The prolonged economic downturn has brought a string of bad news for the electronics industry, including just about everything from massive layoffs to the bottoming out of stock prices. But, finally, some much anticipated good news out of one of the giant chipmakers. In fact, the news is so good that Mike Hastings, marcom manager for Texas Instruments' Standard Linear and Logic Semiconductor Group, is eager to spread the word. "Last year, somebody cancelled Christmas. This year, we're seeing demand go up beyond the holidays and into first quarter of 2004," he says. To wit, TI shipped 40% more units of linear and logic devices in the third quarter of this year than it did in the last healthy quarter of 2000 before the bottom fell out of the market. Devices sold last quarter are bound for a wide variety of products ranging from cell phones to PDAs to wireless communications devices and toys. Business might be sooooo good, Hastings hints, that some customers should be worried about component availability as TI and its suppliers burn through their inventories. Yet as prices firm, there are plans afoot to keep up with demand. Mike Hayden, TI Procurement Engineering Manager, says he began working to secure silicon supplies back when demand started going up in September. Mark McGuire of Sumco, Japan's second largest silicon supplier, says that his company is adding people and equipment. KES Systems, which provides burn-in capability, is also investing in capital equipment. All of this is good news, but the big question is whether this recent surge in sales is an indication of a true recovery and, if so, how long it will last. And that appears to be anyone's guess. "I can only see out to the first quarter," says Hastings. "And right now, first quarter looks great."
With LEDs dropping in price virtually every year, automakers have begun employing them, not only on luxury vehicles, but on entry-level models, as well.
The 3D printing revolution seems to have a knack for quickly moving technology ahead by way of collaborative effort and even a little friendly competition -- all of course in the name of scientific advancement.
Advantech has launched a new series of motion-control I/O modules to meet the increased demands that come with more distributed industrial systems that require control of a growing number of axes and devices.
Using almost 200 light-emitting diodes in the front and back of the new 2014 CTS, Cadillac designers are showing how LEDs can change the character of a vehicle.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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