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FEATURES

NTI-100
The Asian Persuasion
The 102 largest (by revenue) fabricators produced approximately 80% of the total worldwide output in 2010. And by and large, China is reaping the gains. In a PCD&F exclusive, we count them down, from Unimicron to Somacis.
by Dr. Hayao Nakahara

Drilling
Advances in Dual Spindle Technology
For years it appeared laser technology would replace traditional mechanical drilling. As it turns out, the two processes complement each other. Mechanical circuit board processes have advantages, such as ease-of-adjustment and lower cost. Moreover, dual spindle technology can ramp productivity heavily.
by Volker Feyerabend

Electronics Sustainability
Green Machines
EMS companies are no longer in the business of “just” making solder joints. Environmental and sustainability initiatives now permeate many large organizations. In a Circuits Assembly exclusive, Flextronics’ top engineer explains the world’s second-largest EMS/ODM’s approach to the new green world.
by Mike Buetow

Print Inspection
Man vs. Machine
Does anybody really believe that in 2011 three-fourths of all SMT defects are generated in the print process? Of course not. But we accept this spurious, decade-old, seemingly baseless statistic on stencil printing without question because we know how important a good printing process is to a profitable SMT assembly operation.
by Chrys Shea

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  Finally, a chance for a reset.
  Mike Buetow
  
  
  

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  Lining up the schools.
  Peter Bigelow

TECH TALK

• Signal Integrity Insights
  Interpreting the 2D “typos.”
  Dr. Eric Bogatin

• Database
  Automate the BoM.
  Manny Marcano

• Designer’s Notebook
  Land pattern implication.
  Bruce Isbel

• The Flexperts
  ‘Super-long’ flex circuits.
  Mark Verbrugge

• Solar Technologies
  New life for new materials.
  Tom Falcon

• Technical Abstracts
  In case you missed it.