SPOKANE VALLEY, WA – Keytronic has announced the appointment of Brett R. Larsen to succeed Craig D. Gates as the company’s president and CEO, effective June 30.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – The PCEA Conferences Task Group today announced the technical program for PCB East 2024, featuring more than 75 hours of in-depth electronics engineering training.

WASHINGTON – Global semiconductor industry sales totaled $48 billion in November, an increase of 5.3% compared to the November 2022 total of $45.6 billion and 2.9% more than October's total of $46.6 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.

JUAREZ, MEXICO – Vexos has added to its presence in North America with a new 40,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility here.

KUALA LUMPUR – VS Industry has earmarked around RM60 million ($12.9 million) for capital expenditures in 2024, which will be channeled towards optimizing costs.

ATLANTA – Participants in the electronic components supply chain are suddenly and strikingly optimistic in their expectations for January after a year of overall index scores languishing between 72.2 and 90.6, according to ECIA's most recent survey.

YOUNGSVILLE, NC – East West Manufacturing will close its facility here in March and lay off 107 workers there, according to paperwork filed with the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

TAIPEI – Foxconn expects a year-over-year drop in revenue in the first quarter of 2024 after slower market demand impacted the prior quarter.

CHENNAI, INDIA – Syrma SGS Technology has announced the incorporation of a new wholly owned subsidiary, Syrma Mobility Private Limited.

It was gratifying to see the throngs return for Productronica in November. To the tune of 42,000 visitors, the crowds showed up for the granddaddy of shows in the Western world. (Nepcon Japan is roughly twice as big.)

And there was plenty to see. One of the improvements that jumped out was the increase in speeds, especially on the assembly line. Machine speeds are rising at remarkable rates, with placement machines hitting their fastest speeds ever, even while many of them add multifunctional heads for more flexible line setups.

Yamaha’s YRM20 placement machine allows nonstop cart and feeder changes. Fuji’s AIMEXR SMT placement machine, for NPI runs, relies on linear motors for its fastest speeds yet. So what if the semiconductor market is predicted to rise by double-digits this year? These machines can take the pressure.

WALTHAM, MA – Nano Dimension reported preliminary revenue of approximately $14.3 million for the fourth quarter, an increase of 18% from the fourth quarter of 2022.

GURGAON, INDIA – Indian EMS provider Amber Enterprises, through its subsidiary Iljin Electronics, has acquired a 60% stake in PCB maker Ascent Circuits for an undisclosed sum.