasing by 1.7%, or by 1.03 million units, says iSuppli.
Meanwhile, Acer’s PC shipments declined by 0.2%, iSuppli states.
Lenovo should enjoy its time in third – because iSuppli believes it may not last for long.
Acer’s planned acquisitions of Packard Bell and Gateway will afford the company approximately 2.5 percentage points of market share. If those acquisitions were figured into the second-quarter rankings, Acer would have retained its third-place ranking, according to the firm.
As a result of the planned acquisitions, Acer is expected to take a firm grip of the third-place position in the coming quarters, iSuppli concludes.
HP’s shipments rose to 11.2 million units, up 4.4% sequentially – and up by a whopping 35% year-over-year. HP’s market share rose to 18.3%, up from 17.2% in the previous quarter. The company’s growth in PC shipments outpaced the expansion of the overall PC industry by nearly a factor of three, says iSuppli.
Meanwhile, second-ranked Dell posted a 5.6% sequential increase in shipments. However, Dell’s shipments were down by 5% year-over-year, reflecting the company’s continued struggles, iSuppli reports.
Despite this, the shipment gap between Dell and HP remained constant between the second and first quarters, at 1.7 million units.
Four of the top five PC OEMs posted a sequential increase in sales, says the firm. Furthermore, four of the top five experienced double-digit growth year-over-year.
As a result, the proportion of quarterly shipments supplied by smaller OEMs in the “Others” category declined on both a year-over-year and a sequential basis in the second quarter, adds iSuppli.
The top three Asian PC vendors – Lenovo, Acer, and Toshiba – generated 56.3% of the combined shipments of HP and Dell, up from 54% in the first quarter.
This serves as a reminder of the strength of the North American vendors, but also illustrates that the Asian PC OEMs can increase their penetration of the market – even without major acquisitions, says iSuppli.
The notebook segment continued to drive growth in the overall PC market, with second-quarter growth of 27% on a year-over-year basis.
Chinese PC OEM Lenovo shipped 4.9 million PCs worldwide in the quarter, up 22.9% sequentially, according to preliminary data compiled by iSuppli Corp. This marked the largest increase among the world’s top 10 PC suppliers – although it was only marginally ahead of the 17% sequential growth achieved by Apple Inc., says the research firm.
Hewlett-Packard cemented its position as the worldwide leader in PC shipments for the quarter. iSuppli’s latest PC forecast calls for unit growth of 11.7% in 2007 compared to 2006.
On a unit basis, Lenovo’s shipments rose by 908,000 sequentially. Lenovo reclaimed its rank from Acer, which took the No. 3 place from Lenovo in the first quarter.
This was a remarkable accomplishment, considering that overall shipments declined sequentially during the period, decreasing by 1.7%, or by 1.03 million units, says iSuppli.
Meanwhile, Acer’s PC shipments declined by 0.2%, iSuppli states.
Lenovo should enjoy its time in third – because iSuppli believes it may not last for long.
Acer’s planned acquisitions of Packard Bell and Gateway will afford the company approximately 2.5 percentage points of market share. If those acquisitions were figured into the second-quarter rankings, Acer would have retained its third-place ranking, according to the firm.
As a result of the planned acquisitions, Acer is expected to take a firm grip of the third-place position in the coming quarters, iSuppli concludes.
HP’s shipments rose to 11.2 million units, up 4.4% sequentially – and up by a whopping 35% year-over-year. HP’s market share rose to 18.3%, up from 17.2% in the previous quarter. The company’s growth in PC shipments outpaced the expansion of the overall PC industry by nearly a factor of three, says iSuppli.
Meanwhile, second-ranked Dell posted a 5.6% sequential increase in shipments. However, Dell’s shipments were down by 5% year-over-year, reflecting the company’s continued struggles, iSuppli reports.
Despite this, the shipment gap between Dell and HP remained constant between the second and first quarters, at 1.7 million units.
Four of the top five PC OEMs posted a sequential increase in sales, says the firm. Furthermore, four of the top five experienced double-digit growth year-over-year.
As a result, the proportion of quarterly shipments supplied by smaller OEMs in the “Others” category declined on both a year-over-year and a sequential basis in the second quarter, adds iSuppli.
The top three Asian PC vendors – Lenovo, Acer, and Toshiba – generated 56.3% of the combined shipments of HP and Dell, up from 54% in the first quarter.
This serves as a reminder of the strength of the North American vendors, but also illustrates that the Asian PC OEMs can increase their penetration of the market – even without major acquisitions, says iSuppli.
The notebook segment continued to drive growth in the overall PC market, with second-quarter growth of 27% on a year-over-year basis.
Apple reported the highest sequential growth in notebook shipments of the top 10 PC OEMs, at 27%. Lenovo reported the second highest sequential growth, says iSuppli.
SANTA ANA, CA — Christopher Associates today announced an agreement to distribute and provide engineering support for First EIE's photoplotters and inkjet printers in the North America.
In support of First EIE, Christopher Associates has located a complete spare parts inventory in Santa Ana with engineering support throughout North America.
First EIE has a reported 500 photoplotters installations worldwide.
SACRAMENTO, CA – The California state Air Resources Board yesterday proposed a host of environmental rules aimed at reducing greenhouse gases from a variety of sectors including semiconductor makers.
ORLANDO – The date will change, but SMTA International will return to Orlando next year, the SMTA announced today.
DONGGUAN, CHINA — Top-tier EMS company Elcoteq has expanded its manufacturing plant here, doubling the total floor space to about 26,000 sq. meters.
The site builds high volumes of box-build and sub-assemblies for communications products such as mobile phones, LCD driver modules and base stations.
As part of the expansion, the production area and warehouse were enlarged and the cleanroom upgraded.
The site employs a reported 2,500 workers.
LOUISVILLE — EMS and military components supplier Sypris Solutions today raised its financial outlook for 2007 to reflect a settlement with a large customer involved in bankruptcy proceedings.
MOUANS SARTOUX CEDEX, FRANCE -- Automated optical inspection OEM ViTechnology named Jean-Yves Gomez, 46, chief executive officer.
He had been with STMicroelectronics since 1984, most recently as head of the imaging division, which developed camera modules including sensors, mechanics and optics.
He had been with STMicroelectronics since 1984, most recently as head of the imaging division, which developed camera modules including sensors, mechanics and optics.
BALVE, GERMANY – The previously announced merger between Cobar Group BV and Balver Zinn became official today, as ownership of Cobar was transferred to the non-ferrous metals producer.
BOSTON -- Teradyne Inc. and Solectron Corp. last month extended their standard manufacturing agreement to include additional manufacturing and test requirements, including final, configuration and test for most of Teradyne's Flex family of
products.
The work for the new requirements will be done by Solectron's Suzhou subsidiary. The agreement with Solectron will expire in 2010, and may be automatically extended for subsequent annual terms.
The companies did not specify the value of the extended agreement.
The original agreement dates to Nov. 24, 2003.
The work for the new requirements will be done by Solectron's Suzhou subsidiary. The agreement with Solectron will expire in 2010, and may be automatically extended for subsequent annual terms.
The companies did not specify the value of the extended agreement.
The original agreement dates to Nov. 24, 2003.
SAN JOSE -- Arena Solutions and Symphony Consulting on Sept. 13 will release findings from a recent joint survey on manufacturing outsourcing challenges and best practices.
Over 800 manufacturers responded and results were "startling," the companies said in a press release. For example, research revealed that while 85% of manufacturers surveyed outsource part or all of their manufacturing operations, nearly two-thirds risk the associated cost-savings because they lack adequate control and processes.
The study results will be revealed in a free webinar Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. Pacific.
Arena senior vice president of operations and strategic development Mark Holman and Symphony co-founder and president Bijan Dastmalchi will host.
To register, visit arenaplm.com/forms/int_outsourcingwebinar_ma_07q3.
Over 800 manufacturers responded and results were "startling," the companies said in a press release. For example, research revealed that while 85% of manufacturers surveyed outsource part or all of their manufacturing operations, nearly two-thirds risk the associated cost-savings because they lack adequate control and processes.
The study results will be revealed in a free webinar Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. Pacific.
Arena senior vice president of operations and strategic development Mark Holman and Symphony co-founder and president Bijan Dastmalchi will host.
To register, visit arenaplm.com/forms/int_outsourcingwebinar_ma_07q3.
NORTH BILLERICA, MA -- BTU International and DEK International announced a partnership to provide complete in-line metallization process solutions to photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers.
The joint effort combines DEK's printing and handling technologies and BTU's drying and firing technologies to form a complete turnkey metallization line for solar cells.
BTU chairman and CEO Paul van der Wansem said in a statement, "Our goal is to offer our customers the lowest cost per watt process. The partnership with DEK will allow us to deliver powerful, total solutions to our global PV customers."
The joint effort combines DEK's printing and handling technologies and BTU's drying and firing technologies to form a complete turnkey metallization line for solar cells.
BTU chairman and CEO Paul van der Wansem said in a statement, "Our goal is to offer our customers the lowest cost per watt process. The partnership with DEK will allow us to deliver powerful, total solutions to our global PV customers."
