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Fab News

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 22 February 2008

RENFREWSHIRE, UK - Teknek has reportedly concluded arrangements with SDI, and the company reports that the two parties have reached an amicable settlement.

In a press release, Teknek has reported that the company will spearhead a new campaign to significantly grow its US presence.

According to the release, Teknek will open three facilities within the next few weeks, with one based in the US. "To ensure a truly global service we are developing three fulfilment centers, one in the USA, one in Europe and the other in our Hong Kong facility." commented Teknek CEO Stephen Mitchell.

The company reports that it will launch a new Surface Mount Clean Machine designed to improve yields in EMS applications. "Our new Surface Mount machine has some unique design features, but its most important feature is its performance. Major customers report as much as an 80% reduction in Tomb stoning - that’s payback within months," reports Mitchell. According to the company, its operations have recently adopted the Lean Thinking philosophy, and the company's Surface Mount Clean Machine will reportedly be available on a 10 day lead time.

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 22 February 2008

SEOUL, KOREA - LG Electronics has announced that its board has approved an agreement to exchange LG Electronics' PCB division with its affiliate LG Micron's plasma rear panel division. This restructuring agreement will reportedly improve efficiency and raise equity for both companies.

According to the agreement, the transfer and acquisition will take place on May 1 and will include assets, liabilities and human resources. Accounts receivable, accounts payable, and some real estate will be excluded.

LG Electronics sites the increased efficiency and cost effectiveness of producing both plasma display panels and rear panels together as its reason for the move. LG Micron will reportedly boost its efficiency as well, by producing components in house, once it acquires LG Electronics’ PCB division.

LG Electronics is the largest stockholder of LG Micron. This agreement will increase LG Electronics’ stake in the LG Micron from 36% to 55%t.

On May 1, LG Electronics will transfer $141.1 million of assests to LG Micron, which includes two PCB manufacturing facilities in Chungju and Osan, Korea, as well as property, equipment and machinery.

The agreement will be brought before shareholders of LG Electronics and LG Micron at respective shareholder meetings for approval.

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 21 February 2008

TAIWAN - Notebook PCB supplier HannStar Board has reportedly suspended its investment plans in Vietnam. Citing inadequacies in the local government infrastructure as the reason for the decision, HannStar Board will now look to China for its expansion, with preference for locations near Shanghai and Nanjing, according to company sources.

The company reportedly will also increase manufacturing space in its current China plant by over 1 million square feet for PCB manufacturing, and 50,000 square feet for HDI board manufacturing later this year. The company also reports that it will also increase production capacity in its Taiwan plants by 100,000 square feet.

Details: Written by Staff; Category: Fab News; Published: 21 February 2008

SINGAPORE - Flextronics Inc. is planning to increase its manufacturing capacity in Hungary and will increase jobs by approximately 10%. According to industry sources, the company will be hiring highly-skilled workers for positions in mechatronic engineering and IT.

Flextronics has five manufacturing plants employing 10,000 workers in Hungary, and the company wants to increase product lines and develop its service base in Zalaegerszeg, one of the largest service centers in Central and Eastern Europe, according to reports.

"Flextronics will launch a new, large-volume production program in Hungary this year," said an HR spokesman for Flextronics. Production is set to begin this May in Zalaegerszeg and Sarvar.

WEST HAVEN, CT - Enthone Inc. celebrated the opening of its advanced plating applications laboratory located at the company’s West Haven facility. Guests included customers, state and local government officials, media and company employees. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by tours of the new facility.

Congratulatory remarks were provided by Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro, and West Haven Mayor John M. Picard. Cookson CEO Steven Corbett, Enthone President Huub van Dun, and Enthone Americas VP Terrence Copeland presided over the ceremony, acknowledging and thanking company employees and customers for their efforts and patronage.

The company said that the West Haven Applications Laboratory will be "a major resource that will drive technical innovation, best practices, and learning for many years to come."

Mr. Copeland said, "As tangibly demonstrated by the opening of the advanced applications laboratory, Enthone remains strongly committed to the Americas market by substantially enhancing our ability to provide process solutions that meet our customers' current and future manufacturing challenges."