Southern Africa
Altech has announced solid results for the year ended 28 February 2006. Revenue increased by 9% to R6 bn, with operating income of R485m. EBITDA were up 16,8% to R722m. The Altech group operates through three divisions: telecommunications, multimedia and electronics, and information technology. Altech said that cellular service provider Altech Autopage, performed well ahead of expectations, while Altech Netstar, one of the leaders in the stolen vehicle tracking and recovery market, had profit growth that was well ahead of expectations with exceptional cash generation. Good performances were recorded by Altech Alcom Matomo and Altech Alcom Radio Distributors, with the former currently implementing a R500m SAPS radio network (TETRA) in Gauteng. In the group's multimedia and electronics division, Altech UEC's turnaround was completed during the year and the company is reaping the benefits, said Altech, especially as it is now able to manufacture competitively at the current strong rand exchange rate. UEC develops, manufactures and deploys advanced settop-box (STB) products and associated software. UEC is capitalising on converging technologies in the multimedia sector as demonstrated by the successful launch of its dual-view PVR decoder. Altech Arrow Distribution (AAD) also reported improved results for the year under review, driven by restructuring strategies which increased margins and revenue from new sales initiatives. The SA operation of Altech NamITech was severely affected by the continued strength of the rand, pricing pressures and management issues, said Altech, and a re-engineering process and significant cost-reduction exercise are underway. Altech ISIS recorded exceptional growth during the year as a supplier of end-to-end operational support systems solutions, while Altech Card Solutions benefited from the continued migration to the EMV payment standard and the ongoing deployment of EFTPOS terminals.
Data & Systems Technology has signed an exclusive distribution agreement for southern Africa with Endace Measurement Systems, a global leader in network monitoring cards. Endace is a New Zealand-based company, which is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. It provides its global customers, which include government security agencies, international telecommunication companies ISPs, with solutions that enable observation and analysis of all traffic carried on their networks. Pictured below are Stephen Burley (systems engineer, Endace), Deon Herbst (MD, Data & Systems Technology), and Greg Howard (VP sales EMEA, Endace), at the signing in Cambridge, UK. See 'Data & Systems Technology now offers Endace network monitoring technology'.
Actum Electronics has been appointed as the exclusive local representative for KVG Quartz Crystals Technology, a leading German manufacturer of quartz crystals and crystal components. KVG offers a wide range of crystals, oscillators, filters and specific quartz-crystal products. See 'Actum appointed as KVG crystal representative'.
Comtest has announced that it has acquired the distributorship for the Psiber Data Systems range of network test tools for installers, LAN technicians, and LAN managers. As a result, it says it can now offer one of the most complete lines of innovative test tools for network support.
The 2006 International Science, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (INSITE), a Department of Science and Technology event, has been scheduled to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 24-27 September and thereafter every two years. According to the organiser, Kagiso TV & Communications, this year's exhibition will focus on three key areas: The Youth and Science; Strategic Economic Sectors; and Interventions and Sustainable Development.
With the continuous evolution of barcoding and allied technologies, D.C. Industrial Scanning Systems is hosting a series of roadshow seminars to introduce prospective users to the ever-increasing changes within the industry, how these changes affect companies and what DCI has to offer in adding value to the business. The seminars will focus on: the latest trends in barcoding; dealing with G1 attributes; and the introduction of new ranges of Datalogic handheld scanners, portable data collection devices, unattended scanners, EMS RFID (HF and UHF products) and Zebra printers. The seminars will be held in Port Elizabeth on 7 June; in Johannesburg on 22, 23 June; and in Cape Town on 13 July. Contact Alan McLachlan, 011 867 1449, [email protected].
Overseas
Business
International Rectifier posted GAAP earnings of $25,7m on sales of $297,1m, compared with $35,7m on sales of $281,9m in the year-ago third fiscal quarter. In the previous quarter, IR earned $24,3m, on sales of $278,8m in the previous quarter. In the March quarter, IR said its 'focus products' revenue grew 6% quarter-on-quarter, with all product segments recording double-digit percentage growth over a year ago. International Rectifier recently announced it would seek to sell its non-focused and commodity product lines and accelerate its transition to high-performance analog, mixed-signal and digital ICs, and advanced-circuit products.
Infineon announced that its second-quarter revenues were up 19% sequentially to 1,99 bn Euro, reflecting significantly higher sales in the memory products and the automotive, industrial and multimarket segments. Net loss in the second quarter was 26 million Euro compared to a net loss of 183 million Euro in the prior quarter. Total revenues for the first half of the 2006 financial year were 3,67 billion Euro, up 7% from same period last year. EBIT in the first half of the 2006 financial year was negative 94 million Euro, a decrease from positive 94 million Euro in the same period last year.
Companies
Passive components supplier, Murata Manufacturing, has announced that it has acquired US-based venture company, SyChip, a provider of radio frequency chip scale modules (CSM), for approximately $140m.
ATI Technologies has acquired Bitboys, a privately-held Finland-based graphics company, for $44m.
Alliance Semiconductor has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its analog and mixed-signal business unit to a group of investors led by Shah Capital Partners for $9,25m in cash. Alliance recently sold its systems solutions business to Canada's Tundra Semiconductor for $5,8m in cash. Alliance is also exploring the possible divesture of its remaining memory chip operations.
Motorola has agreed to acquire a Danish radio system R&D centre from BenQ Mobile, the German subsidiary of BenQ of Taiwan. The facilities in Aalborg, Denmark, feature state-of-the-art measurement facilities, including antenna chambers, acoustical chambers, radio frequency chambers, environmental laboratories and measuring facilities related to mechanical development. The acquisition will enhance Motorola's capabilities in mobile phone development, software application development and antenna technology, said Motorola.
SanDisk will use Philips Semiconductors' SmartMX smartcard controller chip in certain types of its flash memory cards to allow them to be used for near-field communications (NFC) for applications such as 'contactless' payment. With SmartMX embedded in TrustedFlash cards, consumers would use their phones as bus or train tickets and perform secure payments and transactions by simply waving their phones near a 'contactless' reader.
Alcatel has announced it has signed an agreement with DiBcom, a developer of DVB-handheld demodulator ICs, to use Alcatel's 'Unlimited Mobile TV' platform to develop a new chipset compatible with DVB-H in the S-Band.
Wisair, a leading provider of WiMedia UWB chipset solutions based on Certified Wireless USB, has announced that it is leading the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing very high data rate portion for the Pulsers Phase II (pervasive ultra-wideband low spectral energy radio systems Phase II) research project. Pulsers, being led by the European Union, includes 36 industrial and academic organisations. The goal of Pulsers is to reduce cost and power dissipation for higher-speed UWB subsystems.
Four Chinese TV manufacturers, Changhong, Skyworth, Konka and TCL, have announced plans to form a new consortium that would make flat-panel displays. The companies announced that they would partner with Shenzhen Shenchao Investment to establish a TFT-LCD consortium called Shenzhen Julong Optical-Electronic, which intends to build a sixth-generation TFT-LCD production line in China.
Alcatel has been selected by ACCA Networks, one of Japan's largest DSL and optical fibre access service providers, to launch a WiMAX trial in the Tokyo area. The trial network will be Alcatel's first WiMAX reference in Japan based on 802.16e-2005, the IEEE's universal WiMAX standard.
Industry
Worldwide semiconductor sales of $59,1 bn in the first quarter of 2006 were 7,3% higher than first quarter of 2005 when global sales were $55,1 bn, according to figures from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). First-quarter sales declined by 1,3% from the fourth quarter of 2005, when sales were $59,9 bn. The SIA said the sequential decline reflected normal seasonal patterns. The three-month average of sales till March 2006 was $19,7 bn, compared to same period for 2005, of $18,4 bn.
The signal conditioning market is poised for 20% revenue growth this year, according to research firm Databeans. Amplifiers and comparators, which together constitute about 17% of the current standard linear product market, are important signal conditioning circuits used in most mature electronic designs, and in next-generation devices in which communications and computing technologies converge. Amplifiers growth is expected to improve by 15% in 2006. Major volume applications markets that use amplifiers and comparators include computer disk drives, flat panel displays, and a range of consumer electronics. Comparators growth is expected to improve by about 3% in 2006, with estimated global revenue of $199m. Combined, worldwide revenue for these signal conditioning circuits is expected to reach nearly $4 bn by 2011.
LG Electronics became the top plasma display supplier by unit volume in the first quarter of 2006, according to market research firm DisplaySearch. LG shipped 730 000 plasma panels globally, accounting for 31% of the global PDP market. Matsushita of Japan and Samsung SDI of South Korea were second and third respectively.
LED backlights will begin to replace traditional cold cathode fluorescent backlights in liquid crystal displays starting the second half of 2006, according to a report by DisplaySearch.
Intel has announced major restructuring plans to try to climb out of its slump. Speaking to Wall Street analysts in New York recently, Paul Otellini, chief executive of Intel, said that the company plans to reduce costs by $1 bn and is engaged in an extensive self-evaluation for efficiency and productivity in all areas. Intel reported a 38% drop in profits in its most recent quarter compared with a year earlier.
The US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has expressed strong support for S.2691, legislation known as the 'SKIL Bill' (securing knowledge innovation and leadership). 'America is simply not graduating enough scientists and engineers to keep our country in the forefront of innovation and technology,' commented SIA president George Scalise in a statement. 'The Congress must quickly pass legislation to keep foreign-born, US-educated talent working for US companies. Leadership in technology has been critical to driving economic growth, enhancing productivity, improving our standard of living, and ensuring national security. Leadership is not a birthright - it must be earned, and it takes highly skilled scientists and engineers to earn leadership.'
Circatex, the PCB manufacturing company created by a management buyout of Viasystems in December 2001, has ceased trading. All production and ancillary equipment is now being auctioned off by way of a Webcast ( www.thebranfordgroup.com) and on-location auction, which starts on 24 May, 2006 at 09h30 UK local time.
According to Sophos, US senders of spam accounted for 23,1% of the world's spam in the first three months this year, with Chinese spammers close behind with their 21,9% portion of global junk mail. Other countries in Sophos' top 10 spammers include South Korea, France, Poland, Spain, Germany, Brazil, Japan, and UK.
Spectrum Control, a manufacturer of electronic control products and systems, has announced that it has received the necessary governmental permits to commence production at its new ceramic manufacturing facility in State College, Pennsylvania. Hurricane Katrina destroyed its former ceramic manufacturing facility in New Orleans last August.
The National Science Board (NSB) has named Intel chairman and former CEO, Craig Barrett, a winner of its 2006 Public Service Award. The NSB is the US science policy advisor to the US president and Congress. The organisation said it was recognising Barrett for his leadership in science and engineering policy and for spearing education programmes that provide impetus for a new generation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals.
Intel has announced that it will invest $1 bn over the next five years in technology development for emerging global markets. Intel's 'World Ahead Program' aims to expand existing initiatives like its community PC for India and Mexico into other developing regions. Intel said its five-year objectives are to 'extend broadband PC access to the world's next billion users while training 10 million more teachers on the use of technology in education and with the possibility of reaching another 1 billion students.'
Microchip Technology has announced that it has been recognised with four new awards for product and organisational leadership: Microchip was named the '2005 Large Company of the Year' by the Phoenix section of the IEEE, who said it was chosen because of its advancements in technology and contributions to the profession and the community; in Design News magazine's 2005 Readers' Choice Awards, Microchip was voted 'Best Value, Electronics.' Additionally, the chipmaker's ENC28J60 Ethernet Controller was voted the winner of its 'Best Product, 2005 Golden Mousetrap Awards' in the Electronics, Digital Control/Embedded Computing category; IndUS Business Journal, a leading business newspaper covering Indian and South Asian businesses, named Steve Sanghi its 2006 'Person of the Year'.
Technology
Samsung Electronics has announced the development of an amorphous silicon, thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD panel which reproduces high-resolution WVGA-level (800480 pixel) colours, using a single driver chip. The 17,8 cm WVGA panel will be shown at the Society for Information Display (SID) Symposium in June. The display provides a 400:1 contrast ratio and brightness of 450 nits. Amorphous silicon gate (ASG) technology incorporates the gate-drive IC function directly on the surface of the glass panel, while simultaneously integrating the time controller within the driver IC.
A device developed at Argonne National Laboratory has set a world's record for tiny spot size with a hard X-ray beam. Enhancements to its Multilayer Laue Lens device have now increased its ability to focus the X-rays with an energy level of 19,5 keV to 30 nm. The lens allows precise focusing of the X-ray light, allowing analysis of electronic circuit boards or samples inside high-pressure or high-temperature cells. Argonne researchers developed the record-setting lens by depositing 728 layers of material, one layer at a time, on a silicon substrate wafer. The thickness of the layer stack, when completed, was 12,4 μm.
Scientists at Purdue University have announced the development of a MEMS-based micropump small enough to fit on a computer chip that circulates coolant through channels etched directly into the chip. Using the principle of 'electrohydrodynamics', which involves interactions of ions and electric fields to cause fluid to flow, the 1 mm² device contains numerous 100 μm wide water-filled microchannels, covered with hundreds of electrodes. Varying voltage pulses in the electrodes creates a travelling electric field in the channels, generating ions that are dragged along. This causes the water to flow, inducing a cooling action. Challenges still faced include sealing the microchannels to prevent water leakage and making the system reproducible using the same conditions as semiconductors. Also required are more comprehensive and accurate mathematical models for the dynamic system.
Labtech, a UK specialist high technology company, has launched a focused 'turnkey microwave MIC assembly service' for customers around the world. Labtech has its centres in Presteigne and Milton Keynes. The company says it can offer a comprehensive build-to-print microwave module and component manufacturing service, including design support, fully automatic chip placement and wire bonding, thin film and box build assembly, microwave PCB manufacture, RF machining and microwave alignment and test up to 40 GHz.
Responding to RFID privacy concerns, IBM says it has developed a 'clipped tag' technology, offering consumers the ability to tear or scratch off RFID antennas to eliminating the threat of an unauthorised reading of the tag. Although the information on the chip can still then be read and is not destroyed, the reader and tag would need to be within a couple of centimetres, rather than many metres away, according to the company.
Israeli company Lumus has developed an optical imaging technology that it says enables personal screenless high resolution display by projecting images and data from computers, palm-units, DVD players, or cameras directly into the viewer's eye, displaying them in the visual field of the viewer. The company's light-guide optical element (LOE) is essentially a flat, small, transparent plate. Images from miniature sources, such as LCD, LCoS or OLED devices, are projected into the plate, and a set of reflective components reconstruct the image, projecting it directly into the viewer's eye. According to Lumus, LOE breaks the conventional tradeoff between the field-of-view, eye motion box (distance the eye can move physically and still perceive the virtual image from the microdisplay) and the physical size of the microdisplay optics. Unlike conventional optical modules, LOE thickness is independent of field-of-view. Products based on LOE are made of standard optical materials and are manufactured using standard optical manufacturing processes.
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