ESNA spoke with ReSolve, part of Arrow's newly launched reverse logistics group, which also includes Intechra, an IT asset disposition services company and Converge, an independent distributor, to discuss the importance of a reverse supply chain logistics program. 
The aftermath of Japan's earthquake last month has left the electronics supply chain struggling with production stoppages and shipment delays of electronic components and raw materials supply.
Because the DRAM market is highly volatile the current buyer's market could quickly swing into a seller's market during the second half of 2011. Buyers will need to keep an eye on several key issues.
Applied Materials expands display, solar equipment manufacturing
Tainan, Taiwan — Applied Materials, Inc., a supplier of equipment to the semiconductor, flat panel display (FPD) and solar photovoltaic (PV) industries, recently opened its newly expanded Tainan Manufacturing Center in Tainan, Taiwan. The nearly 15,000-square-meter facility will extend the company’s capability to serve its FPD and thin-film solar PV customers in Asia while leveraging Taiwan’s location, talent pool and supply chain-efficiencies, according to the company.
“The Tainan Manufacturing Center is one of our biggest investments in Asia and puts Taiwan at the center of our display and solar equipment technology efforts,” said Mike Splinter, chairman and CEO of Applied Materials, in a statement.
The Tainan Manufacturing Center employs approximately 150 people and is expected to build and ship about 100 new plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD) systems this year, which is a 400 percent increase in shipments from last year.
A leading market for semiconductor and FPD manufacturing, Taiwan is also becoming an increasingly active region for solar energy, passing renewable energy legislation in 2009 aimed at boosting renewable energy and energy diversification, said Applied Materials. Applied said it has donated R&D systems for thin-film solar energy research to some of Taiwan’s leading universities and supports education efforts through its Applied Young Talent program.
Delphi Automotive intros an aluminum cable as an alternative to more expensive copper cabling in automotive applications.