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Fab News

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 19 December 2008

CHANDLER, AZ and FREMONT, CA – In an attempt to align output with the slumping North American market, Isola announced that it is closing its Fremont, CA facility on February 18, 2009. The company’s three remaining plants will continue to service customers.

“This is a very unfortunate event,” said Matt LaRont, president. “We have no option but to respond accordingly to what the market has done and what we think the outlook is into 2009.”

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 17 December 2008

CLEVELAND, OH – OM Group announced that its electronic chemicals facility in Maple Plain, Minnesota, (the location of the printed circuit board business unit) has been named one of America's Safest Companies by EHS Today magazine.

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 16 December 2008

ALPHARETTA, GA – Innovative Circuits Inc. has completed an upgraded to its manufacturing facility. Improvements include new equipment to increase product throughput and improve the precision and accuracy of small-hole technology.

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Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 15 December 2008

ROGERS, CT and RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA – Rogers Corp. has initiated a patent infringement complaint against Arlon Electronic Material Group of Rancho Cucamonga. The complaint is in regard to US Patent No. 5,552,210, “Ceramic Filled Composite Polymeric Electrical Substrate Material Exhibiting High Dielectric Constant and Low Thermal Coefficient of Dielectric Constant.”

Rogers is the exclusive licensee under the patent, and the complaint demands that Arlon stop the manufacture, sale and distribution of its TC-600 circuit board material. “Rogers expends substantial effort and resources to develop innovative circuit materials and protect its intellectual property rights,” explains Bob Wachob, president and CEO. “Anytime we believe our intellectual property rights have been violated we are prepared to take appropriate actions in enforcing and defending these rights.”

Arlon has received the complaint and believes the allegations are without merit. The company intends to defend itself. “We believe that this lawsuit is unfounded,” says Robert Carini, president of Arlon's Electronic Materials operations. “It is regrettable that Rogers chose to file the lawsuit before contacting us. At this point, we are in the process of retaining outside counsel and evaluating all of our legal options.”

HITCHIN, UK – Photo Data Test Services Ltd. has acquired the assets and sales database for the photoplotting division of Technical Graphics Ltd. All photoplotting, phototooling and reprographic work will be transferred from Technical Graphics to Photo Data’s headquarters.

Photo Data engineers will work closely with Technical Graphics to implement a quick and smooth transfer of customer accounts. “ Our aim is to service our new customers as efficiently and simply as possible,” explains Glenn Swanton, managing director of Photo Data.

MELVILLE, NY and SINGAPORE – Park Electrochemical Corp. announced that it will layoff workers at its subsidiary, Nelco Singapore. Park believes the layoffs will not affect customer service at the electronics circuitry and advanced composite materials facility.

The workforce reduction is expected to bring a fourth-quarter charge of nearly $200,000. The date for the layoff and the amount of workers affected has not been released