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EL SEGUNDO, CA – Because of explosive growth in consumer demand for LCD digital TVs, semiconductors used in such TV sets are expected to boom, with global revenue set to nearly quadruple from 2006 to 2011, iSuppli Corp. predicts.
 
The worldwide market for semiconductors used in LCD TVs is expected to rise to $7.4 billion in 2011, up about 73% from 2006. By 2011, LCD TV chips will account for 84.2% of total DTV chip revenue, up from 54.3% in 2006, according to the firm.
 
Chip shipments for LCD TVs will rise to 178 million units in 2011, up about 46% from 2006. LCD TV chips will account for 77.4% of the DTV semiconductor shipments in 2011, up from 55.5% in 2006, says iSuppli.
 
These numbers account for all the chips on DTVs’ and LCD TVs’ A/V boards, which include display processors, input/output chips, audio, memory, and other devices.
 
In contrast, the overall global DTV chip market, which is comprised of LCD TVs, plasma sets, CRTs and rear-projection televisions, is expected to rise at a slower rate, increasing to 230 million units by 2011, up about 66% from 2006, reports iSuppli.
 
This forecast indicates that the LCD TV segment has become the driving force behind the global DTV semiconductor business, propelling revenue growth and generating the most attractive opportunities for television chip suppliers, the company says.
 
The rise of DTV and LCD TV is being driven by multiple factors, including the migration to digital sources for television content and mandated digital broadcasts in most of the world’s countries during the next 10 years. Other factors include the emergence of new displays with attractive form factors, like LCDs and plasma sets, and – most important – because of the rapidly falling prices of large-sized flat-panel TVs. In 2008, flat-panel TVs will account for more than 50% of the total global television market, says iSuppli.
 
Semiconductor revenue for A/V boards used in DTV sets will grow to $8.8 billion in 2011, rising at a CAGR of 19.4% from 2006. This growth in revenue will occur despite the continuous drops in average selling prices for semiconductors used in DTVs. However, the price decline will be tempered by the continuing trend to integrate more functions into DTV display processors, the firm concludes.
SINGAPOREFlextronics International has completed its acquisition of Solectron Corp., forming the world's second largest EMS company, with some $30 billion in annual revenues. Flextronics expects to pay approximately $1.07 billion in cash and issue approximately 221.8 million Flextronics ordinary shares pursuant to the merger.

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SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Top members of the IPC Apex committee revealed that next year's show will feature hospitality suites. IPC policy has heretofore banned the suites and related "commercial" activity.
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EDINA, MN – Papers for SMTAI 2008 are being solicited in the following categories: emerging technologies, components, assembly, PCB technology and business. 

Abstracts are due Jan. 7 and will be accepted as of Mar. 3. Final papers are due June 1.

Papers should describe significant results from experiments, emphasize new techniques, and contain technical, economic or appropriate test data. Material should be original, unpublished and noncommercial in nature.

Submit an abstract using the online form: http://www.smta.org/smtai/call_for_papers.cfm. Be sure to obtain approval to both write and present prior to submitting an abstract.

For more information, visit http://www.smta.org/smtai/CallforPapers.pdf

SMTA International will return to Orlando for the second consecutive year. The conference and show will move to Disney’s Coronado Springs Hotel, Orlando, FL, from Aug. 17-21, 2008.

PALO ALTO, CA -- Agilent Technologies will host users of its AOI, automated x-ray inspection and ICT systems in a series of meetings to discuss board test challenges, case studies, best practices, implementation successes, industry trends and considerations for developing an effective board test strategy.

The sessions take place Oct. 10, in Orange County, CA, and Oct. 11 in Santa Clara, CA.

The company invites automated test professionals interested in learning, sharing, and networking with Agilent experts and other board test users. Register at www.agilent.com/find/atug.





BOULDER, CO – PCB supplier Circuit Images has named industry sales veteran Dan Spencer as its vice president of sales and marketing.
 
In his new position, Spencer will be responsible for all sales efforts throughout the U.S. and Canada.
 
Spencer has worked for Hadco, Coretec and most recently Sanmina.
LONDON -- The SMART Group will give away copies of its Lead-Free Defect Guide at Productronica next month.

The 28-page, color guide features many of the common and less obvious defects seen during the introduction of lead-free products. It shows defects associated with components, boards, design, materials, assembly and rework. It also includes some issues which may be seen on field returns.

Copies will be available at the SMART Group booth, Hall 4, stand 303 in the British Trade Area. Productronica takes place Nov. 13-16 in Munich.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American shipments of rigid PCBs fell 10.1% and bookings dropped 5.1% in August year-over-year, IPC announced today.
 
Flexible circuit shipments were down 24.7% and bookings were off 10% year-over-year.
 
Compared to July, combined shipments of rigid and flexible boards rose 9.2% and bookings were up 13.1%. 
 
Combined shipments decreased 11.1% year-over-year, and orders booked decreased 5.4%. Year to date, combined shipments are down 10.1% and bookings are down 12.3%.
 
Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are down 10.4% and bookings are down 13.4%.  Compared to the previous month, rigid PCB shipments increased 9.8% and rigid bookings increased 12.8%.
 
Year to date, flexible circuit shipments are down 5.4% and bookings are up 6.3%. Sequentially, flexible circuit shipments increased 0.4% and flex bookings were up 17.7%. 
 
The rigid book-to-bill ratio climbed to 1.06, and the flex circuit book-to-bill rose to 1.07. The combined book-to-bill was 1.06.
 
SINGAPORE – EMS revenues in Southeast Asia topped $20.7 billion in 2006 and are on track to reach $38.4 billion in 2013, Frost & Sullivan said today.

The region is benefiting from migration of multinational providers from the U.S. and Europe looking to reduce their manufacturing costs and underutilized capacity, says Frost.

EMS providers generally prefer making investments in larger markets such as China and locating near OEMs customers. However, with long-term growth expected, they are likely to set up or expand their existing bases in Southeast Asia to minimize the risks of concentrating on just a few geographical areas, says the firm.

Medium-volume products such as medical equipment and automotive electronics are seen as the better fit for Southeast Asia, since EMS providers will have sufficient volume to cover fixed costs. These products contain a high degree of IP specific to OEMs, thereby presenting a significant entry barrier for original design manufacturers (ODMs) and any new participants. Hence, specializing in low-volume products can prove advantageous to EMS providers in the long term, Frost reports.

EMS providers can also benefit from pursuing collaborative design with OEMs and share any IP created, rather than providing complete design services to prevent any conflict of interests. This arrangement can also provide EMS providers with the knowledge and skills gained during the design phase to the manufacturing phase of a product, reports Frost.  
BOSTON -- 3Com Corp., once an icon of the high-flying tech industry, is going private. The company agreed to a $2.2 billion buyout by Bain Capital Partners in an all-cash deal announced Friday. The deal is expected to close next year.
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil on Thursday night reported net profit of $11.7 million on a 3.3% gain in sales for its fourth quarter. Read more ...

NEENAH, WI -- A Plexus Corp. plant in Penang, Malaysia, has received Food and Drug Administration approval to make medical devices that meet Class III performance standards.

The approvals brings to three the number of FDA-registered Plexus manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Malaysia, two of which are now approved to manufacture Class III medical devices.

 

 

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