SIOUX FALLS, SD – Electronic Systems Inc. recently shared lessons learned from its RoHS compliant processes at a workshop for executives and engineers.

About 70 persons from two dozen electronics companies attended the in Bloomington, MN, seminar to hear the EMS company, which has RoHS compliant products in production and pilot stages, describe everything from solder materials and profiles to supply chain management.

ESI said the seminar was meant to be a jump start for those who’ve not yet committed to a RoHS strategy. The first deadline for compliance is July 1, 2006.

According to company vice chairman Leo Reynolds, the seminar was not for “answer(ing) the unanswerable questions but rather to make our customers aware of the impending deadline and jog them into the realization that they need to be very aware of what may or may not have to do with their products and processes.”

Questions revolved around tin whiskering, preferred PWB finishes and soldering temperatures, he told Circuits Assembly. There were “a lot of questions on component availability and compliance [and] on verifying compliance, how can the EMS company ensure that every component is in fact lead-free compliant.”

“Obviously, there are as many unanswerable questions as there are solid ones in this whole RoHS issue.”

Speakers included Tony Hilvers, vice president of industry programs at IPC, who reviewed RoHS requirements and discussed issues related to managing the supply chain, processes and verification. Dave Paluck, ESI manufacturing engineering supervisor, gave an overview of the company’s soldering and assembly processes, while director of program management Steve Hillesheim explained the logistics and planning needed for an OEM to move product into compliance.

SAN FRANCISCO – Fabrinet, a leading EMS provider, has received TL 9000QMS certification for manufacturing of electronic assemblies and optical devices.

Fabrinet gained certification for its campuses near Bangkok, where Fabrinet has over 500,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and over 4500 employees.

“Receiving TL9000 certification represents a culmination of our efforts to make Fabrinet a world-class manufacturing outsourcing destination for companies throughout the telecommunications spectrum, from component vendors to system vendors,” said Tom Mitchell, chairman and CEO of Fabrinet.

“Being TL 9000 certified means that Fabrinet can now meet the quality requirements of the worldwide telecommunications industry.”

TL 9000 defines quality system requirements for design, development, production, delivery, installation, and maintenance of telecom products and services.

MANKATO, MN -- EMS provider Winland Electronics Inc. has signed a new three-year agreement with Select Comfort Corp.

Winland will manufacture about half of the electronics assemblies for Select Comfort's Sleep Number adjustable-firmness bed. Winland will also remain the exclusive supplier of all products it manufactures for Plymouth-based Select Comfort through at least June 30.

The new agreement replaces a previous agreement that was set to expire in August. Winland has revised its prices and will see a lower margin as a result.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil Circuit Inc. on Wednesday reported a 50% jump in profit for its fiscal second quarter.

For quarter ended Feb. 28, the EMS provider reported profits of $69 million on a 35% spike in revenue, to $2.3 billion. 

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