An Independent Journal Dedicated to the Advancement of Chip - Scale Electronics July - August 2000 Email the editor

Manufacturing Showcase

NEPCON West, organized by the Reed Exhibition Companies (REC), has been the "must-see" showcase for electronics manufacturing for decades. Ironically, the event began in Long Beach in 1965 before moving to Anaheim in 1966.

Last year's NEPCON-played out barely two miles from Disneyland-marked a revolt by the show's largest exhibitors, who said they were tired of paying $38/square foot for exhibit floor space at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Led by Speedline Technologies, and with the sponsorship of IPC's SMEMA council, SMEMA conjured up the APEX (assembly process exhibition and conference).

With majors like Panasonic, Philips, Siemens and Speedline Technologies vowing never to return to Anaheim, NEPCON management last year cut the exhibit floor price to $19/square foot, to match the APEX rates. That, however, did not mollify the dissenters.

A few determined exhibitors, mostly suppliers of electronic materials, bought space at both shows. Several told Chip Scale Review they were afraid to bank on the untried APEX event.

In a January 10 news release, NEPCON management claimed that pre-registration figures were running 16% above the same time for the prior year. Higher numbers of attendees, however, were not evident on the show floor.

Without the multi-tiered exhibits by the leaders, the Convention Center lacked the excitement of prior shows. NEPCON attendees this year stayed away in droves, and at least 100+ exhibitors (mostly large ones) from past shows elected APEX instead.

At APEX 2000, less than two weeks after NEPCON, and only some 15 miles from Anaheim, the scene was quite different.

NEPCON West

This view from the second floor of Hall A shows the opening day traffic.	RVSI, showcasing its latest vision systems, boasted one of the larger exhibits.
Golf was the game of the day in the Tiros booth. Tiros President/CEO Ty Fedak tees off as Peggy Heins, sales manager, stays a safe distance in the background.	Again this year, Novastar's cookie girl disbursed cookies baked in a Novastar reflow system.
Ken Kolden, Ismeca, elaborated on the advantages of his company's products.	The Anaheim Convention Center put on a new art deco face for this year's show.

APEX Album

Big exhibits were the order of the day, as this multi-level Panasonic Create display shows.	APEX was the launching pad for both Cookson (Speedline Technologies, Alpha-Fry, etc.) and Nordson (Asymtek, March Instruments) to display their collective, competitive might.
Megawatts of colored klieg lights bedecked much of the main exhibit floor.	Michael L. Martel (left), of Martel Marketing Communications Inc., gives some tips to client Jeroen Schmits, president of Vitronics Soltec.
Test equipment makers, such as Genrad, were highly visible at the show.	Richard D. Heimsch, president of DEK, makes a point during an informal presentation.
These APEX attendees are taking in the rays in front of the Long Beach Convention Center.	BTU International exhibited its Pyramax reflow system at APEX.
The Cookson display dominated a large section of floor space with equipment from Electrovert, MPM and other Cookson divisions.	Quad Systems made its second tradeshow appearance in less than a month, following its NEPCON participation.