Plexus Acquires e2E
NEENAH, Wis. — Plexus Corp., a provider of product development, design, manufacturing and testing services to the electronics industry, has completed its acquisition of e2E Corp. (Hillsboro, Ore.), a PCB design and engineering service provider for electronic OEMs. The acquisition increases Plexus's PCB design and engineering capabilities as well as its geographic footprint by adding more than 100 engineers and designers in seven design centers.
Solectron Makes Appointments
MILPITAS, Calif. — Solectron Corp. has made appointments to support the growth of its Global Services Business Unit. Art O'Donnell has joined Solectron as Vice President and COO of Global Services Operations. Denis Taylor has been named Vice President and General Manager of Solectron Global Services Europe. Bart van Dijk has been appointed General Manager of Solectron Global Services Netherlands.
Freedom Electronics Makes Acquisition
EATONTOWN, N.J. — Freedom Electronics Inc., a contract manufacturer that focuses on electromechanical and custom cable assemblies, has purchased the video manufacturing business of Madge Networks N.V. (Hoofddorp, The Netherlands). The newly formed corporation, Freedom Vertical Technologies, will provide fully integrated and logistics service from design and manufacturing to depot repair.
Avnet Applied Computing Opens Lab
PHOENIX — Avnet's Applied Computing Group (AAC), an operating group of Avnet Inc., has opened a new engineering laboratory where AAC customers and engineers can work side-by-side to cut the time-to-market of their designs. The labs consist of functional workspaces that allow access to databases with current reference design and failure analysis information, and other resources designed to provide up-to-the minute product information. The labs also provide the ability to simultaneously create a set of "build instructions" as the initial prototype is developed that can be transferred directly to AAC's integration center once the prototype is complete. These instructions give the center the information necessary to develop a "first article" or copy of the prototype, and begin full production of the design.
Newark Enhances Service
CHICAGO — Newark Electronics has taken steps to enhance its customer service, including expanding its sales force, upgrading and consolidating branches, investing in new technology, and increasing e-commerce offerings. Mike Ruprich, Newark's CEO, said, "Our goal is to improve customer service, increase market share and provide exciting and challenging opportunities for our employees. To achieve this, we will spend approximately $50 million in new technology, additional staff and training over the next 12 to 18 months."
SND Electronics Names COO
GREENWICH, Conn. — SND Electronics named Alan Lo as its new COO. Lo, an eight-year veteran of Intel Corp., will help expand SND's operations of the West Coast and Asia. As a senior manager at Intel, Lo held corporate finance and credit responsibilities and helped develop supplier distribution channels in Asia and Latin America.
Pioneer-Standard Exceeds RosettaNet Goals
Cleveland — Pioneer-Standard Electronics Inc. announced the implementation of multiple RosettaNet Partner Interface Processes (PIPs), a set of standardized instructions that enable supply-chain partners to automate the exchange of information over the Internet. Pioneer-Standard has exceeded RosettaNet's goal of implementing a PIP with at least one trading partner by partnering with both a supplier and a customer to deploy RosettaNet e-business strategies throughout the entire supply chain.
Reptron Appoints VP of Strategic Marketing
TAMPA, Fla. — Reptron Electronics Inc. has named Gary Shanahan, a 21-year veteran of the electronics distribution industry, to the newly created position of Vice President, Strategic Marketing. One of Shanahan's goals is to attract new franchise relationships for Reptron Distribution, the company's electronic distribution service business. In addition, Reptron is building a separate operating unit within its distribution division to provide greater focus and value to customers and suppliers. Shanahan will also assume the role of director of this Communications Industry Focused Business Unit.
