Fab News

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – The quarter is looking good for Unimicron Technology. Order visibility shows signs of improvement, as demand for notebook and consumer electronic devices gains momentum, reports DigiTimes.
 
The company expects PCB utilization rates to increase more than 80% during the second quarter, according to Tsai-Sheng Shen, Unimicron spokesperson.
 
An 8% to 9% rise in sales from the HDI segment are forecast, on the increase of HDI boards in notebooks, says DigiTimes.
SANTA CLARA, CA – Harbor Electronics has chosen Bacher Systems’ OptiFlex Post-Etch Punch for its innerlayer registration process. The advanced 8-camera system provides automatic core alignment, punching and handling.
 
After a thorough analysis of equipment on the market, the company decided on the Bacher OptiFlex. It was installed and running in one day.
MILWAUKEE – Pho-Tronics Inc. has named David Olson general manager. He will oversee new market segments, overall strategy, managing the existing customer base and other facets of business management.
 
He brings over 29 years of experience in operations, facility management and business development strategies. Olson joins Pho-Tronics from Multicircuits, where he was vice president of operations.
BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PCB shipments fell 28.3% in March, while orders dropped 38%, according to IPC.
 
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NIEDERNHALL and PFORZHEIM, GERMANY – Würth Elektronik will close its plant in Pforzheim, citing a substantial drop in orders throughout the entire circuit board branch since late last year.
 
The facility, which employs 139, produces mainly simple PCBs. Some of the workers will be offered positions at Würth’s other manufacturing plants.

Management will meet with employee representatives to discuss the facility’s closing and employee benefits. Work hours have been cut at all of the company’s PCB plants.
 
Würth absorbed the Pforzheim facility in 1997 from Metalex. 
ALPHARETTA, GA – Innovative Circuits Inc. has started a second expansion to its manufacturing capacity.
 
The majority of the expansion will house additional equipment and processes. The facility’s total space will increase by 67%.

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