News
VANCOUVER, BC -- Northstar Electronics reported second quarter revenues were down 4.8% to $346,152 versus last year.
For the three months ended June 30, the company incurred a loss of $213,335, up from a loss of $238,743 in 2005. Revenues include government assistance.
Northstar specializes in sonar technology, systems integration and electronics contract manufacturing.
For the three months ended June 30, the company incurred a loss of $213,335, up from a loss of $238,743 in 2005. Revenues include government assistance.
Northstar specializes in sonar technology, systems integration and electronics contract manufacturing.
LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Synova has secured financing of $ 8.1 million, put up largely by Swiss banks, to develop micromachining centers (MMCs) in key high-tech regions worldwide.
The MMCs are designed to fuel adoption of Synova's Laser MicroJet technology. With over 50 full-production machines at 30 different customer sites, the company is committed to developing localized centers to allow quick customer support. With the technology already qualified in the electronics market, the new financing will allow the company to delve into other industries and application areas.
"This funding comes at a pivotal time for Synova," said its chief executive, Bernold Richerzhagen. "Laser MicroJet has experienced phenomenal traction in recent years, and our global expansion efforts are aligned with the market's demand for innovative cutting technology. Our MMCs will allow us to effectively anticipate and serve the needs of our global customer base as we further penetrate not only the semiconductor market, but also burgeoning, precision-centric sectors such as inkjet print-head MEMS, hard disk drives and organic light-emitting diodes."
Last month, Synova announced that its first MMC, located in the Silicon Valley, will open in January 2007. It will feature an applications lab and the most recent Laser MicroJet tool -- the LDS 300 A. Future MMCs, planned to open throughout 2007 and 2008, will house similar tools.
The MMCs are designed to fuel adoption of Synova's Laser MicroJet technology. With over 50 full-production machines at 30 different customer sites, the company is committed to developing localized centers to allow quick customer support. With the technology already qualified in the electronics market, the new financing will allow the company to delve into other industries and application areas.
"This funding comes at a pivotal time for Synova," said its chief executive, Bernold Richerzhagen. "Laser MicroJet has experienced phenomenal traction in recent years, and our global expansion efforts are aligned with the market's demand for innovative cutting technology. Our MMCs will allow us to effectively anticipate and serve the needs of our global customer base as we further penetrate not only the semiconductor market, but also burgeoning, precision-centric sectors such as inkjet print-head MEMS, hard disk drives and organic light-emitting diodes."
Last month, Synova announced that its first MMC, located in the Silicon Valley, will open in January 2007. It will feature an applications lab and the most recent Laser MicroJet tool -- the LDS 300 A. Future MMCs, planned to open throughout 2007 and 2008, will house similar tools.
High Wycombe, England -- The U.K.-based SMART Group is hosting three events this fall that center around Pb-free assembly and the RoHS/WEEE legislation.
Troublshooting your Assembly Process + Lead-Free Clinic will take place on Sept. 26 at the Oxfordshire Conference Centre in Thame. The program will look at the practical problems of Pb-free in manufacture and failures in the field, focusing on potential and current issues. Delegates can also bring their own manufacturing issues for free support from the “SMART Lead-Free Advice Clinic;” delegates can also email questions in advance to be answered in “LEADOUT Question Time”.
The next event, a Practical Lead-Free Rework & Repair Workshop, will take place in the same location on Oct. 11. It provides an opportunity to learn different repair procedures and techniques. During the event, each delegate will have a Pb-free board to hand solder or rework with a selection of alloys and inspect to gain first-hand experience.
On Nov. 7, the Wycombe Football Club Conference Centre will host the SMART Group Legislation Update. This event will follow on from RoHS, with what has happened since the July 1 implementation, and look at other legislation challenges, including WEEE, EuP and REACH.
For more info., visit smartgroup.org.
Troublshooting your Assembly Process + Lead-Free Clinic will take place on Sept. 26 at the Oxfordshire Conference Centre in Thame. The program will look at the practical problems of Pb-free in manufacture and failures in the field, focusing on potential and current issues. Delegates can also bring their own manufacturing issues for free support from the “SMART Lead-Free Advice Clinic;” delegates can also email questions in advance to be answered in “LEADOUT Question Time”.
The next event, a Practical Lead-Free Rework & Repair Workshop, will take place in the same location on Oct. 11. It provides an opportunity to learn different repair procedures and techniques. During the event, each delegate will have a Pb-free board to hand solder or rework with a selection of alloys and inspect to gain first-hand experience.
On Nov. 7, the Wycombe Football Club Conference Centre will host the SMART Group Legislation Update. This event will follow on from RoHS, with what has happened since the July 1 implementation, and look at other legislation challenges, including WEEE, EuP and REACH.
For more info., visit smartgroup.org.
Chicago -- Powell-Mucha Consulting is offering a tutorial on Creating Competitive Advantage in Today’s EMS Market. It will take place on Sept. 28, during the SMTA International conference in Chicago,
“EMS marketers face a lot of challenges: low budgets, prospects with unrealistic cost expectations, competitive issues and cycles of changing technology,” said Susan Mucha, president and tutorial instructor. “But, these challenges have been repeating themselves for decades. This tutorial looks at industry patterns and discusses strategies to overcome both current short-term challenges such as the transition to RoHS compliance and sustaining challenges such as finding adequate budget in a low margin industry. We also dissect the entire EMS value proposition and look at business models appropriate in various industry tiers.”
The tutorial covers five key areas: sources of competitive advantage in EMS services, brand
definition/promotion, lead qualification/mindshare maintenance, packaging EMS services and
account acquisition strategy development.
For more info., visit: smta.org/smtai/tutorials.cfm.
“EMS marketers face a lot of challenges: low budgets, prospects with unrealistic cost expectations, competitive issues and cycles of changing technology,” said Susan Mucha, president and tutorial instructor. “But, these challenges have been repeating themselves for decades. This tutorial looks at industry patterns and discusses strategies to overcome both current short-term challenges such as the transition to RoHS compliance and sustaining challenges such as finding adequate budget in a low margin industry. We also dissect the entire EMS value proposition and look at business models appropriate in various industry tiers.”
The tutorial covers five key areas: sources of competitive advantage in EMS services, brand
definition/promotion, lead qualification/mindshare maintenance, packaging EMS services and
account acquisition strategy development.
For more info., visit: smta.org/smtai/tutorials.cfm.
In addition to the tutorial, Powell-Mucha Consulting and Circuits Assembly have jointly organized a Contract Manufacturing Symposium on the morning of Sept. 27. The Symposium features six speakers in two sessions titled: Exploring the Dollars and Sense of EMS and EMS Program Management. For more info. on this session, visit: smta.org/smtai/symposium.cfm#cm
Oyster Bay, NY - - In the past year, the stationary form of WiMAX (fixed WiMAX or 802.16-2004) has seen steady adoption in the marketplace. But the mobile version, 802.16-2005, will be here sooner than many people think, according to ABI Research.
"ABI Research sees fixed WiMAX sales hitting a peak in 2007 and then leveling off," said principal analyst Alan Varghese. "Mobile WiMAX will start to see deployments in 2007, and the crossover point between the two will be late in 2008. Considering that it takes a year to design ASICs and then more time to design them into end-equipment, vendors up and down the value chain need to be discussing the required tradeoffs in their strategy meetings now."
Performance, power consumption and cost requirements for WiMAX ICs become much more challenging on the mobile platform. MIMO will be required, which means increased circuitry, so IC vendors may have to trade off MIMO performance for die area, power usage and price. The ASP for the WiMAX RF is about $15 and for the baseband about $23; the total is more than the BOM for a low-tier device, so considerable cost reduction is needed, ABI says.
According to the research group, WiMAX IC companies such as Beceem Communications and Runcom that went straight to the mobile platform are being shadowed by companies such as Redpine Signals, RF Magic, Sequans, Sierra Monolithics, Telecis and Wavesat, which have honed their skills through deployments in fixed WiMAX. Competition will also come from giants such as Fujitsu and Intel that understand the mobile platform intimately all the way from RF to applications.
"ABI Research sees fixed WiMAX sales hitting a peak in 2007 and then leveling off," said principal analyst Alan Varghese. "Mobile WiMAX will start to see deployments in 2007, and the crossover point between the two will be late in 2008. Considering that it takes a year to design ASICs and then more time to design them into end-equipment, vendors up and down the value chain need to be discussing the required tradeoffs in their strategy meetings now."
Performance, power consumption and cost requirements for WiMAX ICs become much more challenging on the mobile platform. MIMO will be required, which means increased circuitry, so IC vendors may have to trade off MIMO performance for die area, power usage and price. The ASP for the WiMAX RF is about $15 and for the baseband about $23; the total is more than the BOM for a low-tier device, so considerable cost reduction is needed, ABI says.
According to the research group, WiMAX IC companies such as Beceem Communications and Runcom that went straight to the mobile platform are being shadowed by companies such as Redpine Signals, RF Magic, Sequans, Sierra Monolithics, Telecis and Wavesat, which have honed their skills through deployments in fixed WiMAX. Competition will also come from giants such as Fujitsu and Intel that understand the mobile platform intimately all the way from RF to applications.
Marlborough, MA -- Software simulation company Flomerics has released a survey highlighting the conflict that often occurs between meeting thermal, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and signal integrity (SI) design requirements in new PCB designs. 59% of respondents agreed that thermal and EMC requirements are usually in conflict in PCB design (23% disagreed). 60% agreed that thermal and SI requirements are usually in conflict in PCB design (23% disagreed).
However, the survey reveals positive communication and collaboration between electronic and mechanical design engineers at most companies. 64% of respondents described communication as “good” or “very good”, 31% as “needs to improve” and just 4% as “very poor”. 56% of respondents stated that “better software interfaces between electronic and mechanical software would greatly improve collaboration between electronic design engineers and mechanical design engineers”, while 28% said “software is not the issue - good management, human interaction, etc. are more important”.
Respondents were also asked to identify the percentage of new designs that overran time and cost budgets, and the most common causes of such overruns. Most respondents (50%) said that 10 to 30% of new PCB designs overran time and cost budgets, while 4% said projects went over time/budget more than half the time. The most common causes of time and budget overruns were: design requirement changes (59%); circuit design (39%); thermal problems (34%); EMC problems (32%); SI problems (30%); physical layout problems (22%); and routing problems (19%). Respondents were allowed to specify more than one cause.
The survey also provides insights into typical PCB design flows and processes. The average design cycle time for a new PCB design from concept to final testing and manufacturing signoff was specified at 6 to12 weeks by 50% of respondents, more than 12 weeks by 29% and less than 6 weeks by 21%. When asked what generates the greatest pressure on the PCB design function, 54% said “functionality and performance”, 30% said “time to market” and 14% said “cost”.
For a copy of the survey, visit www.flomerics.com/contact.
However, the survey reveals positive communication and collaboration between electronic and mechanical design engineers at most companies. 64% of respondents described communication as “good” or “very good”, 31% as “needs to improve” and just 4% as “very poor”. 56% of respondents stated that “better software interfaces between electronic and mechanical software would greatly improve collaboration between electronic design engineers and mechanical design engineers”, while 28% said “software is not the issue - good management, human interaction, etc. are more important”.
Respondents were also asked to identify the percentage of new designs that overran time and cost budgets, and the most common causes of such overruns. Most respondents (50%) said that 10 to 30% of new PCB designs overran time and cost budgets, while 4% said projects went over time/budget more than half the time. The most common causes of time and budget overruns were: design requirement changes (59%); circuit design (39%); thermal problems (34%); EMC problems (32%); SI problems (30%); physical layout problems (22%); and routing problems (19%). Respondents were allowed to specify more than one cause.
The survey also provides insights into typical PCB design flows and processes. The average design cycle time for a new PCB design from concept to final testing and manufacturing signoff was specified at 6 to12 weeks by 50% of respondents, more than 12 weeks by 29% and less than 6 weeks by 21%. When asked what generates the greatest pressure on the PCB design function, 54% said “functionality and performance”, 30% said “time to market” and 14% said “cost”.
For a copy of the survey, visit www.flomerics.com/contact.
Framingham, MA – In a recent report from Manufacturing Insights, supply chain research director Bob Ferrari identifies intellectual property protection and supplier strategies as the top two risk areas facing manufacturing and retail executives with operations in China. Other risk areas include logistics and transportation, infrastructure, and national as well as local political events.
Ferrari authored the report, which is based on the results from MI’s annual Low Cost Manufacturing in China survey.
Ferrari authored the report, which is based on the results from MI’s annual Low Cost Manufacturing in China survey.
Kunshan, China -- Nanya PCB will invest around $613 million to expand PCB materials production capacity of its plant in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China, DigiTimes reported.
The company will expand capacity for producing glass yarn and glass fabric by 40,000 tons and 9 million sq. m., respectively, the paper said. Nanya is also expected to soon finish the second-stage capacity expansion at the plant, with the CCL (copper-clad laminate) capacity to exceed that of the company's Taiwan operations by the first half of 2007.
The company will expand capacity for producing glass yarn and glass fabric by 40,000 tons and 9 million sq. m., respectively, the paper said. Nanya is also expected to soon finish the second-stage capacity expansion at the plant, with the CCL (copper-clad laminate) capacity to exceed that of the company's Taiwan operations by the first half of 2007.
ARLINGTON, VA – Electronic component orders were flat in July, marking the second consecutive month that the 12-month average showed little or no gain (compared to 2005). The four-to-five-week index, which shows order fluctuations over a 10-year period, was down according to the monthly report compiled by the Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA).
“We’re pretty much in a holding pattern,” said Bob Willis, ECA president. “The fact that the four-to-five-week index is down is more indicative of a strong month last July compared to 2004 than any significant development last month. The flat 12-month moving average probably reflects a wait-and-see attitude among manufacturers based on uncertainty over the current economic and political climate.”
“We’re pretty much in a holding pattern,” said Bob Willis, ECA president. “The fact that the four-to-five-week index is down is more indicative of a strong month last July compared to 2004 than any significant development last month. The flat 12-month moving average probably reflects a wait-and-see attitude among manufacturers based on uncertainty over the current economic and political climate.”
NEW YORK -- EMS sales from the North American automotive industry are likely
to grow from $1.1 billion in 2005 to $3.1 billion by 2012, according to Frost & Sullivan.
The uptick is due to greater outsourcing of certain key operations and a higher amount of electronic content
to grow from $1.1 billion in 2005 to $3.1 billion by 2012, according to Frost & Sullivan.
The uptick is due to greater outsourcing of certain key operations and a higher amount of electronic content
EDINA, MN -- The SMTA will be hosting a job center during SMTAI, held in conjunction
with Assembly Technology Expo on Sept. 26-28 in suburban Chicago. The job center is soliciting local and national companies for job openings in the
electronics manufacturing and supply industry.
The SMTA is providing booth space and a listing of jobs available. Potential employees will be matched to the jobs available and will be given copies of job descriptions and company contact information.
The job center will provide your company the opportunity to reach a region rich in high technology and electronics industry professionals. Examples of SMTAI and ATExpo attendee primary job functions are:
The SMTA is providing booth space and a listing of jobs available. Potential employees will be matched to the jobs available and will be given copies of job descriptions and company contact information.
The job center will provide your company the opportunity to reach a region rich in high technology and electronics industry professionals. Examples of SMTAI and ATExpo attendee primary job functions are:
- Administration
- Circuit/Systems Packaging Design, Circuit Design
- Engineering Management
- Engineering Support (Field Engineering, Technicians)
- Production, Manufacturing, Process Engineering
- Quality Control/Quality Assurance, Production Testing
- Research & Development
- Sales and Marketing.
- Company Name
- Job Title and Short Job Description
- Job Function (see list above)
- Number of Openings
- Company Contact Information (name, phone, email address)
- Preferred Method of Contact (mail, email, phone call).
FRANKLIN, MA – Speedline Technologies reported sales rose 10% sequentially during its fiscal second quarter ended June 30. Sales were up 33% over the second quarter of 2005.
In a press statement, president and chief executive Pierre de Villemejane said, “On the whole, we see positive signs
