(August 14, 2007) MUNICH, Germany — SUSS MicroTec delivered a 200-mm Gamma production coating and developer cluster to HD MicroSystems, LLC (Wilmington, DE), to support the company’s polyimide and PBO material technologies. HD MicroSystems is a joint venture (JV) of Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd. and DuPont Electronic Technologies. It will use the production cluster to support expansion into advanced packaging markets, said John Malloy, U.S. marketing and sales manager, HD MicroSystems.
(August 15, 2007) LONDON, NEW YORK and TOKYO — Data from the London Mercantile Exchange (LME) confirms that — at mid-year 2007 — copper, lead, and tin raw metal prices remain above 2006 levels. Leadframe materials, including copper and nickel, are hitting record prices, asserts The Nikkei Business Daily, which suggests that component manufacturers are resistant to absorbing the higher raw metals costs.