“The NAM has almost single-handedly put this issue on the front burner and has been pressuring for greater Chinese currency flexibility for almost two years,” said NAM president John Engler. “We are pleased that China has now moved away from a fixed dollar peg to what could be described as a ‘crawling peg’ based on a basket of currencies.

“China’s new currency system offers the possibility for continued upward movement of the yuan in the coming weeks and months, and that is what we will be looking for,” Engler said.

“While the initial 2.1% revaluation is inadequate, we view it as the beginning of what should be a significant revaluation” Engler said. “China’s new system appears to allow re-valuing the yuan as much as three-tenths of a percent each day — meaning it could move a much as one percent every three days.

“By October, when the next Treasury Department report on currency manipulation is due, we hope to see that China’s currency has moved significantly enough to begin correcting long-standing trade distortions.

“Today’s announcement by the Chinese authorities has the potential for beginning to correct the huge trade imbalances that have been created by distorted currencies – or it fall short if the crawling peg is operated too cautiously,” said Engler. “But for now, we are pleased that the fixed peg is gone and that a new system has been created. We hope everyone will join us in urging China to use it in a manner that truly reflects market pressures.

“China’s move will also help address our larger trade deficit with all Asia. The Chinese yuan has been holding down other Asian currencies, and the NAM has believed that Chinese action would result in upward movement of the other currencies as well,” Engler said. “Malaysia’s announcement that it will also break its peg to the dollar is, we hope, just the first of many similar announcements to come.”

“I commend President Bush and Treasury Secretary John Snow for their resolution and strong leadership,” Engler said. “Their steadfastness made this day possible.”

Teddington, UK –The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has created a method for generating materials data from lead-free solder joints under shear with geometries and dimensions mirroring those used in current assembly technology. Such data is important for future FEA modelling.

Lead-free solder does not behave in the same way as lead-containing solder under accelerated thermocycling testing. In particular, the joint is in shear whereas creep data have traditionally been obtained under tensile conditions. This is complicated by the decreasing volume of solder used in electronics interconnection.

Franklin, MA –  Speedline Technologies has launched a new Web log (aka “blog”) where the company’s leaders will comment on pressing issues in semiconductor manufacturing and PCB assembly.

At the site (speedlinetech.com/blog), company experts will share insight, technical know-how and personal observations on issues including: lead-free, productivity, development, inspection, globalization and miniaturization. 

Gerald Pham-Van-Diep, director of advanced development, has posted the first entry. Pham-Van-Diep sees the blog not only as an exchange of ideas, but as an open structure channel to share personal observations directly with his customers and the industry. 

DUBLIN -- The worldwide telecommunications market will double by 2010, according to a just released report. 

Research and Markets says telecom sales will hit $282 billion within five years, driven by Internet networks, particularly in existing markets.

Digital, IP and Ethernet will replace other protocols, Research and Markets said. Meanwhile, 3G base stations will work side-by-side with WiMAX 802.16 base stations in urban areas.

Today's largest existing markets are forecast to grow to $446.9 billion by 2010, up from $197 billion this year.

SAN JOSE -- The 90-day moving average orders of North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment was $1.07 billion in June, good for a book-to-bill ratio of 0.93.

Bookings were up 5.5% over revised May levels and 33% below June 2004, said SEMI, which tracks the data.

SAN JOSE -- Hewlett-Packard will cut 14,500 jobs over the next six quarters as the computer and peripherals maker reduces its full-time staff by 10%.

STAMFORD, CT – COMET, a supplier of x-ray, RF and dosimetry solutions, has opened a Technical Resource Center in San Jose, CA. In the heart of Silicon Valley, the new office provides more than twice the space of the previous West Coast facility.  

The 5,200 sq. ft facility was chosen due to the efficient layout of the building and its proximity to existing customers in the area. The North America service team will be able to inventory the entire line of COMET products and perform on-site service and repairs.  Features three inspection service laboratories for product demonstrations and quality assurance inspection.

The company also recently expanded its North American headquarters in Stamford.

Hauppauge, NY—RVSI Inspection LLC, a provider of semiconductor wafer and package metrology and defect inspection solutions, and BKM Technology Partners, a manager of advanced technologies, have signed a sales and service agreement to provide customers in North America support for semiconductor wafer and package inspection requirements.

BKM Technology Partners will provide sales, service and application support for RVSI Inspection product lines throughout North America. In addition, some existing sales and service employees will transfer from RVSI Inspection to BKM.

Atlanta – Renowned market and industry analyst Walt Custer will present a free, two-hour analysis of the global electronics industry on August 9.

The Business Outlook Webinar, hosted by PBRSeminars, will include information on:

World economy;

Electronic equipment - size, scope and end-market drivers by sector;

Active and passive components (including semiconductors and PCBs);

Global electronic assembly markets (OEM, EMS and ODM) ;

Related materials and process equipment ;

Status and economic performance of key companies serving each sector.

Custer will cover information about the future of the domestic and world electronics industries; current business cycles and realistic growth expectations; and industry survivors and profitable markets.

A joint venture between UP Media Group and PCB 007, PBR Seminars produces live, on-demand technical Webinars for PCB industry professionals. For more info: pbrseminars.com.

SAN FRANCISCO -- IBM's fabled C4 flip chip concept has been updated and was a popular attraction at a major semiconductor manufacturing expo last week.

NASHUA, NH -- National Standards Authority of Ireland is the first registrar to receive authorization to provide registration under the new EIA/ECCB-954 specification adopted by IECQ. The move permits NSAI to certify hazardous substance (lead-free) processes at electronics companies.

IECQ is the IEC’s quality assessment system for electronic components. It specifies technical requirements that manufacturers must meet to ensure that their products conform to new environmental limits.

As a result, NSAI is now able to offer a process certification solution for  electronics companies to demonstrate compliance with the new environmental regulations regarding lead and other hazardous substances, NSAI said in a press release.