It's been nearly two years since I treated you, my readers, to one of my infamous quizzes on the contract assembly business. You may consider that you've been getting off easy until now, but your respite is over. While most of these questions will seem easy to anyone getting a bit long in the tooth, I've included a couple of tough ones to test your mettle! So put on your thinking cap. Take out paper and pencil (or your Palm Pilot, as the case may be), and get ready to go to work. An industry slowdown does NOT excuse you from participating! Prizes, Too The reader with the most correct answers will win a coveted Chip Scale Review polo shirt. This is an elegant white cotton poplin item, beautifully embroidered with our logo in deep blue. By the way, our last winner, Dennis Wagner of Precision Equip-ment Inc., is not eligible. Sorry, Dennis. You can send your entries via post, fax or e-mail. The deadline is September 1, and we'll post the winner on our website by September 8. By the way, my thanks to several old China hands for suggesting some questions in my time of need. Each question is worth 4 points, except multiple questions are worth 6 points. 1. Two decades ago, Fremont, Calif., was-by virtue of an official city declaration-"The World Center of Wafer Dicing" (or something like that). Sadly (or not), the company this proclamation honored is no longer in business. What company did this particular proclamation celebrate? 2. He founded ASE and Swire Tech-nologies, among other packaging foundries. He's still active and working on a new start-up in Northern California. Who is this packaging foundry start-up king? 3. This factory in Thailand, specializing in the assembly of ICs in ceramic packages, was started by a semiconductor company. It was later bought by a Thai contract assembler. What company started it originally? 4. This pioneer subcontractor had an onshore plant, as well as one in Mexico. After the Mexican facility burned down, it was never rebuilt. Name this company. 5. When this Japanese firm's main factory in Japan suffered an explosion and fire, it threatened to turn the market for its product, used in IC packaging, topsy-turvy and caused a minor panic in the industry. This is a two- part question: A. Name the company. B. Name the product. 6. He was an Amkor vice president for more than a decade until he left recently for a job as president/CEO at a small packaging company. Who is he? 7. Stacked packages are becoming all the rage. But this company in Southern California has been stacking chips for a long time. What is its name?
8. Some former K&S guys put together a company selling this product in the east. A. Name the company. B. Name the product by its model name. 9. Which city first hosted the former Olin Interconnect Division, producer of the M-Quad package? Also, name one of the executives that subsequently left for Amkor? 10. In the 1980s, the largest, most active independent subcontractors were in the Manila area. The two largest were 1) Stanford Microsystems and 2) Dynetics. Name two more that no longer exist. 11. Here's an easy one. What does the acronym "AMKOR" stand for? Oh, and what's the name of the founder? 12. Who founded Switzerland-based ESEC? Hint, it wasn't only the now-retired former chairman/president. 13. For many years, the son and daughter of the president were also on the staff of this eastern-based equipment firm. What company is this and what is each one's first name? 14. He's known industry-wide for his knowledge of IC packaging, but this doctor is also building homes in his native Iowa. Who is he? 15. This fellow, who left the industry and remains for the most part in his native Philippines, held several executive positions at Stanford Microsystems in Manila, including president. Who is he? 16. In the '70s, it was common to find a certain K&S wire bonder model kitted with which upgrade sold by a third party? 17. This semiconductor company decided that IC assembly in the Caribbean was a good idea, but later regretted it. What company are we referring to? 18. This large chip maker went after a number of companies for patent infringement over an issue known as "bottom gating" on packages. Name the company. 19. He started his IC packaging company nearly 27 years ago in a small office in Santa Clara with his brother, Richard. He now has additional plants in the Philippines and China. Who is he? 20. What companies did Amkor's three plants in the Philippines formerly belong to? Time's up! Look for the correct answers in our next issue. Random Jottings In case you missed it, Carl Lehtonen of SiCoast has signed on with Atlantic Technology (UK) Ltd. ATL, Crumlin, Wales, is the former UK packaging facility for ASAT. The plant was sold several years ago in a management buyout. Carl, who can be found in Marble Falls, Texas, is now holding forth as president of ATL's new U.S. office. You can reach him at 830.798.0800.
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