ESSEMTEC, the worldwide leader for SMT production equipment for the low/midsize volume market, has opened its new sales and service organization in the US.

IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries has announced that it will sponsor Capitol Hill Day on Wednesday, May 12, 2004, in Washington D.C., immediately preceding IPC's Spring Technology Market Research Council Meeting on May 13-14, 2004, in Baltimore.

BASF Aktiengesellschaft increased its sales in the third quarter of 2003 by 2.1 percent to €7.7 billion when compared with the same period in 2002.

Universal Instruments is to provide SMT placement capabilities at service centers owned by WC Heraeus GmbH & Co KG in Germany and China.

Chemcentral Corp. has announced a new sales initiative to build top-line growth and to solidify its position in specialty chemicals.

Adhesives Research has promoted two members of its management team in the Medical Business Unit to support business growth.

TruSeal Technologies Inc. has announced Lori Postak's promotion to associate director of research and development.

Halliburton Energy Services has entered into exclusive negotiations with United Minerals & Properties by signing a Letter of Intent to sell Cimbar Performance Minerals, its barium sulfate operation, for an undisclosed sum.

The Grinding and Dispersing Division of Netzsch Inc. has announced the appointment of Mark Seale to the position of South Central Regional Sales Manager.

Dr. Robert Zellerhoff, head of the Business Group Resins/HKM at Rutgers Chemicals AG and director of the German-Japanese joint venture Rutgers Kureha Solvents GmbH, will retire by November 30, 2003, citing health concerns.