BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit fabricators reported February shipments were up 11.1% year-over-year, as orders decreased 4.1%.

The book-to-bill ratio in February slipped to 0.95, says IPC. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next two to three months.

February rigid printed circuit board shipments were up 11.4%, and orders fell 7.3% year-over-year. Flex circuit shipments were up 8.3%, and orders grew 36.3% compared to February 2010.

Through February, PCB shipments were up 7.8%, and orders were down 5.3%. Sequentially, circuit shipments increased 12.9%, and orders rose 7%.

Rigid shipments were up 7.7 %, and orders declined 7.5%. Sequentially, rigid shipments increased 13.2%, and orders were up 6.4%. Flex shipments increased 9.4%, and orders were up 19.7%. Sequentially, flex shipments increased 9.3%, and orders rose 12.6%. The rigid book-to-bill dipped to 0.94, while flex book-to-bill jumped to 1.10.

Rigid PCB sales have been growing faster than orders for the past six months, while the opposite is happening in the flexible circuit segment, IPC said.

Rigid circuits represent an estimated 89% of the current industry in North America. In February, 24% of the sales were to the military market. Rigid board producers reported military sales accounted for 23% of sales for the month, and flex circuit producers reported 38% military sales.

In February, 77% of total PWB shipments reported were domestically produced. Domestic production accounted for 76% of rigid and 88% of flex shipments. 

TATABANYA, HUNGARY – Electronics manufacturing services firm Sanmina-SCI’s local subsidiary is hiring 150 staff to meet rising demand, according to local reports.

The site currently employs some 1,000 employees, and is back to pre-2008 levels after halving the headcount during the recession.

Revenues will return to pre-crisis levels by the end of 2011, the firm says.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Strong global demand for metals such as tin and silver is driving up metal costs to all time highs, says Alpha.

Investors relying particularly on silver as an alternative investment are creating an additional price pressure, says the firm.

In early March silver surged to more than $36 per troy ounce.

In March 2007, tin had surged from $7,000 metric ton to $14,000 per metric ton. Today's levels are more than $28,000 per metric ton, says Alpha.

WARSAW – Essemtec has founded a subsidiary here to improve direct customer relationships and increase sales and marketing activities in Eastern Europe.

Essemtec Poland will sell automatic production systems and turnkey solutions for SMT production, including printing, dispensing, pick-and-place, reflow soldering, storage and handling.

The site’s managing and sales director, Miroslaw Borkowski, previously worked for PB Technik, Essemtec's representative in Poland.

HELSINKI, FINLAND -- Elcoteq narrowed its fourth-quarter net loss on a slight uptick in revenue, the EMS company said today.

TORONTO -- EMS firm Adeptron Technologies reported its fourth-quarter net loss shrank to $345,000 from $1.45 million for the period ended Dec. 31.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Electronics manufacturing services firm HEI cut its fourth-quarter net loss by more than $500,000, reporting a loss of $231,000 for the period ended Jan. 1.

NORTH YORK, ONTARIO -- The parent company of EMS firm Permatech closed a private placement that netted $135,000, primarily to insider J.T. Risty Ltd.

ANTHEM, AZ – Charlie Barnhart & Associates is preparing to launch a study comparing the advantages of Mexico to China for outsourced electronics manufacturing.

The study will examine the capabilities of the EMS industries in China and Mexico for their fit with the needs of midmarket OEMs. The data-based analysis will highlight benefits of electronics manufacturing in both countries, CBA said in a press release.

Issues to be considered in the report include manufacturing focus and fit, as well as the scope of EMS operations in China and Mexico. The research will examine labor and overhead rates, labor force and infrastructure.

The report will be available free to any interested OEM or EMS companies. 

For more information, visit www.charliebarnhart.com.

HERNDON, VA – iNEMI has issued a call for participation in the Rare Earth Metals Assessment and Supply Chain Actions Project.

Participation in this project will provide information on the electronic industry's extensive dependence of REM, and give participants the opportunity to develop strategic programs and projects to reduce the impact of shortages and/or restricted supplies.

iNEMI conducted a survey to assess whether a shortage of rare earth metals would affect the electronics industry in the near term. The results indicate that any disruption in supplies of REM would have a critical negative impact on the industry.

The primary purposes of this project are to gather information related to the probability of a shortage of rare earth metals occurring in the near future; pinpoint when demand will exceed supply, and identify key driving factors.

Goals include driving actions that will increase supply; examining the feasibility of reclamation/recycling efforts; investigating development of alternative materials, and raising awareness on the severity and potential impact of REM supply issues with governmental agencies and industry trade groups.

Ultimately, the project aims to reestablish a viable REM industry in the US; develop REM mining, refining and processing skills, and rebuild and restructure the REM supply chain and infrastructure.

For more information, visit http://www.inemi.org/cms/projects/ese/Rare_Earth_Metals.html.

Sign-up for this project has been extended to Mar. 31.

MANILA -- Shockwaves from the March 11 earthquake in Japan might be felt in the Philippines as electronics manufacturers there export large percentage of their production to Japan.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil not only beat its own forecast for its fiscal quarter ended Feb. 28, but the contract electronics manufacturer said revenues could reach the $20 billion plateau up to two years ahead of schedule.