MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. — In conjunction with IBM Global Services (White Plains, N.Y.), eTrons Systems here is building an electronic marketplace to connect buyers and suppliers of components and direct materials for the $80 billion electronic manufacturing services industry.

To be named eTrons.com, the new marketplace aims to shorten the buying cycle, reduce time-to-market and create new sales opportunities for contract equipment manufacturers, direct component suppliers, distributors and independent brokers.

The site will serve as an online market where contract manufacturers and others can submit requests for quotes to qualified direct component suppliers, distributors and brokers. By actively matching manufacturers with suppliers based on product design requirements, pricing, capacity and other specifications, the eTrons.com service promises to deliver value beyond that of a conventional catalog-based online procurement site.

IBM will work with eTrons to design, build, integrate and host the site using IBM's RS/6000 servers, DB2 Universal Database and WebSphere software platform. eTrons will also leverage integration, Web hosting and consulting services from IBM Global Services and IBM's NetGen division.

"This business-to-business Web-based solution will transform material acquisition and parts trading to the core," said Joseph Jeng, chairman and chief executive officer of eTrons Systems.

A daily news section will cover top stories from the electronics manufacturing services industry. Other sections of the site will give trade show and conference schedules, a parts knowledge directory and a job market. The company says its help desk will be manned around the clock.

CALL (650) 210-0880
www.etrons.com
EETInfo No. 610