TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics (the trading name of Hon Hai) today reported flat August revenues as consumer demand stagnated in anticipation of the next-generation Apple smartphones.

HONG KONG -- Japan's March 11 earthquake continues to claim victims as SMT Holdings tries to stave off bankruptcy. The Top 50 EMS firm is closing two factories and cutting its workforce by one-third as orders from its major Japanese customers have dried up.

LAS VEGAS – In his first public address, the new chief manufacturing officer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology stressed new tax and business policies are at the heart of the reinvention of US manufacturing.

MANASSAS, VA – A multitude of electronics manufacturing suppliers will host a free one-day workshop at Zestron’s US headquarters Sept. 27 and 28.

Seven presentations and hands-on training will be provided on elements for a successful SMT process.

The workshop will be jointly held with Kester, DfR Solutions, Speedline, MPM, SMT North America and Sawa.

Kester will address potential reliability challenges caused by solder paste and flux residues, as well as decreasing pitch. DfR Solutions will provide information on contamination and cleanliness and a practical approach to today’s challenging industry requirements.

Other topics will cover stencil cleaning, reflow oven, inline cleaning process optimization and troubleshooting techniques, cleaning process control, and optimizing printer underside wiping.

For information, visit www.zestron.com/us/electronics/upcoming-events.html.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — Suppliers of components for enclosures are sought to participate in a new IPC standard for box builds.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Worldwide electronics industry growth is slowing, in line with general economic sluggishness, a new IPC report found.

SANTA CLARA, CA -- Hunter Technology will acquire Spinnaker Microwave for an undisclosed amount, the companies announced today.

OSAKA – Panasonic plans to build a printed circuit board fabrication plant in Vietnam, according to published reports.

Panasonic, which ranked 32d on the annual NTI 100 list of the largest board fabricators (http://pcdandf.com/cms/component/content/article/171-current-issue/8280-nti-100), said the facility would build boards for smartphones beginning next August, and would produce 3.5 million units monthly.

Panasonic also has two plants in Taiwan producing smartphone boards; the company plans to increase its overseas monthly output roughly sixfold to 9.5 million units by the end of 2012, according to the reports.

No financial terms of the investment were disclosed.

STAMFORD, CT – Worldwide PC unit growth is on pace to total 352 million units in 2011, a 3.8% increase from 2010, says Gartner.

PC shipments are forecast to see better growth by the end of 2012, when units are expected to reach 404 million units, up 10.9% from 2011.

SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Sparton today swung to a fiscal fourth quarter net loss of $700,000 on impairment charges due to the potential loss of revenue in its medical business.

SMYRNA, GA – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY today announced it is accepting entries for its 2012 New Product Introduction Award (NPI) for electronics assembly.
 
The NPI Award recognizes the leading new products for electronics assembly introduced this calendar year. Awards are selected and presented by CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY.

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Equipment - automation tools (conveyors, feeders, etc.); bonders; cleaning equipment; component placement - high-speed; component placement - multifunction; device programming; dispensing equipment; labeling equipment; process control tools; rework and repair tools; screen/stencil printing; screen/stencil printing peripherals/consumables; soldering – reflow (convection); soldering - wave; soldering - selective; soldering - other (vapor phase, hot bar, laser, etc.); soldering - hand tools; software - process control; software - production; software - management (ERP, MRP, etc.); test and inspection - AOI; test and inspection - AXI, and test and inspection - ICT; materials - adhesives; cleaning materials; coatings/encapsulants; underfills; flux; soldering materials (paste, bar, wire, core, etc.), and cored wire.

The deadline for entries is Dec. 29, 2011. To be eligible, entries must have been introduced to market (any region) no earlier than Feb. 1, 2011.
 
Entries will be judged on creativity and innovation, compatibility with existing technology, cost-effectiveness, reliability, performance and user-friendliness.
 
Awards will be presented during a ceremony on Feb. 28, 2012 during the IPC Apex Expo in San Diego.
 
For more information, visit http://www.circuitsassembly.com/cms/npi-award, or contact senior editor Chelsey Drysdale at cdrysdale@upmediagroup.com. To register, visit http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1011530. 

SANTA CLARA, CA – Pete Waddell, president of UP Media Group Inc., will moderate the annual Designers’ Roundtable at the upcoming PCB West 2011 technical conference and trade show.

The roundtable is a moderated discussion focused on the world of PCB design, its challenges and future, including how to facilitate communication with the entire PCB supply chain. PCB/layout/circuit designers, engineers and related technologists are invited to attend the free session, which takes place September 28 from 2 pm to 3 pm.

Waddell is a 20-year veteran of printed circuit board design and design technical editor of PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB. He founded UP Media Group Inc. in 2002.

PCB West 2011 will be held September 27 – 29 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center and is sponsored by the UP Media Group publications PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB (pcdandf.com) and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY (circuitsassembly.com).

Now in its 20th year, PCB West provides show attendees – printed circuit board (PCB) engineers, designers, fabricators, assemblers and managers – with the most targeted conference in the PCB design industry.

PCB West 2011 includes a three-day Technical Conference consisting of more than 50 presentations, including 10 workshops, panel sessions and half-day seminars; a one-day exhibition, featuring the PCB industry's leading vendors; and an array of free technical sessions. Full details regarding the conference and exhibition are available at www.pcbwest.com.

Admission is free for the one-day exhibition and other "FREE Wednesday" events (registration and a badge required). To register or learn more about the show, visit www.pcbwest.com.

For more information about PCB West, visit www.pcbwest.com or contact show manager Alyson Skarbek at 678-234-9859; askarbek@upmediagroup.com.