CircuiTree - February 2009 - (Page 8)

IPC Releases PCB Industry Results for November 2008 Bannockburn, Ill. – According to IPC’s North American PCB Statistical Program, for November 2008, rigid PCB shipments were down 5.8 percent and bookings were down 17.3 percent from November 2007. Rigid PCB shipments were up 2.4 percent year-to-date, and bookings were down 3.8 percent. Compared to October 2008, rigid PCB shipments decreased 0.2 percent and rigid bookings decreased 5.8 percent. The book-to-bill ratio for the North American rigid PCB industry in November 2008 slipped slightly to 0.94. Flexible circuit shipments for November 2008 were down 22.6 percent and bookings were down 36.8 percent compared to November 2007. Flexible circuit shipments year-to-date were up 5.8 percent and bookings were down 5.5 percent. Compared to October 2007, flexible circuit shipments were down 25.2 percent and flex bookings were down 45.4 percent. The North American flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio in November 2008 increased to 1.04. For rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined, industry shipments in November 2008 decreased 7 percent from November 2007 and orders booked decreased 18.8 percent from November 2007. Combined industry shipments year-to-date were up 2.6 percent and bookings were down 3.9 percent. Compared to October 2008, combined industry shipments for November 2008 were down 2.3 percent and bookings were down 9.5 percent. The combined (rigid and flex) industry book-to-bill ratio in November 2008 dipped to 0.94. 2008 HKPCA and IPC Show Opens Shenzhen – The 2008 International Printed Circuit and Electronics Assembly Fair (2008 HKPCA & IPC Show) opened, Isola Adjusts Production Based on Market Conditions Chandler, Ariz. – Isola Group, SARL, announced the closure of its Fremont, Calif., operation, effective February 18, 2009. Isola is adjusting capacity to bring output in line with the declining North America market. Park Reports Third Quarter Results, Declares Cash Dividend Melville, N.Y. – For Q3 FY 09, Park Electrochemical reported sales of USD 49,166,000, compared to sales of USD 63,653,000 for Q3 FY 08. For the first nine months of 2008, Park’s sales were USD 164,565,000, compared to sales of USD 181,271,000 for last year’s first nine months. In addition, Park’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of USD 0.08 per share. The dividend was payable February 5 to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 6, 2009. Proposed RoHS Revisions Released Bannockburn, Ill. – The European Union Commission released the much- anticipated review of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive without any additional banned substances. Over the past two years, IPC conducted steadfast lobbying efforts and is pleased that the commission does not intend to add Tetrabromobisphenol (a) (TBBPA) as an additional substance to be monitored or restricted under RoHS. Additionally, IPC is pleased that the proposal improves the alignment of the RoHS Directive with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. and the seventh edition of its series staged the largest ever in scale. A total of 440 exhibitors from the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Japan, Austria, India, Korea, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan region occupied 1,450 booths. Compared to its debut show in 2002, the show has had a 100 percent increase in the number of exhibitors and a 190 percent surge in the number of booths taken. The expansion affirms the show’s status as the flagship event of its kind in Southern China. 8 February 2009 • circuitree.com North American Semiconductor Equipment Industry Posts November Book-to-Bill Ratio of 1.00 San Jose, Calif. – For November 2008 (three-month average basis), North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted USD 805 million in orders and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.00, according to SEMI’s Book-toBill Report. The three-month average of worldwide bookings in November was USD 805.4 million; this figure is about 4 percent less than the final October 11 http://www.circuitree.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CircuiTree - February 2009

CircuiTree - February 2009 Contents Lead Wire The Wire Tech Talk Flexible Thinking Are Better PCB Design Tools and Manufacturing Enough to Stay Competitive? The Strategist Fein-Lines The Big Deal Over Fine Pitch Assembly Asian Section View From the Middle Market Outlook Technical Product Spotlights Classified Ads Upcoming Events Ad Index

CircuiTree - February 2009

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