2008 World Distributor Review
The current global economic crisis has rippled across the world with alarming consequences. Not surprisingly, the crisis has had a huge effect on consumer confidence, and nowhere is this more evident than in China—factory to the world’s consumer goods. According to some sources, over 100,000 factories have closed, Foxconn have laid off over 77,000, and other tier 1 CEMs have laid off many thousands of workers.

This year’s World Distributor Review is therefore an important snapshot of how the economic downturn is affecting the electronics industry. The picture is not the same in every territory. Some regions and some industry segments are still performing strongly. A collection of thoughts and opinions from the world’s leading electronics rep agencies and distributors offer a unique insight into what is happening on the ground. Read more...

I am not buying a thermal profiler - I am buying prediction capabilities
Bill Pasco, process engineer at Garmin AT in Salem, Oregon USA, was convinced from his decade-long experience that a data acquisition profiler was a data acquisition profiler. The well-known brands all have similar accuracies, which are limited by the accuracy of the thermocouples used for profiling. What Bill was interested in, however, was identifying which prediction software (process optimization software) could quickly and accurately determine how to set up his oven for an in-spec profile. Read more...

Asymtek fiducials-on-the-fly
Asymtek’s fiducials-on-the-fly technology locates fiducials on printed circuit boards five times faster than standard stop-and-capture method - increases customer completed parts per hour as much as 35 percent.

Bliss Industries provides a preview for its revolutionary FLEXconveyor
The FLEXconveyor is the first box-build factory on wheels, providing a new way to kit, box build products and assemble them.

Nihon Superior introduces NS-F850 flux for lead-free wave soldering
This eFlux for lead-free wave soldering provides excellent wetting and through-hole fill, and prevents solder balls from adhering to the solder mask.

More Products News...

FINE LINE STENCIL announces 99.1 percent on-time delivery for 2008
Quality suppliers of parts and tooling focused on on-time delivery are not a luxury but a necessity.

Ingo Bretthauer appointed CEO of LPKF Laser & Electronics AG
Bretthauer takes responsiblity of most areas previously managed by former CEO Bernd Hackmann, who left the company at the end of 2008.

Seven substances recommended for inclusion in the REACH authorization list
Once a substance is included in Annex XIV, it cannot be sold on the EU market 42 to 48 months after the inclusion date, unless it is authorized.

IPC APEX EXPOTM global business outlook keynote puts forecasting tools in industry’s hands
IPC APEX EXPO will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center in Las Vegas, March 31-April 2, 2009.

More Industry News...
 

Inside the January 2009 issue of
Global SMT & Packaging magazine:

• Electrostatic discharge (ESD) and automated handling processes
  Dipl.-Ing. Hartmut Berndt, B.E.STAT European ESD Competence Centre
• PCB layout and soldering nozzle design in selective soldering processes
  Reiner Zoch, SEHO Systems GmbH
• Supporting niche service needs at a regional level—a case study
  Barry Reece and Ken Russell, Clover Electronics
• Interview: Kyle Doyel—KYZEN Corporation
• Four industry suppliers come of age....
• Double-sided reflow in one reflow cycle
  Bob Willis
• 2009: Very little smooth sailing until at least summer
  Walt Custer and Jon Custer-Topai

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