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GRAND RAPIDS, MI, Dec. 7 -- MiQuest, a maker of electronics assemblies, is planning to expand its factory here to meet higher demand, according to a local news report.

According to the report, city officials are reviewing zoning ordinances in order to pave the way for the firm's expansion.

MiQuest currently employs 50 and could add 20 to 25 more if the city approves the zoning request, the report said.

The company hopes to begin construction "as soon as possible" and production will start early next year, MiQuest project manager Richard Tournier reportedly said.

Norcross, GA, Dec. 1, 2004 ¾ The Electronics Assembly Systems division of Siemens Logistics and Assembly Systems Inc. is providing a Lean Manufacturing course for the Americas. The first two-day course is scheduled for Jan. 26-27, 2005, in partnership with the Center for Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly (CEMA) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

The course will take place at RIT's Rochester, NY, CEMA facility. The following Lean tools will be discussed: Value Stream Mapping (VSM); 5-S; Visual Controls; Standard Work; Takt; Kanban, Pull Systems and Supermarkets; Line and Cell Design; Setup Reduction, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM); Kaizen Event Training; Impact and Culture Change; and Assessment Tools.

The course is being offered as a result of the Siemens EA Consortium for the Advancement of Electronics Manufacturing Education (CAEME).

BANNOCKBURN, IL, Dec. 1, 2004- The North American book-to-bill ratio for rigid and flexible boards dipped slightly to 1.05 in October, according to IPC. It had been 1.08 in September. Shipments and bookings both dropped notably from the previous month.

The ratio is based on data collected from rigid PCB and flexible circuit producers that participate in IPC's statistical program. The ratio is calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed. A ratio over 1.0 is considered an indicator of rising demand.

Separately, the ratios were 0.94 for rigid PCBs and 1.48 for flexible circuits.

In October, combined shipments increased 15.3% year-on-year, with bookings up 2.7%.

PCB shipments are up 31.5% year-to-date, and bookings are up 31.4%.

However, shipments and bookings are both down from September, falling 15.5% and 16.8%, respectively.

Year-on-year, rigid PCB shipments are up 3.3% and bookings are down 20.0%. Shipments and bookings are both up year-to-date, increasing by 21.2% and 12.6%, but are both down sequentially, decreasing 18.7% and 16.7%, respectively.

Flexible circuit shipments are up 48.6% and bookings are up 81.5% year-on-year. Year-to-date, flexible shipments and bookings have grown 74.4% and 103.1%. Sequentially, flex shipments decreased 1.9% and bookings are down 17.2%.

Flexible circuit sales, which include some value-added services in addition to the bare flex circuits, represent about 17% of total PCB sales in IPC's survey sample.

In a press release, IPC cautioned that month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they may reflect cyclical effects.

CHANDLER, AZ, Dec. 2, 2004 - Isola Group has completed a major portion of its European restructuring plan, including the relocation of full-scale production from the UK to its German and Italian operations. The Cumbernauld, UK, operation will maintain partial production capabilities to support quick turns and special products.

The company also relocated a sizeable portion of the basic research and development center to Chandler, AZ, and built a new customer service facility in Duren.

President and CEO Raymond Sharpe said Europe's operating performance continues to strengthen as a result of commitments to Lean and Six Sigma manufacturing techniques. "We have appointed both regional and individual site leaders to drive the program. During December, these European leaders will join a global Isola operations team in Japan for an intensive nine-day boot camp focused on achieving world class performance."

The group also reported that sales increased by 19% over last year for the three-month period ending Sept. 30.

Sales of high performance products grew significantly from the prior year and are expected to grow 50% annually over the next two years.

Sharpe commented, "Our cash flow from operations has improved substantially since the company was acquired by TPG and Redfern Partners in June. This has enabled us to improve our balance sheet and fund restructuring operations and strategic investments we believe will return value to our shareholders and customers."

Isola has plans to continue expanding in the rapidly growing Asia market and in high performance niche markets.

SINGAPORE, Dec. 2, 2004 - Speedline Technologies Inc. has launched a Chinese language version of their website (speedlinetech.com) as part of their expanding service to distributors, customers and manufacturers throughout Asia.

The new website provides information regarding products, services and software, along with technical processes and applications information and news. It also provides opportunities for partners and customers to conduct business online. Asia-specific customer support and contact information are highlighted.

To view the Chinese language version, visit the site and click on the Chinese flag.

WEST HAVEN, CT, Dec. 3, 2004 - Enthone Inc., the specialty chemicals division of Cookson Electronics, has named Huub van Dun president, effective January 1. He will report directly to Steven Corbett, Cookson's president and CEO, and previous head of Enthone.

van Dun will have profit and loss responsibility for the worldwide Enthone business, and will be responsible for driving market penetration for all product groups, while focusing on research and development of new products and processes.

He has been with the company since 1967 and was previously VP of Enthone Europe.