WEST HAVEN, CT– Enthone Inc. recently opened its Semiconductor Applications Center in Taoyuan, Taiwan. The center, staffed by Enthone applications experts, provides wafer sample plating and testing for bath composition analysis, process optimization and characterization of plated features, as well as numerous other processes. Because over 65% of the world’s semiconductor foundry manufacturing and 60% of the world’s semiconductor packaging market is located in Taiwan, the center’s location allows the company to optimize manufacturing through direct customer feedback, and therefore, deliver critical solutions to the dynamic wafer fabrication marketplace.
SAN JOSE, CA – North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $905 million in orders in July and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.83, says SEMI.
The three-month average of worldwide bookings in July was down 3% sequentially, and down about 36% compared to July 2007.
The three-month average of worldwide billings was $1.09 billion, down about 6% sequentially, and down about 36% from the same month last year.
"Orders for semiconductor equipment continue reflect the pronounced cutback in capital expenditures this year and are at the lowest levels since November of 2003,” said Daniel Tracy, senior director of Industry Research and Statistics at SEMI. "While chip-makers remain attentive to cost controls, this remains a highly cyclic industry. Factory utilization levels, unit demand growth and planned fab projects suggest new investment activity will resume in 2009.”
NEW YORK -- The price of tin used in solder paste fell to $$8.00/LB down from $11.00/LB in May.
Gold was below $800/ Troy ounce, down to $786.50/ Troy ounce on Aug. 15, the first time in 2008 that the price has dipped below the $800 mark.
Pricing of CCL may also be headed downward. Copper prices have been in free fall since June, down from a high of $4.10/LB in July, to $3.25/LB last week. This coupled with a high CCL inventory level should push pricing down in Q4. Major companies in Asia have already reported price reductions in the range of 10% for new orders.
LONDON – The SMART Group today announced a packed program of events for the remainder of the year, including a series of seminars with technology experts during the EKTN event, Technology Breakthroughs – Bending the Design Rules. Most events will be held in the UK or Ireland, except as noted.
Sept. 10:Solving Counterfeit Components – The Problem, Identification & Testing
Sept. 18: New Environmental Regulations – Beyond Reach?
Sept. 25: Environmental Directives Update Seminar
Sept. 28: Step-by-Step Temperature Profiling
Oct. 7: Conformal Coating Workshop – Hands-On
Oct. 8: Back to Basics Part 1 – PCB Manufacture
Oct. 13: The A to Z of Soldering (South Africa)
Oct. 14: The A-Z of Soldering (South Africa)
Oct. 15: The A to Z of Soldering (South Africa)
Oct. 30: PCB Design for Manufacture & Assembly
Nov. 6: Profit from RFID in your Business
Nov. 17-18: Technology Breakthroughs – Bending the Design Rules
Nov. 26: Hands-On Wave Soldering Workshop
Dec. 2: Monitoring & Controlling Your SMT Process
Dec. 4: Logistics in Electronics Workshop
Jan. 22: Materials Reliability Workshop
Feb. 3: Lead-Free Rework & Repair Workshop
Feb. 12: Back to Basics Part 2 – PCB Assembly
For information contact Tony Gordon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit smartgroup.org.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Following last month’s decision to eliminate 300 jobs from the optical business unit, due to a 36% decline in sales of screen-brightening films, 3M Co. recentlyannounced that it will also cut several hundred jobs in the industrial adhesives and transportation business as a result of the slumping economy.
“It’s the current market conditions in the United States and the slowing US sales growth that are going to lead to the several hundred job elimination through the company over the next several months, “ explains spokeswoman Jackie Berry. Although jobs in the optical films and industrial tapes businesses will be affected, all six 3M businesses are reexamining their needs and readjusting their resources accordingly.
MONTREAL — HannStar and Gold Circuit Electronics dominate the global laptop PCB market, taking a 75% share, while the rest is divvied among Unimicron, Compeq and Unitech. Moreover, the threshold for entry is very high, which keeps new players on the sidelines.
