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Editorial: 2009: A Year for Innovative Environmental Solutions
... 2009 will obviously be challenging in many ways, but it also promises to be a year when environmentally-positive products and manufacturing practices have an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to strengthening the worldwide economy. And the compound semi industry can help lead the way. Compound semi-based solar products and LEDs...
Jump down to the full story
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Features:
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SUSS MicroTec Test Systems Announces Alliance
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 2, 2009...Suss MicroTec Test Systems of Dresden, Germany, has entered into a strategic alliance with MPI Corporation and Chain Logic International Corporation of Taiwan. Suss MicroTec is a provider of test solutions for packaging, nanotechnology, and compound semiconductors. According to Suss MicroTec, the relationship among the organizations covers channel distribution of semiconductor test related technologies and products and outsourcing as well as mutually beneficial development projects.
“This is a win-win agreement for all organizations as well as our valued customer base,” stated Michael Knopp, CFO and member of the management board of SUSS MicroTec AG. “It is in alignment with our business objectives of optimized distribution efficiencies as well as highest product quality with lower cost structures that can be passed along to customers and manufacturing partners. The proven success of the MPI organization will help us better support our Asian customers and at the same time provide a powerful ally in our continuing efforts to improve manufacturing efficiencies.”
“MPI is very excited about this agreement as it is in direct alignment with the organization’s strategy for global expansion.” said Brian Green, Chairman of the MPI Group. “SUSS MicroTec is exactly the type of high-quality organization that will help us improve business practices at home and abroad while offering customers the highest return on their investments.” Suss MicroTec News Release AU Optronics to begin e-paper Display Production
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 2, 2009...AU Optronics, a TFT-LCD maker based in Tawain expects to begin shipping electronic paper (e-paper) displays soon, according to a recent Digitimes article. AU Optronics (AUO) has reportedly been developing e-paper displays for some time. After Oprah Winfrey called Amazon's Kindle one of her favorite gadgets, sales of the devices took off. The increasing popularity of devices from Amazon and Sony has led AUO to set aside a portion of its production capacity to make e-paper displays. It was not clear from the article or from the company's web site which form of e-paper it will be producing.
ThalesRaytheonSystems Awarded $217 Million to Upgrade U.S. Army Firefinder Radar
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 29, 2008...ThalesRaytheonSystems, an equally owned transatlantic joint venture between Raytheon Company and Thales Group, was awarded $217 million to upgrade the U.S. Army's Firefinder Radar.
Under the terms of the contract, the company will provide modification kits and power amplifier modules for the AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder long distance weapon locating radar.
This contract follows the April 2008 initial production award. Combined, the AN/TPQ-37 RMI production contracts total more than $285 million.
In addition to the power amplifier modules, the upgrade will include modular, aircooled transmitter and new common radar processors that will be applied to the Army's entire fleet of AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar systems as well as to the fleet of agile AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radars.
The company contends that the upgrades will significantly reduce lifecycle costs and provide higher system availability, extending the expected life of the radar to year 2030. According to the company, the RMI program could potentially save the U.S. Army more than $5 billion. ThalesRaytheonSystems News Release Sumitomo Aquires Full Ownership of Eudyna Devices
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 29, 2008...Sumitomo Electric has agreed to acquire Fujitsu Limited's share of a 50/50 joint venture, Eudyna Devices Inc. Eudyna Devices was established in April of 2004 as a Sumitomo and Fujitsu 50/50 joint venture. Since that time, Eudyna has become dominant producer of optoelectronics-based on compound semiconductors. Sumitomo says that the aquisition of Eudyna will increase its market share and add new products. Furthermore, Sumitomo contends that the additional R&D resources together with a larger scale of manufacturing operations will ensure a more competitive and sustainable business for the future. Sumitomo Electric and Fujitsu will reportedly continue negotiations based on the basic agreement. The companies plan to complete the transfer of the shares on April 1, 2009. Fujitsu says it plans to maintain a strong business relationship with Eudyna after the transfer. Sumitomo News Release
Emcore Faces Class Action Law Suit Over Alleged SEC Violations
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 29, 2008...An Emcore stock holder and a law firm are bringing a class action lawsuit against Emcore Corporation on behalf of Emcore stockholders, and another law firm is investigating. Both law firms point to the reduction in Emcore's order backlog and the subsequent drop in the price of Emcore's common stock. Emcore's order backlog was reduced after the U.S. government canceled $5.3 million in orders. Additionally, the law firms point to Emcore's "largest customer", Green and Gold Energy who would not be able to afford its orders due to changing market conditions. The lawsuit by one law firm alleges that Emcore "filed materially false and misleading information regarding its financial position, business prospects and revenue expectations. "
Specifically, the complaint alleges that Emcore Corp's public statements overstated the value of the order backlog in its terrestrial solar energy division. The law suit further alleges that those misstatements and omissions resulted in an artificially inflated price for Emcore's common stock between June 12, 2007, through March 17, 2008. Then on March 18, 2008, the price of Emcore Corp's common stock dropped over 23%. The lawsuit says that this drop resulted from news that Emcore's largest customer, Green and Gold Energy, which accounted for $78 million of Emcore's $86 million backlog in terrestrial solar technology, would not be able to afford those transactions. Law Firm News Release First Solar Completes 10MW Thin Film CdTe Power Plant for Sempra Generation
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 29, 2008...First Solar, makers of CdTe thin-film solar cells, reports having completed a 10MW thin film ground-mounted photovoltaic power plant for Sempra Generation. According to the First Solar, the plant in Boulder City, Nevada USA, is the largest thin film solar plant in the United States. First Solar constructed the 10 MW PV power plant adjacent to Sempra's existing 480 MW El Dorado Energy power plant about 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Sempra Generation reportedly developed the project and will own and operate the PV power plant. First Solar reportedly served as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the PV power plant, which was constructed in six months. First Solar also agreed to supply monitoring and maintenance services over the lifetime of the plant. First Solar's solar modules that were deployed for the project were manufacturing at First Solar's facility in Perrysburg, Ohio.
"The build out of this 10MW solar power plant from start to finish in less than six months marks the successful completion of our first utility scale EPC project," said John Carrington, First Solar executive vice president marketing and business development. "We applaud Sempra's commitment to expand their renewable energy portfolio--investing in clean energy infrastructure while creating green jobs and addressing climate change and energy independence." First Solar News Release Our news features are reported
by the CompoundSemi News staff writers.
For submissions or content suggestions, you can contact us using
editor -at - compoundsemi.com
For more information and to reserve promotion space contact
Info7 -at - compoundsemi.com
or call +1 (512) 257-9888
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Commentary & Perspective...
2009: A Year for Innovative Environmental Solutions
Jo Ann McDonald, founding editorJanuary 5, 2009...2009 will obviously be challenging in many ways, but it also promises to be
a year when environmentally-positive products and manufacturing practices have
an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to strengthening the worldwide economy.
And the compound semi industry can help lead the way. Compound semi-based solar
products and LEDs are our most obvious contribution, but basically everything
our industry creates presents a welcome alternative to what has been eating
away at both the natural environment and our individual pocketbooks.
Turning to solutions such as CS-based solar technology driving solid state
lighting are sensible alternatives to reduce the dependency of an oil-based
economy. The trick is to get everyone to embrace and adopt our energy efficient
solutions. Besides doing what we're already doing--which is a lot--there are
many clever new ways to get our messages across. Over the months ahead, I intend
to seek out and help promote fresh new ideas to help get things going. For starters,
look at your own manufacturing processes and if there's room for improvement,
improve. Make it a priority. And remember to underscore basic time-honored solutions
that may have been forgotten, like carpooling. Install LED lighting in your
facilities, cut down on heating when nobody's in the offices and plants, turn
down the thermostats a few degrees in cold weather and turn them up a bit during
heatwaves. Install solar heating and cooling systems... that sort of thing.
In other words, practice what we preach.
And here's an innovative promotional idea that I bet you don't know about,
one that doesn't cost very much, but carries with it tremendous clout. In the
USA we have an informational medium called PBS
Television, which presents a lot of environmentally-responsible daily news
coverage, including one of their programs, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (their newly enhanced online outlet that can be accessed here). The NewsHour, as well as various other PBS TV programs, including
those produced by their extensive list of local affiliates, are well-watched
by shakers and movers here in the US. People who watch PBS television are generally
well educated, thoughtful and proven decision makers. Influencing them can mean
a great deal when changing current practices for the better. PBS is commercial
free television, underwritten by numerous sources including sponsorship by philanthropic
institutions, corporations and individual viewers.
Because PBS and their local affiliates all across the USA are public broadcasting
stations, they must necessarily adhere to certain standards for recognizing
supporters on air. In practice, this usually means minor modifications to a
spot that might air on commercial TV. These are called "sponsor tags" and the
cool thing about them is that the local affiliate will produce them for you
for an incredibly reasonable sum. Choose the locality in which it will air wisely
and a thousand dollars in sponsorship can go a surprisingly long way. Take KLRU
for example. That's the PBS affiliate station in Austin, Texas. Under their
"OnAir Sponsorship" section
you'll find "Underwriting
Guidelines" to see what I mean. While parameters and costs may differ at
a given PBS affiliate, in Austin, for a mere $1000, they do the shooting and
editing of your message and air it enough times over selected station breaks
to a locally influential viewership. Once you have the footage "in the can"
it's easy to clone the message over other local affiliates in other major markets,
like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington DC, New York, Dallas, etc.
In addition, you can use the footage in in-house corporate presentations (potential
investors, shareholders, customers, etc.) to stretch that promotional contribution
even further.
Along with conventional advertising and public relations conduits like CompoundSemi
Online, start thinking creatively about innovative promotion outlets like
PBS television. The point is to take your message to decision makers who are
in a position to really get the economy moving again, in a fresh, environmentally
positive direction. And if you have some innovative (and equally inexpensive)
ideas to share, let me know and we'll give it appropriate editorial coverage.
Together, we can make a difference.
Happy New Year! If you have news or
views to share about the compound semiconductor, LED or solid
state lighting industries
contact our Publisher, Tom Griffiths
His direct tel in Austin is +1-512-257-9888
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