Highlights

Keyword Intellect

The year 2004 started with a vigorous programme for Intellect s Components and Manufacturing Sector (C&M).

The Fabricator Group had their first 2004 quarterly meeting on 14 January at Russell Square House. There was a fascinating Technical Workshop on 21 January staged by CERN Laboratories concerning a ground-breaking new technique for manufacturing micro-via based printed circuit boards; this innovation substituted the expensive laser-drilling based method with a chemical etching technique to be used in high temperature material applications. C&M attended the National Advisory Council meeting at the Institute of Physics where national strategies for electronics materials and devices are formulated. Discussions were held in February and March with the DTI about the restructuring of the Electronics Design Realisation Ltd (EDRL) Design initiative. Distant-learning courses for post-graduate level are being supplied successfully from Bolton Institute; plans need to be developed further for marketing the undergraduate courses. EDRL was placed into liquidation on 3 March because there was no need forthecompanytocontinuenowthecoursematerial had been made available.The EDR Centre at Tweed Horizons was consequently closed also.

Moving on we saw the Semi-Conductor Businesses Association merge with Intellect on 1 March 2004. This is the kernel of a new focus named the Electronic Design Group, which will represent the electronics design function across the country and is a major initiative for the UK.

The Environmental Working Party is much involved with three projects covering one leading to a piece of kit to aim at Towards Zero Discharge in the PCB process, a...