On July 12, 2006, Advanced Packaging celebrated the 6th Annual APA Awards ceremony with style and panache. It was a grand event like no other, and took place at a special location, the Wattis Theater in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). While we were preparing to host the ceremony, our audio-visuals program crashed on the computer we were using for the event. For a few minutes, we held our breath wondering if this special night we had planned so carefully and worked on so diligently for months might not be as smooth as we had envisioned. However, at the precise time that guests arrived, it all clicked into place. Like a well-rehearsed play, the electronics performed well and we presented distinctive crystal statues to each proud winner.
One of the newest additions to our awards program came from our recent cooperative efforts with Solid State Technology. SST has presented Attendees’ Choice Awards for four years. This year, for the first time, we presented three Attendees’ Choice Awards on the tradeshow floor, and then recognized the winners again at the end of our APA program. In the Best Solution to a Problem category, SEMICON West attendees chose Heraeus, Inc. for their TF Series Fluxes. In the Most Innovative Product category, attendees chose SUSS MicroTec for their C4NP line. SUSS MicroTec Ag Test Division was chosen for their BlueKey Probe System in the Best Cost of Ownership category. Now that attendees at SEMICON West know that we will be gathering their nominations for winners in these categories, we look for even more nominations next year and more excitement as the live presentations and candid photos are taken at the winners’ booths.
After presenting the APA and Attendees’ Choice awards, the whole group gathred for photos you’ll see within the pages of this issue. Then we danced on down to THE Party of all parties, which we hosted along with The Loomis Group at the SF-MOMA. Those with award-winning products joined other industry leaders in Monte Carlo-style gambling, feasting, and dancing to the live band on stage. From the conga line to the small groups of friends, the soiree began. Of course this was the place where company presidents met with the other company presidents on a level playing field, or dance floor. For the liveliest night at SEMICON, everyone came together for dancing, laughter, and celebration.
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Gail Flower
Editor-in-Chief