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Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 29 August 2008

ZURICH– Cicor Technologies Group announced an 8.9% increase in net sales for the first half of 2008 and a net profit that rose by 20.7%. Net sales increased by 8.9%, with the company’s acquisition of ESG contributing 2.7% of that figure. EBIT rose 27.3%. Despite a subdued forecast for the remainder of 2008 the group management and the board of directors believe that 2008 will close with higher net sales and increased profitability.

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 29 August 2008

SLOUGH, UK -- Sun Chemical will increase prices by 5% to 15% in Europe, Africa and the Middle East effective September 1, 2008.

These price increases are due to significant increases in raw material, energy and transportation costs brought on by the continued high prices of oil and natural gas, combined with governmental policies in China and global shortages of certain raw materials.

David Meldram, president of Sun Chemical Europe, said, "Increased costs are having a significant impact on most industries in Europe, and our industry is no exception. We continue to monitor the business environment in the sectors in which we operate. We are working proactively with our suppliers and we are taking action to keep costs to a minimum. However, given the speed and scale of these rises, it is necessary to increase prices for the commercial, packaging and industrial markets."

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 28 August 2008

SUNNYVALE, CA– Sierra Circuits has acquired the assets to EMRISE Circuit Division (ECD), located in Monrovia, CA., for a reported $160,000 to be paid over a period of 18 months. In addition, Sierra has entered into a long-term supplier agreement in which the company will sell PCBs to the Digitran division of EMRISE at substantial discounts. EMRISE will be responsible for closing the building and shutting down the actual facility, expected to be completed by December, and Sierra will dispose of the majority of manufacturing equipment.

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 27 August 2008

TAIWAN– The demand for flip-chip (FC) applications for May and June produced a 6% sequential increase in Q2 sales for Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board (NPC), and the company is forecasting 10% to 15% sequential growth for Q3 based on demand for FC, wire bounding and PCB applications. Increases result from new Intel packaging products and a growing demand from handsets and gaming machines.

Despite a Q2 decline in the company’s profit margins of approximately 3%, due to low utilization rates and ASPs for PCBs and PBGA substrates, non-operating income helped push Q2 income up 23% with EPS remaining at NT$2.69. Because of the recent stabilization in the cost of materials and the currency exchange rates, market watchers are predicting the company will see sales over NT$11 billion during Q3

HONG KONG– Kingboard Laminates Holdings Limited recently announced that revenue and net profit for its subsidiaries rose 9% and 3% respectively during the first half of 2008. Despite electrical disruptions at several plants and volatile commodity prices, Kingboard’s subsidiaries maintained the top position in the global laminate market, according to Japan Marketing Survey Company. Volume sales increased 8%, and the addition of two new plants strengthened the vertically integrated business model.

There are plans to add a new copper foil plant and a glass epoxy laminate plant later this year to further increase the market position in eastern China, and despite the weak global economy, domestic consumption in emerging markets such as China is expected to maintain the company’s present growth.

ANAHEIM, CA– Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc (M-Flex) is set to lease a factory in Malaysia and buy manufacturing equipment totaling about $1 million. The company plans to transfer a small portion of its medical and industrial circuit board manufacturing operations from Anaheim and Suzhou, China to the Malaysian operation. The new factory will provide continued production while a new, permanent factory in China is completed. The Malaysian factory, scheduled to open in December of this year, will employ about 125 workers. A spokesperson for M-Flex said the company did not foresee job cuts at the CA facility as a result of the new factory.