Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - News

News

Shanghai & Santa Ana – At last week’s CPCA show Mason Electronics entered into a distribution contract for their electrical test products for the North American market with Christopher Associates.

Mason is a supplier of universal grid electrical test systems in Asia. Customers include OPC, Multek, Viasystems, Gold Circuits, Hitachi, Samsung, Jabil Circuit. Mason provides hardware, software and fixturing solutions from their ISO 9001 certified manufacturing plant in Shenzhen, as well as facilities throughout Asia.

HOUSTON — BP Microsystems, a supplier of device programming systems, has revamped its Device Programming Language (DPL) algorithm development environment in BPWin. Now, its more than 100 semi-house partners can co-develop and test algorithms for new devices.

The semi-house partners can use a special version of BPWin software for algorithm development, analysis and tests to screen for a specified defect prior to the release of the device.

San Francisco – A March poll of CIOs nationwide predicts an 8.6% growth in IT budgets over the next year, up from 7.8% in December’s poll. Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore added in a research note that spending projections were up in all categories, except security software, which was flat.

Paris – Alcatel yesterday unveiled a planned merger with its smaller U.S. rival Lucent Technologies for $13.4 billion. Together, the pair would have total revenue of $25 billion, roughly matching current industry leader Cisco Systems.

The two companies plan to cut about 10% of their combined workforce, or about 8,800 jobs.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA -- The long-awaited deal for Photocircuits, the Glen Cove, NY, manufacturer of printed circuit boards, was made official Friday with the sale of the company business to a newly formed subsidiary of American Pacific Financial Corp.

AMPAC, a private equity group, purchased the company at auction. No financial details were provided in the announcement, although previous reports indicated the purchase price was around $43 million.

NORCROSS, GA -- Assembléon, the supplier of placement machines, named Leo van de Vall president and chief executive of Assembléon Americas Inc. He replaces Michael Buscher, who founded the American branch several years ago.

The move is effective today. He is based in the company's office outside Atlanta.

HIALEAH, FL -- Electronics contract manufacturer Simclar Inc. reported 2005 revenue of $61.2 million, up 14% from 2004. The net income was $1.3 million, compared to $2.3 million in 2004.

Much of the revenue gain -- 55% -- came via acquisitions; year-on-year sales of preexisting business units rose 6.5%.

Cerritos, CA -- Corelis and Mentor Graphics will host a half-day JTAG seminar in Richardson, TX on Wednesday, April 5.

Topics will include:
Introduction to boundary-scan technology;
Board interconnect testing using boundary-scan;
In-system programming (ISP) of CPLDs, FPGAs and Flash memories;
Automating boundary-scan insertion into ASICs, ICs and cores;
Typical design flow;
Value of automation with BSDArchitect;
Components of boundary-scan insertion;
Integration with other on-chip test methodologies such as scan and MBIST;
Integration with board-level test methodologies.

The seminar is free and intended for ASIC designers, board designers, test engineers and managers who would like to understand JTAG test methodologies. Previous knowledge of boundary-scan technology is not required.

For more information and to register, visit: www.corelis.com/Dallas_Seminar_Invite.htm

HERNDON, VA — iNEMI will hold a workshop for its next technology roadmap on May 17 in Herndon, VA.

“This workshop provides a progress report on the roadmap, and gives industry an advance look at key findings,” said Chuck Richardson, iNEMI staff manager of roadmapping. “It also provides the opportunity for industry feedback — kind of a ‘reality check’ on the conclusions being drawn — and allows mid-course corrections, if necessary. Participants have the advantage of gaining early insight into the anticipated future direction of the electronics industry, and discussions and feedback help us improve the final roadmap report.”

CARLSBAD, CA – Asymtek, a top maker of dispensing systems, was named a 2005 recipient of Intel Corp.'s Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement award, the chipmaker's highest honor for its suppliers.

The company was given the award for its efforts in supplying Intel with automated dispensing equipment.

In a press statement, Asymtek president Bob Ciardella said, “Asymtek is honored to have met the high standards associated with Intel’s SCQI award for the third consecutive year. Earning this prestigious award is an acknowledgement of Asymtek’s commitment to quality, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.”

Ron Rinfret, director of Intel’s assembly capital equipment development, said, “Asymtek continues to prove themselves as one of Intel’s top suppliers by achieving the SCQI award for the third consecutive year. Asymtek continues to go beyond expectations by executing flawlessly to our rigorous demands and critical timelines while delivering creative engineering solutions to support and align to Intel’s technology roadmap.”

Intel’s Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement process encourages suppliers to strive for excellence and continuous improvement. To qualify for SCQI status, suppliers must score at least 95 percent on a report card that assesses performance and ability to meet cost, quality, availability, delivery, technology and responsiveness goals.

GLEN COVE, NY -- An announcement on the sale of Photocircuits, one of the largest and oldest PCB manufacturers in North America, is expected later today.

A deal with investment firm American Pacific Financial Corp. is expected to be announced by the company shortly, according to persons with close knowledge of the deal.

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Solectron Corp.'s facility here has gained certification to the IPC Restrictions on Hazardous Materials Lead-Free Electronics Assembly Process Capability, the company said today. The site, which was the beta site for the IPC program, is the first of the tier one EMS firms to receive the certification.