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.