Murata Erie has published a letter to all their customers through their 
manufacturing representatives announcing that, in order to reduce production 
costs and remain cost competitive through standardization, they intend to 
implement the following changes to their ceramic chip capacitors effective 
April 1,1996:

1. Discontinue all marking of ceramic capacitors. This is not totally 
unexpected, as the 0603 and smaller sizes cannot be marked.

2) Discontinue all packaging tapes except paper for sizes 1206 and smaller.

Note:Other changes were stated, but these are the two that I would like to 
address.

What I would like to ask readers of the forum, is:

A) What is the general concensus of Murata Erie discontinuing marking on SMD 
chip caps?

B) Is Changing to paper tape only something the industry is leaning toward, 
or is Murata Erie alone in this?Does this cause a problem with your feeder 
unit allocations?
 If all vendors followed suit, we would be required to purchase many more 
paper tape-type feeders. Also, paper is a somewhat dirtier process.

Hope to get some feedback from others on these matters. Thanx!

Jeff L. Hempton
Magnavox Electronic Systems Company
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Jeffery L. Hempton                     Phone: 219-429-7335
Mail Stop:25-31  Fax:   4688  Email: [log in to unmask]
MESC, 1313 Production Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808

"And the men who hold high places, must be the ones who start,
  To mould a new reality, closer to the heart.
Philosophers and Ploughmen, each must know his part,
  To sow a new mentality, closer to the heart."--Rush-A Farewell to Kings.