Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/241303
the way i see it the wrap-up continues Eltek joining with Nistec, an Israeli EMS proMoving On vider; R&D Circuits acquiring PCB design comChina's been sucking wind most of the year. pany Altanova; EPEC and Suncoast Digital joinSeems like things are improving but it's anying forces (EPEC also purchased UPE back in body's guess. China's official numbers are susJanuary to enhance its extreme copper technolpect at best. ogy); China's Fastprint picked up eXception's Europe is finally coming out of recession, PCB business; SMG and Global Circuits merged which is good, but it will take some time for operations; Yash Sutariya's management team things to get moving again. purchased Alpha Circuit Corp; Zutron acquired In the U.S., we've had to deal with the reperTeknoflex; andAll Flex started off the year accussions of the budget sequestration (artificial quiring Tri-C Design. slowing of the economy) and the government On the EMS side of things, CirTran finally shutdown by a few radicals (another artificial got out of the EMS business and is now putting slowing of the economy). It's been painful. We all of their focus on beverages. I have not spent need to pull out all the stops and allow the time figuring out how and why they made the economy to grow at full speed. We can work switch from electronics manufacon the structural stuff later, once turing to playboy energy drinks. we have full employment and tax Not a big loss, I guess. CTS revenues flowing in. We take also left the industry, selling two steps forward then one As one gentleman its EMS capabilities to Benchstep back. It's crazy. from Raytheon said at Market news is getting the mark Electronics so that they could focus on their sensors the recent tin whiskers most reader interest from our marand components business. I conference, they haven't websites. Anything with be of ket information seems to guess focus is good. Hunter seen any increase in great importance these days. Technology acquired NBS's design assets; Natel bought failures due to whiskers, Leading indicators from The Conference Board captured EPIC Technologies, while assembly equipment supplier but he also acknowledged the most attention. Those Essemtec sold its operations they are spending a ton indicators have been climbing for most of 2013, which to a private investor group. GE bought Imbera Electronics of money to ensure that. is a good thing, just not fast enough. All economists beto advance its capabilities into lieve economic growth is being advanced embedded electronics hindered by partisan politics in the packaging. LTX-Credence bought U.S. Congress. Dover's Multitest and ECT, while Molex bought IPC continues to evolve and along with it, FCT Electronics, only to be acquired by Koch some more personnel changes. We've lost Susan one month later. Filz (conference coordinator) and Mary MacKFlextronics made a few acquisitions, picking innon (APEX show sales). IPC has also added up RIWISA to strengthen its position in mediPERM into the stable of groups under its concal. They also picked up a couple of factories trol. PERM is a group working to help highfrom Motorola Mobility (Google), one in Brazil reliability companies move to lead-free. Driven and the other in China. Sparton bought Creomostly by mil/aero suppliers, they're working nix to strengthen its mil/aero offerings and also hard on a solution for tin whiskers. They made picked up Aydin Displays. They bought Onyx at some good, but rather expensive progress. As the end of 2012. one gentleman from Raytheon said at the reJabil bought Nypro; OSI bought Briton EMS; cent tin whiskers conference, they haven't seen Season Group acquired OEL; ENRI merged with any increase in failures due to whiskers, but he Abotron; eXception Group sold to TPG, Goldalso acknowledged they are spending a ton of man Sachs; Probe bought Trident; JUKI and money to ensure that. Sony merged their SMT equipment businesses. " " 24 The PCB Design Magazine • January 2014