CircuiTree - January 2009 - (Page 8) Wave of Activity Hits Taiwan for TPCA 2008 This year’s Taiwan Printed Circuit Association show saw a typhoon of attendees and exhibitors, as opposed to the one produced by Mother Nature that threatened last year’s event, causing the show to close its doors earlier than expected and keeping many in the industry from making the trip. And while no one was concerned with potential natural disasters, the mood and talk centered on the struggling global economy and ever-increasing worldwide competition. TPCA 2008 took place in the new Taipei Nangnag Exhibition Hall, covering three days and two convention floors. Some 357 companies with 1,634 booths displayed the newest industry wares to the nearly 22,000 attendees. At least one attendee remarked that circuit board manufacturers, especially flex circuit manufacturers, were well represented with large booths, attractive banner designs, and eyecatching advertising as they continued to taut the capabilities of HDI and multilayer rigid flex. Due to its largely domestic attendance, it was not surprising that a major topic of conversation was the narrowing gap between Taiwan and Japan in the PCB industry. Many Taiwanese manufacturers, usually described as upbeat, were torn between their closing of the gap with Japanese printed circuit manufacturers and the prospect of a global recession, which many in attendance predicted will last through the next few quarters, with all eyes on whether the U.S. will be able to pull the world out of recession. IPC Releases Industry Results for October Bannockburn, Ill. – IPC released the October findings from its monthly North American PCB Statistical Program. Rigid PCB shipments were down 5.9 percent and bookings were down 17.4 percent from October 2007. Rigid PCB shipments year-to-date were up 3.2 percent and bookings were down 2.5 percent. Compared to September 2008, rigid PCB shipments decreased 12.8 percent and rigid bookings decreased 17.6 percent. The book-to-bill ratio for the North American rigid PCB industry in October 2008 slipped slightly to 0.95. Flexible circuit shipments were up 8.8 percent and bookings were up 25.9 percent compared to October 2007. Flexible circuit shipments year-to-date were up 9 percent and bookings were down 2.4 percent. Compared to September 2008, flexible circuit shipments were up 10.0 percent and flex bookings were up 2.5 percent. The North American flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio in October 2008 increased to 1.00. For rigid PCBs and flexible circuits com8 January 2009 • circuitree.com bined, industry shipments were down 4.8 percent from October 2007 and orders booked decreased 14.6 percent from October 2007. Combined industry shipments year-to-date were up 3.6 percent and bookings were down 2.5 percent. Compared to September 2007, combined industry shipments for October 2008 were down 11.3 percent and bookings were down 16.0 percent. The combined (rigid and flex) industry book-to-bill ratio in October 2008 increased slightly to 0.96. Computer Industry to Decrease 10.8 Percent in 2008 According to Henderson Ventures’ November 2008 report, Q3 FY 08 PC shipments grew 14.8 percent from Q3 FY 07, despite deteriorating economic conditions. In spite of this, Henderson expects the credit crunch to affect Q4 FY 08 demand, resulting in global unit shipment growth decelerating from 14.7 percent in 2007 to 10.8 percent in 2008. In addition, severe regional recessions during 2009 will constrain PC markets to only a 3.8 percent gain next year. Enthone’s AlphaSTAR Approved for Use in Cemco Streamline AS500 Hampshire, U.K. – Enthone AlphaSTAR® immersion silver process was approved for use in the Cemco Streamline AS500 Silver Immersion System, which was determined after extensive and successful testing. With a conveyor speed of up to 0.5 mpm and a total line length of less than 5 m, the AS500 system incorporates patented streamline fluid engines, which provide exceptional results within a footprint of less than 50 percent versus traditional systems that employ conventional flood and spray type processing techniques. Eltek Reports Revenues of USD 12.3 Million for Q3 FY 08 Petach-Tikva, Israel – For Q3 FY 08, Eltek Ltd. returned to operating profitability with operating income of USD 319,000 after five consecutive quarters of operating loss. This improvement is mainly attributable to a 40 percent increase in revenues (compared to the same period in 2007) and the more efficient use of 12 http://www.circuitree.com
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