Electronic News

Orbital ATK, a defense and aerospace technology solution provider, has recently delivered the Cygnus spacecraft’s service module to NASA. NASA will be using this service module for the next cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station, which is scheduled to be launched next December. Orbital ATK has been responsible for providing NASA with cargo delivery services under their commercial resupply services (CRS) contract. This Cygnus spacecraft will be put together and assembled at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will be utilized in order to launch the spacecraft. Read more >>

South Korean display maker LG announced that they will invest around USD$8.47 billion into organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays through 2018. The money will primarily be used to develop OLED displays suitable for television sets and mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and wearables. The company is also interested in looking into using OLED technology in signage and auto manufacturing. A small part of the funds will also be allocated to liquid crystal display (LCD) products destined for the premium and luxury markets. Read more >>

At the start of August, the United States Marine Corps’ CH-46 Sea Knight medium-lift assault helicopter has officially been retired from service after completing its last flight, conducted by Reserve Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 774. Manufactured by Boeing and commonly known as the Phrog, the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter served the US Navy and USMC medium-lift assault community. Read more >>

Airbus has selected major aerostructure suppliers, including Stelia Aerospace and Aernnova, for its Beluga XL super transporter plane. The suppliers will bring their seasoned experience to Airbus, and each will provide a unique part developed for the one-of-a-kind aircraft. Read more >>

In April 2015, the GM announced that it will stop making the Chevrolet Volt for four weeks in June and July due to slow sales and to deal with the change to an all-new version of the gas-electric hybrid car. Despite the changes happening with the Volt, the Detroit-Hamtramck plant will stay open through the summer. The factory also is undergoing construction so it can build a new full-size Cadillac CT6 and the 2016 Volt starting late in the summer. Read more >>

General Motors has decided that the company will stop selling to the Russian mass market, resulting in shutting down a USD$300 million plant in St. Petersburg. With less than eight years in production, the plant’s collapse will also result in lowering production of their German-based brand Opel, along with the complete halt of selling cars in Russia by the end of 2015. Read more >>

In March of 2015, General Motors announced that it would be buying back $5 billion USD worth of shares of its own stock. In an effort to avert a conflict with an investor group helmed by Harry Wilson concerning GM’s balance sheet and governance practices (particularly with the hoarding of cash), the company has also issued plans to increase its quarterly dividend by 20% - returning a total of approximately USD$10 billion to shareholders over the next two years. Harry Wilson has been seeking a seat on GM’s corporate board of directors and has withdrawn his nomination in light of this new capital allocation plan. In addition to raising quarterly dividends from 30 cents a share to 36 cents, the company has also stated it will offer more transparency in its investment proposals, as well as keeping executive compensation more balanced with overall return on investment capital and with shareholder return. Read more >>

In February of 2015, Hitachi Ltd. announced that it will acquire the railway division of Finmeccanica, a partially state-controlled Italian industrial group. Finmeccanica has been running their rail businesses - AnsaldoBreda and Ansaldo STS - at a loss. In an effort to streamline their businesses and focus solely on defense and aerospace, Finmeccanica has been seeking a buyer for these companies for approximately 4 years. Read more >>

Vishay-Draloric primarily manufactures MELF (metal electrode leadless face) resistors and ceramic capacitors, but also offers thin film flat chip resistors, leaded film and wirewound resistors, and large ceramic power capacitors. In 1900 in Selb, Germany, Philip Rosenthal began manufacturing ceramics for electronic applications as a side business to his main concern in porcelain tableware. Read more >>

The semiconductor industry, which started up in the 1960’s, has since grown to become a very lucrative $249 billion industry, with some estimates putting the value closer to $304 billion. The industry is composed of an array of companies all involved in the design and fabrication of various semiconductor devices. The international semiconductor industry is spearheaded by the more well-known technology advanced countries such as the USA, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and the European Union. Read more >>