Among the challenges of producing tightly packed computer chips is the need to prevent warpage of the underlying silicon wafer as electronics components are stacked on it. Now a new modelling technique can help. [ + ]

ASTC (Australian Semiconductor Technology Company) has appointed Mario Cavaiuolo as VP of ASIC Turnkey Design Solutions. His new charter is delivering turnkey ASIC consulting services to electronics companies in Australia, New Zealand and worldwide for their competitive advantage. [ + ]

Plessey Semiconductors and Alphatec have signed a distribution agreement for the Greater China market. [ + ]

Boeing has initiated a comprehensive set of improvements that will add several layers of additional safety features to the lithium-ion batteries on 787 commercial jetliners that are in production and could be ready for initial installation within the next few weeks. New enclosures for 787 batteries also are being built and will be installed in aeroplanes in the weeks ahead. [ + ]

UK Solar cell technology developer Solar Press and coating and printing experts Kroenert have signed a long-term partnership agreement to develop and sell turnkey manufacturing solutions for organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules. [ + ]

Hybrid ribbons of vanadium oxide (VO₂) and graphene may accelerate the development of high-power lithium-ion batteries suitable for electric cars and other demanding applications. [ + ]

A research team from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea, has developed high-performance organic phototransistors (OPTs) based on single-crystalline, n-channel organic nanowires. [ + ]

As more and more electricity is being generated from intermittent sources of power, such as solar and wind energy, powerful electric energy storage devices are becoming more necessary to level out corresponding irregularities in the power supply. Fraunhofer scientists have recently made an important breakthrough with their development of a redox flow battery that reaches stack power up to 25 kW, with a cell size of 0.5 m². This is eight times larger than the previous A4-sized systems. [ + ]

Avnet Electronics Marketing Asia has added Philips Lumileds as a supplier partner. [ + ]

Richardson RFPD has launched a website resource focused exclusively on silicon carbide (SiC) technology for energy and power applications. [ + ]

Researchers at the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) have created an artificial material, a metamaterial, with optical properties that can be controlled by electric signals. [ + ]

A new type of lithium-sulfur battery that can run electric vehicles is being developed at the Baosteel-Australia Joint Research and Development Centre, based at The University of Queensland (UQ). [ + ]

Touch technology innovator Peratech is working with the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London to develop wearable electronics that use the company’s award-winning QTC sensors. [ + ]

Specialist industrial automation and controls distributor Inaco Automation Controls has announced a new distribution alliance with Rittal for Australia. Inaco will now distribute the Rittal portfolio of enclosure systems. [ + ]

Select Fabricators, a US manufacturer and developer of RF/EMI solutions including shielded enclosures, pouches and curtains, has signed an agreement with Victorian company EMC and RF Solutions for the distribution of its range of Select-A-Shield RF/EMI shielded enclosures and pouches. [ + ]