Counterfeit Electronic Component Risk Mitigation
According to Thomas Hallin, IP attorney at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., "The multi-billion-dollar counterfeit industry, particularly in China, is costing the U.S. auto industry billions of dollars in annual sales and precluding the employment of hundreds of thousands of workers because of lost business."

Counterfeit Electronics and the China Connection
Evolving market forces created the demand for counterfeit parts for military systems. And, when a market develops, suppliers will rise to serve that market. The military market, with its demand for obsolete parts, the cost and schedule pressures it places on manufactures, and the overall degradation of its supply chain management and supplier controls, is the true cause of its own undoing.

Non-Destructive Testing with Nordson Dage
Keith Bryant, global sales director of Nordson Dage, discusses the company's new X-Plane system, which can eliminate the need for destroying a PCB to get accurate test information. Bryant explains how this tool can pay for itself quickly, especially if the test board is an expensive, high-tech PCB.

Keeping High-Power Semiconductor Devices Cool
A group of researchers at the University of California have developed a technique to keep cool a semiconductor material used in everything from traffic lights to electric cars. Gallium Nitride (GaN) is used in wireless applications due to its high efficiency and high voltage operation.

Berkeley Lab Scientists Generate Electricity From Viruses
The scientists tested their approach by creating a generator that produces enough current to operate a small liquid-crystal display. It works by tapping a finger on a postage stamp-sized electrode coated with specially engineered viruses. The viruses convert the force of the tap into an electric charge.

Topological Insulators: Path to Room-Temperature Spintronics
Strange new materials experimentally identified just a few years ago are now driving research in condensed-matter physics around the world. These "strong 3-D topological insulators," TIs for short, are seemingly mundane semiconductors with startling properties. For starters, picture a good insulator on the inside that's a good conductor on its surface--something like a copper-coated bowling ball.

Multitest Offers New Bowl Feed Option for MT9928
The company has announced a new bowl feed module for the MT9928 xm gravity test handler. This option offers a state-of-the-art solution for temperature test of the smallest devices such as MLF2 and SOT. While Turret is the traditional handling solution, it does not apply when accurate temperature testing is required at hot or cold.

ACE Enhances KISS 101A Selective Soldering Machine
ACE Production Technologies announces the re-launch of the entry-level KISS 101A selective soldering machine based on feedback and suggestions from users around the globe. Improvements include a new skin and new controls mounted in a way that further minimizes the system's footprint.

GOEPEL Unveils New 3D Solder Paste Inspection System
At SMT/Hybrid/Packaging 2012 GOEPEL electronic introduced a brand-new system for 3D solder paste inspection (SPI). The new solution, OptiCon SPI-Line 3D, provides high-level technology by extraordinary inspection speed and detection accuracy for automatic solder paste inspection.

IPC Midwest to Address Challenges in Manufacturing
The two-day exhibition will feature electronics manufacturing's top suppliers to companies in advanced microelectronics, aerospace and military, automotive, medical and industrial equipment and devices, telecommunications, and other industries. Leading experts will share the latest research on manufacturing defect-free, quality electronic products as part of the technical conference.

Koh Young Celebrates Delivery of 3,000th SPI System
In making the announcement, Dr. Kwangill Koh, CEO, said, “We are honored to have Mack Technologies deploy our KY8030-3 systems to optimize their electronics manufacturing process. My thanks go out to the entire Koh Young family whose dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction have made this possible.”

IEC Electronics Marks Record Results in Fiscal Q2
"This was an excellent quarter with meaningful improvements across all of our important financial metrics. Most significantly, our gross profit margin reached 21.7% and operating margin reached 11.8%. These results are some of the best in the company's history, and particularly strong for our industry," said W. Barry Gilbert, chairman of the board and CEO.

Bob Willis to Hold Assembly & Cleaning Webinars
The "QFN/LGA Assembly & Inspection Criteria" webinar will discuss LGA/QFN assembly process, inspection techniques and procedures, common process problems, defect guide causes, and cures. The "Cleaning Printed Circuit Assemblies, Design & Process Control" webinar will address PCB design for cleaning, testing component compatibility, and more.

Pudles Testifies on Proposed Conflict Minerals Rule
"I encourage the SEC to implement the requirements of Section 1502 in a manner that supports the goals of the statute without unduly burdening U.S. manufacturing industries or causing unnecessary disruptions of the legitimate minerals trade, which is vital to the livelihood of the people of the DRC," said Steve Pudles, Chairman of the Board of IPC.