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.
Dow Corning, imec partner on silicon solar cells
Leuven, Belgium — imec and Dow Corning are partnering on a joint research project for next-generation crystalline silicon solar cells. Dow Corning has signed a three-year contract that will allow the company to work on several programs under imec’s industrial affiliation program (IIAP) on silicon solar cells.
The R&D program will focus on significantly reducing silicon use, while increasing the efficiency of solar cells. This could substantially lower the cost for solar energy, said imec.
The collaboration will target areas where Dow Corning’s advanced materials can bring enabling solutions for the processing and interconnection of future solar cells. An example is a silicone encapsulant process for integrated cell and module processing.
Imec said due to the use of very thin and large wafers, cell processing and module assembly is increasingly challenging. Imec and Dow Corning will combine new cell structures with novel silicone encapsulant processes with a goal of producing cost-effective modules with ultra-thin cells.
“With Dow Corning joining our silicon solar cell IIAP, our research can benefit from the latest innovations in materials. By bringing together all the different players in the silicon solar cell value chain, ranging from energy companies, solar cell manufacturers to material and equipment suppliers, we can speed up the development of new processes which are tested on a semi-industrial pilot line. As such we accelerate the transfer to mass production;” said Jef Poortmans, program director for imec Energy, in a statement.
“It is all about commercializing new technologies that will make solar panels more efficient and more durable, leading to a significant reduction of the cost per kWh of energy generated with photovoltaics. Dow Corning strongly believes in imec’s approach to bring world leaders across the value chain together to work synergistically and make step-change innovation a reality,” said Eric Peeters, vice president, Dow Corning Solar Business.
Delphi Automotive intros an aluminum cable as an alternative to more expensive copper cabling in automotive applications.