New Shortform Catalog from Schaffner

Schaffner Test Systems, a leading developer and provider of instrumentation and test systems for EMC emission and immunity, has published a full-color shortform catalog outlining its products and services.

The 38-page catalog provides an overview of Schaffner's technology and software. It also outlines Schaffner's easy-to-use interfaces, accredited calibration laboratories and customer service.

In addition, Schaffner's shortform catalog contains product information on many of its test products and systems that service the automotive, industrial elec- tronics, consumer electronics, telecommunications, medical and aerospace/defense industries. Schaffner's system products includes ESD generators, RF power amplifiers, EMI measuring receivers, EMC emission measurement antennas and GTEM/TEM test cells. Detailed charts and information summarize the features, benefits and applications of each product.

To receive a copy of the catalog, contact MaryJane Salvador, Schaffner EMC, Inc., 52 Mayfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837, phone: (732) 225-9533 ext.239; fax: (732) 225-4789; email: usasales@schaffner.com.

Global RFID Market Report

According to a new technical market research report, RFID: Technology, Applications and Market Potential from BCC Research, the global market for RFID hardware, middleware, and IT market reached $640 million in 2005. In 2006, the global market will grow to more than $713 million, and is projected to reach $1.0 billion by 2011, an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 8.0%.

Retail RFID is estimated currently at just under 27% of the overall RFID market, and supply chain management (SCM) applications, when considered as separate from warehouse and transportation, represent just over 15% of the overall RFID market. These market distributions will undoubtedly change rapidly and regularly as RFID technology and established and emerging markets mature.

Retail applications and supply chain management (SMC) are each growing at a considerable pace.

Propelled by these retailer mandates, as well as ISO regulations and a DoD requirement for supply-side RFID, many suppliers of all sizes have either already implemented RFID or are in the midst of doing so.

For more information, visit www.bccresearch.com.

Flomerics Releases PCB Design Survey

Software simulation company Flomerics has released a new survey highlighting the conflict that often occurs between meeting thermal, EMC and signal integrity design requirements in the development of new PCB designs. In the survey 59% of recipients agreed that thermal and EMC requirements are usually in conflict in PCB design, 23% disagreed, 60% agreed that thermal and signal integrity requirements are usually in conflict in PCB design while 23% disagreed.

However, the survey reveals a positive picture regarding the communication and collaboration between electronic and mechanical design engineers at most companies--64% of respondents described communication as "good" or "very good," 31% as "needs to improve," and just 4% as "very poor." Fifity-six percent of respondents said that "better software interfaces between electronic and mechanical software would greatly improve collaboration between electronic design engineers and mechanical design engineers," while 28% said "software is not the issue. Good management, human interaction, etc., are more important."

Respondents were also asked to identify the percentage of new designs that overran time and cost budgets, and the most common causes of such overruns. The survey also provides insights into typical PCB design flows and processes. The industry sectors most represented in the survey were telecommunications (23%), power electronics (18%), aerospace and defense electronics (17%), and automotive and transportation electronics (11%).

For a copy of the complete survey, visit Flomerics at www.flomerics.com/contact.