Ewaste recycling becoming profitable

Industry is finally taking notice that recycling electronic waste is good for the environment, and also is good for business.  The global e-waste market grew 10 percent in 2010, and is  expected to grow for rest of the decade. Collection services are expected to triple by 2020. Ewaste is estimated to comprise less than 3% of the world’s total solid waste, yet is receiving a lot of attention due to its toxicity and its rapid growth.

Synopsys to acquire Magma

Synopsys will acquire Magma for approximately $507 million net of cash and debt acquired.  Synopsys, which provides software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, is set to acquire Magma Design Automation, a provider of chip design software.  When asked about the acquisition, Synopsys said "this acquisition will enable Synopsys to accelerate the delivery of the technology our customers need to keep the overall cost of design in check."

Read the Synopsys press release here: http://synopsys.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=982

Find cross references for electronic components

SiliconExpert’s has launched a new part search tool to identify crosses for more than 185 million electronic components. Cross references are grouped into distinct categories, with upgrades and downgrades identified.  Users can select up to 42 attributes per product.  The tool finds the number of crosses available for each part alongside the part number and lists the similarities with the original part.  Similarities are categorized into three levels.  No differences, minor differences, and major differences. 

The tools also offers parts at risk and lifecycle statuses, multi-sourcing, available inventory, and environmental compliance data such as REACH, RoHS, and the WEEE directives. Certificates of Compliance (CoCs), Material Declarations and Product Change Notifications (PCNs) are also listed.

Pricing information is not available online, but is an annual subscription based on the number of users.



http://www.siliconexpert.com/products/part-search

Rebuilding America’s Electronics Industry

Printed Circuit Design & Fab offer up a formula for returning the electronics manufacturing industry to America, covering how to the number one problem with the American economy is that its manufacturing jobs have been outsourced to cheap labor markets overseas, and that bringing it back to the United States is the solution. The article discusses how to achieve this, the current debate, and how to greater the range and diversity of the electronic manufacturing industry.

Check it out here: http://pcdandf.com/cms/component/content/article/171-current-issue/8567-business-management

1-Source Publishes "Encyclopedia"

The new "encyclopedia" is a bare-bones glossary of electrical component terms, that is billed as providing information, updates, and component visuals. The glossary has two sections, Active Devices and Passive Devices. The Active Devices section includes Capacitors, Diodes, Hybrid Integrated Circuits, Integrated Circuits, Magnetic Devices, Power Sources, Semiconductors and Transistor and The Passive Devices section includes Connectors, Resistors, Resonators, and Transducers. Literally, that's it. It has a page for each term and a "definition." Not sure who is going to be using this. Good luck trying to find it too. It's not even promoted on their own website.

Arrow enables engineers to design LED products

Arrow Electronics has introduced an application that helps engineers design complete LED lighting products.

The Lighting Designer features built-in design guidelines combining tools for selecting and optimizing products, adding secondary optics, defining the power supply and selecting and laying out a design.

In addition to LED product and system data, the tool offers several LED system options, such as the recommended, highest efficacy, and ,least expensive solutions; after selecting an option, engineers can see alternatives and the roi for transitioning from traditional lighting.

Visit the lighting designer at http://web.transim.com/arrow/lighting/led/Widget.aspx

Senators moving on DoD counterfeit parts law

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Carl Levin and the committee’s top Republican, Arizona Senator John McCain, spoike on the Senate floor about the amendment they want to add to this year’s defense bill to crack down on the millions of fake parts that wind up in military gear.

The Department of Homeland Security would be charged with inspecting shipments “from any country determined by the Secretary of Defense to be a signifiant source of counterfeit parts” — a.k.a., China. DoD and its vendors would be required to buy from “original equipment manufacturers, authorized dealers or from trusted suppliers who meet establish standards for detecting and avoiding."

Levin’s bill also would toughen criminal sentences for counterfeit “military goods and services;” require vendors to notify DoD when they discover fakes; and require DoD itself to define all the new rules of engagement for its suppliers.

Suppliers would need to bear the cost when they or the services discover fakes in their equipment.