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Speaking of this Week — October 31, 2003
December 31, 1969 |Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
By Christine F. Della Monaca
Speaking of this Week reflects on events in the electronics assembly industry every Friday.
Nothing scary here: The September Book-to-Bill from IPC was revealed this week, showing continuing growth and recovery. Meanwhile, with 2004 closer than ever, the industry is looking toward tradeshows and events for next year, as well as wrapping up those taking place in 2003. There's also progress, partnership and financial news, as always, and some legislative news thrown in for good measure. Onward:
- The big news of the week is Northbrook, Ill.-based IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries' IMS/PCB Book-to-Bill Ratio. For September, the number was 1.15. The ratio hasn't been this high since late 2000 — September 2000's number was 1.18, beginning the three-year downhill slide that, as we all know, only got worse. Looks like things are on the upswing. Meanwhile, the IMS/PCB September Business Report saw a shipment index of 120.8 and a booking index of 137.1, representing 19 and 8.4 percent increases, respectively, over August's numbers. Lookin' good!
- Some conference news, past, present and future: Malvern, Pa.-based Vishay Intertechnology Inc. presented several symposium papers at CARTS-EUROPE 2003 this week in Stuttgart, Germany. Looking ahead, Cupertino, Calif.-based Advanced Forecasting will introduce its forecasts for major products of electronic distributors on Monday at NEDA's Chicago Conference. In early December, Des Plaines, Ill.-based Northrop Grumman business unit Kester will participate in the first Online Symposium by Minneapolis-based SMTA, this one regarding lead-free technology. Finally, IPC announced its cornucopia of 66 professional development courses to be held at APEX/IPC Printed Circuits Expo/IPC Designers Summit next February in Anaheim, Calif.
- Progress: Milpitas, Calif.-based Solectron Corp. received the Supplier of the Year Award for Customer Focus from Brocade Communications Systems Inc. for the third year in a row. Meanwhile, Goleta, Calif.-based Indigo Systems moved to larger headquarters in their hometown. LaFox, Ill.-based Richardson Electronics launched 24-hour online technical support for its Display Systems Group customers, while in the same vein, UK-based Soldertec redesigned its Web site as part of the organization's tiered membership package. Finally, LeadFreeMagazine.com, a Web-based newsletter, will be delivered to subscribers' inboxes four times a year, produced by a consortium of lead-free companies including Aqueous Technologies, Metcal, Milara and Kyzen.
- Some partnership and merger news: Stamford, Conn.-based FEINFOCUS has formed a partnership with Denmark-based INIMAR for the company to represent the entire line of FEINFOCUS X-ray inspection systems in the Danish electronics assembly market. Another U.S.-European alliance was formed when Wilsonville, Ore.-based LPKF Laser & Electronics entered into a know-how and license agreement with Kelsterbach, Germany-based Ticona for the material Vectra LCP. Sun Valley, Calif.-based Creative Automation Co. appointed WittcoSales as a manufacturer's representative serving Northern and Southern California, as well as Guadalajara, Mexico. Finally, Helsinki, Finland-based Elcoteq Network Corp. acquired 20 percent of the shares of San Jose, Calif.-based ISIS Surface Mounting Inc. Elcoteq will acquire the remaining shares at the end of 2004, provided that ISIS meets agreed-upon performance targets.
- Some financial news, in a nutshell: Myrtle Beach, S.C.-based AVX Corp. reported a 4 percent increase in sales for the quarter ended September 30 over the prior quarter. Meanwhile, Singapore-based Flextronics and Toronto-based Celestica Inc., two EMS providers, reported their quarterly results for the same period. The former saw a 13 percent increase in net sales, while the latter saw a 2 percent increase in revenue over the previous quarter. Finally, Angleton, Texas-based Benchmark Electronics Inc.'s Board of Directors declared a 3-for-2 stock split.
- And last but not least, some legislative/environmental news from IPC: The association testified before a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources on the perceived burden the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory program places on small electronics businesses. The program requires the reporting of toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities, but IPC and other small business supporters feel the EPA's basis for the TRI rule is inaccurate.
This just in: According to this week's Quick Vote, 53 percent of you feel your company does too much rework, 37 percent feel it is the right amount and 11 percent are not sure.
Have some insight on the industry? See something you don't agree with? Think I'm right on? Send it all to me at mailto:christinef@pennwell.com.