Front End I News
High tech building takes European manufacturing into the future
F
inder SpA has employed a range of ultra-modern technology in its new electronics manufacturing facility in
Almese, Italy, including innovative electrostatic discharge (ESD) protective flooring.
The company’s electronics department covers 3,500m2, expanding the site’s total area to approximately 31,000m2, 15,000 of which are dedicated exclusively to production. The new department will house the production of printed circuit boards, and the assembly of products that use them, such as timers, monitoring relays and energy-saving lighting control products, and it represents an important step in new product development. By using this pcb capability together with its own relays in existing, or easily adapted housings, Finder can now address market demand by developing and launching new products within a relatively short space of time. Finder has also adopted measures to
protect components against electrostatic discharge (ESD), ensuring that any ESD voltage is limited to less than 100V. Certification has been obtained according to standard CEI EN 61340-5-1 through point-to-ground (PTG) testing—which measures the resistance between the floor and the ground node, as well as point-to- point (PTPq) testing—which measures the resistance between two points on the floor at a one metre distance from one another. The test results have also taken into account the level of ambient humidity, which is also controlled. Finder has been able to create an
Electrostatic Protected Area (EPA) due to an innovative flooring system with static dissipative flooring. Discharge current levels that would otherwise be damaging to electronic components are therefore avoided through dissipation under ‘controlled’ conditions. This flooring system enables operators to move freely
Nokia’s survival hinges on the success of its new smartphones
T
his month saw Nokia report a net loss of 969m euros for the three months to the end of September,
compared with a 68m euro loss in the same quarter last year. While the losses were less than had been expected by analysts Nokia warned that tough times lay ahead for what was once the world’s biggest selling mobile phone maker. Investors agree saying that the company’s survival will be dependent on whether its new smartphones are capable of clawing back lost marketshare from the likes of Apple and Samsung. Nokia has fallen behind Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy in the lucrative smartphone market. The company’s results were boosted by
strong profits from its telecoms equipment venture Nokia Siemens Networks, which were above forecasts. According to investors pressure is mounting on the company’s Chief Executive Stephen Elop who was hired in 2010 to turn the company around. Nokia is now pinning its hopes on the new Lumia 820 and 920 models, which come in vivid colours, have high-resolution cameras and run on Microsoft's latest software. The new Lumias are due to come onto the market in November. The company is continuing to burn
through cash and that is expected to continue for at least another year,
4 October 2012
according to market watchers.
While net cash came in at 3.6 billion euros ($4.7 billion), ahead of market forecasts of 3.4 billion euros, it was still down from 4.2 billion in June.
Both
investors and analysts have said that if its cash position worsens and sales of the Lumia do not live up to expectations then the company will have to reconsider its current strategy and calls to remove its chief executive will grow. Currently sales of the existing range of Lumia smartphones fell to 2.9 million from 4 million in the second quarter as consumers waited for the newer models and average selling prices dropped. The new Lumias will be entering a very competitive market that has been and can expect to be saturated by a broad range of new tablets, including Apple's new mini iPad which is expected to be launched shortly.
Components in Electronics
throughout the entire area using suitable anti-static equipment while visitors can access the departments without any special equipment, provided they walk along the dedicated routes, avoiding contact with any objects.
The surface mount technology equipment installed in the electronics department comprises ‘best in class’ machines, all selected for their specifications, performance, reliability and
quality. The UK manufactured screen printers are super flexible and have a proven 6 Sigma performance, with a state- of-the-art visual inspection. These pcb printers feed into the US manufactured pick and place machines with dual-beam (2- module) platforms. The pick and place machines also have integrated cameras to provide visual inspection, which are in turn linked to high efficiency convection reflow ovens.
IGT Industries acquired by Stadium Group
I
GT Industries Ltd, one of the UK’s longest established Human Machine Interface (HMI) Solutions providers, has been
acquired by the Stadium Group plc. Stadium Group plc is an AIM-Listed company that employs over 1100 people across operations in both the UK and Asia. The core businesses of the Stadium Group include the design and manufacture of power supply products and Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS). The acquisition looks to support a strategy that is focused on an electronic business with a portfolio of adjacent products and technologies, offering synergies and economies of scale. IGT will adopt the new trading name of Stadium IGT Limited and will remain at the company’s current site in Eastleigh with day-to-day running of operations unchanged. The acquisition will see Terry Moss take up the position of Sales and Marketing Director. Commenting Moss said, “This acquisition will benefit our customers by offering access to wider products and services within the Stadium Group including access to Stadium’s global supply chain in Asia. We now have the financial stability of being backed by a major UK PLC and going forward with a commitment by Stadium to invest in IGT’s core product offerings and technology.” Stadium IGT, now part of Stadium Group plc, have been developing Man Machine Interface technology for more than twenty years and have been responsible for many technological innovations which are now in common use. These include numerous backlighting techniques, integral RFI screening and most recently the development of capacitive switching systems, both touch screen based and single press control panels with optional back-lighting. Stadium IGT products are widely used in rail, marine, aviation, industrial and medical
Terry Moss markets.
www.cieonline.co.uk
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