 What's New
ELCINA Electronic Industries Association of India (Formerly Electronic Component Industries Association) was established in 1967 when India's Electronic industry was still in its infancy. ELCINA has always remained committed to the promotion of electronics manufacturing culture in the country focusing on components-the building blocks of electronics industry. |
- General
- ONGC's Energy Trust plans LED project : India's largest energy explorer Oil & Natural Gas Corp's (ONGC) Energy Trust plans to set up a solid state light-emitting diode (LED) project in the country. LED lamps are costly by energy efficient and have extraordinary life-span compared with other lighting solutions. ONGC Energy Centre (OEC) plans to set up an LED luminaries assembly and packaging plant to start with and finally enter the manufacturing of semiconductor chip. ONGC is looking for joint venture partner for the project and according to Dr. Dilip M Kale, Director-General of OEC Trust, the centre has called for expressions of interest from prospective partners. The Centre aims to conduct research in alternate energy, focusing on projects that have the potential to reduce the country's energy bill, and to make LED lamps popular. If the energy used by normal incandescent lights is 1.1 watt per sq.ft. of space, LEDs can bring this down to almost 0.4-0.5 watts. According to Havell India President Sunil Sikka, an LED can give you 50,000 working hours, compared to 5,000 hours by a CFL bulb and 500 hours by an incandescent bulb. Of the Euro-58 billion lighting market, only 3% constitute LEDs. The prices of LEDs is now 15-20 times that of an incandescent bulb. Unless this comes down to within the Rs.100-range, it would be difficult for LEDs to make an entry into the middle-class segment which can drive up volumes.
- China unseats Japan as second largest industrial manufacturer - UN : China has overtaken Japan as the world's second largest industrial manufacturer, after the United States, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced recently.China's share of the global total of manufacturing value, known as MVA, has inched up to 15.6 per cent, just knocking out Japan, which stands at 15.4 per cent. The US maintains its rank at 19 per cent. The three countries combined produce half of the world's manufacturing output. This information is part of UNIDO's new International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics 2010, the only global publication providing worldwide statistics on current performance and trends for over 70 countries in the manufacturing sector for economists, planners, policy-makers and others. In spite of China's lead in terms of the absolute amount of production, Japan is still the world's most industrialized country, in terms of MVA per capita, totalling nearly $9,000 compared to $700 for China. The new report also found that the recent financial crisis had a severe impact on industrialized countries, but a much softer one on developing nations. It also provides internationally comparable data for major indicators of manufacturing activity, which can be used to analyze growth patterns and industrial performance.
- Ukraine to be the new European EMS hub : Ukraine's cost-competitiveness and strategic proximity to other European countries make it the preferred destination for several European tier 1 EMS companies. Additionally, the establishment of free economic zones in Ukraine is encouraging electronics manufacturers to invest in the country due to lower import/export duties and tax holidays issued by the Ukrainian government to promote manufacturing activity and generate job opportunities. The government is also trying to woo foreign investors to invest in the country by restarting privatisation of existing state-owned facilities to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) in key markets such as EMS during the economic downturn. This offers opportunities for foreign investors to capitalise on the existing infrastructural facilities available in the country. However, bureaucracy and red-tapism in the Ukrainian administration is reducing the transparency of foreign investment transactions and several foreign investors are sceptical about investing in the country. "Foreign investors perceive Ukraine to be corrupt, restraining foreign investments in electronics manufacturing in the country and turning away many potential investments to other east European countries," explains the analyst of this research. Since the latter half of 2009, the total Ukrainian electronics manufacturing market is showing signs of recovery due to improving global demand in key end-user segments. Furthermore, proposed investments are moving forward in Q4 2009, thereby bringing the Ukrainian market back on the growth path. "Ukraine is likely to attract more multinational investments in the near future, with the number of market participants likely to double by 2015," concludes the analyst. "EMS is anticipated to account for a significant portion of these investments." This is mentioned in a Frost & Sullivan research study titled Ukraine - An Emerging EMS Haven in Eastern Europe. It provides market forecasts, vertical market analysis, and surface mount technology (SMT) penetration rate in Ukraine for electronics manufacturing services (EMS).
- ROHS components converted into leaded components : German distributor Kruse is able to convert ROHS complaint components into leaded components or to convert any of leaded semiconductors - such as excessive leaded stock, discontinued components, etc. - into lead free RoHS complaint components. This is done through a proprietary chemical process developed for the last 2 years by one of Kruse's international strategic partners and is supported with official certificates. Whisker : Whisker emerge processes became and can cause especially easily with building groups, that with lead-free tin plumbing short circuits on galvanically produced leader disks or also between building elements. In security critical uses of the electronics, for example OFF motor vehicles or ESP systems in motor vehicles, become would plumb used because of the lacking long-term stability further lead containing because previously only through it the Whisker development can be prevented. Whisker emerge partially first after years business, and the beginning danger cannot be measured from outside. The Whisker blowouts can have led to be sure in about 10 mA again, until there the flowed current however already to the component damage and/or false function. The process will help avoiding costly re design through conversion and utilization of ROHS or obsolete components. It also gives conversion of complete inventories to the avoidance of value write-offs. Other advantages are components in conformity evasion by delivery times for RoHS and component in conformity cost savings by the aimed buys of leaded component vis-à-vis ROHS.
- Information Technology
- Dell offers Indian users discounts to recycle PCs : World's second largest PC maker, Dell Inc., on 4th March announced that it will offer discount coupons to Indian consumers who bring their old Dell PCs to the company for recycling. The coupon for Rs.1,000 on each PC can be used by the consumer to get a discount towards the purchase of any Dell hardware directly from the company. However, purchases through retailers will not qualify for a discount against the coupon. The company's free recycling programme for consumers in India has also been extended to include PCs from any vendor, provided the customer is interested in buying a PC from Dell. The company also announced a "Dell Go Green Challenge" in an effort to raise awareness and community involvement in green initiatives in India.
- Telecom
- BSNL decides to scrap Rs.35,000-cr GSM tender : BSNL decided to scrap its controversial tender for 93 million GSM lines, worth Rs.35,000 crore. In a board meeting on 5th March, 2010, the company accepted, in part, the recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee on the tender and to move to an outsourcing model for equipment. BSNL, the second largest mobile service provider just three years earlier, has fallen to fifth position. It steadily lost ground to private sector rivals, with its share of the market, once well above 20%, plummeting to just 12%.
- DoT orders STel to stop operations : STel, a joint venture between the Chennai-based Siva Group and Bahrain Telecom (Batelco), has been asked by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to immediately stop its mobile services in Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa, owing to security concerns. The company has mobile licences for HP, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, J&K and Assam circles, but is operational only in the first three, with a subscriber base of over 800,000.
- Telcos oppose move to 11-digit nos : All mobile firms, with the exception of Reliance Communications and the Tata Teleservices, have asked telecom regular TRAI to continue with the existing system of 10-digit mobile number format and have opposed the proposal to move towards 11-digit mobile numbers. Responding to TRAI's consultation process on this issue, most mobile firms have suggested that digits between '2' and '9' be opened up for mobile telephony so that the current 10-digit format be retained as against the current policy where levels '9' and sublevels of '8' and '7' are only used for mobile numbers. Over 90% of the mobile numbers begin with '9' as this level has been completely opened up for mobile telephony. Off late, DoT has also opened up sublevels in '8' and '7' for mobile telephony, which has resulted in cellular phone numbers beginning with this digit.
- Tata to now pay cellphone customers for deficient service : After pioneering per-second-billing for mobile telephone calls, Tata Teleservices, which offer both GSM and CDMA services, has again unleashed an interesting initiative. It says its subscribers would be compensated if the company failed to meet pre-determined levels of service standards. The new 'Customer Service Charter' for its Tata Indicom users would include five customer commitments such as bill disputes, call drop and handset replacement, among others, which would guarantee pre-determined levels of service and support, and includes compensation clauses for customers if the set levels are not met. This would also help TTSL retain customers after implementation of MNP from May, 2010.
- Asia Pacific leads global WiMAX coverage : WiMAX Forum, expects to surpass one billion (100 crore) by the end of 2011, which is approximately the time competitive 4G technologies are expected to begin early commercialisation. Currently WiMAX service providers offer networks covering more than 62 crore (620 million) people (or POPS) in approximately 147 countries and are on pace to surpass the already forecasted 80 crore (800 million) POPs by end of 2010. By region, WiMAX Forum research found that Asia Pacific leads with more than 23.7 crore (237 million) POPS and 100 network deployments. Central/Latin America has reached 11.3 crore (113 million) POPs and 109 deployments, while Africa/Middle East covers more than 10.8 crore (108 million) POPs with 142 deployments. Europe covers 11.5 crore (115 million) people with 153 deployments and North American coverage has increased to 4.7 crore (47 million) POPS with 51 deployments. In February 2009, the WiMAX Forum originally projected that WiMAX technology would reach 80 crore (800 million) POPs by the end of 2010. The increases in coverage footprints by the end of 2009 are proof that this number continues to track to meet or exceed these previous estimates. This February 2009 projection does not account for potential growth WiMAX will experience once spectrum is auctioned in India and networks are deployed in the Philippines as well as Indonesia. A main driver of WiMAX growth in 2010 will be the increase in consumer products coming to market, including tri-band smart phones and feature phones capable of global roaming. More than 178 Mobile WiMAX Certified products achieved certification in 2009 and ten products were certified in January 2010. Currently, more than 25 WiMAX Forum member companies manufacture WiMAX base stations and 45 WiMAX Forum member companies are CPE and end user device suppliers. The WiMAX Forum estimates that by 2011 there will be more than 1,000 Mobile WiMAX Forum Certified products commercially available.
- Consumer Electronics
- Durable firms to up prices again : Consumer durable companies plan to increase prices between Rs.300 and Rs.15,000 depending on the product, in a couple of weeks. They have been increasing prices since January to keep up with the rise in metals' prices. The increase in excise duty announced in the Union Budget this year (from 8% to 10%), coupled with the increase in petrol prices, is also being passed on to the consumer. So, prices could see a rise from anywhere between Rs.280 for a low-end refrigerator and Rs.15,000 for a top-end television set. However, Microwaves would be spared, as the duty has been reduced from 10% to 5% on the key component, Magnetron. Most companies also say they may further increase prices in April-May 2010 on the back of rising metal prices as well as an increase in value-added tax (VAT) from around 12.5% to 14% by some States.
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