Printed Circuit Design & Fab Online Magazine - Fab News

Fab News

PELHAM, NH – PhotoMachining has expanded its facility and added staff to meet demand.

The company, which manufactures custom UV laser micromachining tools including online workstations, roll-to-roll feeders, and machine vision and robotics, added 4,000 sq. ft. to the existing 7,000 sq. ft. plant.

The company has added five more employees in the past few months, bringing its total to 20.

The expansion and headcount increase will allow it to keep up with demand for its UV laser systems and to improve its job-shop services – from R&D to high-volume production – performed in its Class 10,000 facility, says the company.

Also, a 300 sq. ft. showroom has been added to showcase products, particularly refurbished microscopes and optics assemblies.

SAN JOSE – EMS provider Sanmina-SCI Corp. has named former Symbol Technologies executive Walt Hussey president of its technology components group.

Read more: Hussey Named President of Sanmina-SCI Components Group (Updated)

MELVILLE, NY – Electronic components distributor Nu Horizons Electronics Corp. said its first-quarter profit fell 43%.

Net income for the quarter was $1.8 million, down from $3.2 million year-over-year. Revenue for the quarter was $192.3 million, up 2% from the same period last year.

The company said systems sales dropped by $17 million after it lost business from some large customers.

REHOVOT, ISRAEL – PWB equipment manufacturer Printar Ltd. has raised $5 million in an internal financing round and a capital loan. European venture lending fund Kreos Capital provided a $3 million loan and Printar's existing investors invested $2 million.

Since its founding in 1999, Printar has raised $26 million. The company develops and manufactures digital printing equipment for PCBs.

LONGMONT, CO — A fire on Sunday destroyed the production room of Circuits West Inc., a local PWB manufacturer.

Consequently, the site was exposed to toxic chemicals, namely nitric acid and ammonium hydroxide, reported the Longmont fire department.

As there was no indication of arson, investigators may not explore the site, as they could be subjected to chemicals in the building, where part of the roof collapsed, a spokesman for the fire department told a local paper.

Fire officials will interview company employees, but the building was reportedly vacant at the time of the fire, making it difficult to determine the cause.

Insurance companies will likely investigate as well.

The building was condemned Monday and turned over to the company’s owners.

A representative of Disaster Restoration Inc. said it could take six to 12 months to clean the fire damage.

Patrons and staff in the surrounding area were evacuated during the blaze.

PORTLAND, OR – Electro Scientific Industries agreed to acquire privately held New Wave Research Inc. for $36 million in cash.

ESI will enter into the sapphire wafer scribing market with the purchase.

The acquisition of Fremont, CA-based New Wave is expected to be about breakeven in 2008, ESI said in a statement.

No other terms of the agreement were disclosed.