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TORONTO – Electronics manufacturing services provider SMTC Corp. announced fourth quarter earnings rose 49% to $2.1 million on a 31% spike in revenue to $76.1 million.

For the quarter ended Dec. 31, gross profit was $7.7 million, or 10.1% of revenue, up from $4.9 million (8.4% of revenue).

Full-year revenue rose 15% to $262.8 million, while the company set a net income record of $10.5 million, including one-time items of $5 million, compared with a loss of $100,000 for 2005.

“For the first time since 2000, the company grew year-over-year revenue, reflecting a combination of growth from long-standing customers and the effect of new customer additions in 2005 and 2006,” said John Caldwell, president and chief executive. "As important, SMTC produced seven consecutive quarters of profitability culminating in record net income for 2006."

The full year net income included an income tax refund, gain on a sale of surplus real estate, final proceeds from operations discontinued in 2002 and a net adjustment to restructuring accruals.

SAN JOSE – North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.65 billion in orders in February, the trade group SEMI said. The three-month average orders fell 1% from January, but were up 28% year-over-year.

The February book-to-bill ratio was 1.05, meaning that $105 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month. It was the fifth straight month the ratio rose.

ESPOO, FINLAND – PCB maker Aspocomp Group will buy the minority stake in its ACP Electronics Ltd. joint venture from Taiwanese partner Chin-Poon Holdings, the company said today.

Aspocomp will spend 37.8 million euros to purchase the 49% minority interest in the Suzhou, China-based company. The deal is expected to be finalized in March.

Aspocomp Group Oyj owns 51% of ACP Electronics, and the JV’s net sales and results have been consolidated into Aspocomp's figures since 2001.

Aspocomp expects the acquisition will be accretive to the company’s result. Last year, Aspocomp reported net sales of 149 million euros. It was the 57th largest PCB fabricator in 2005, according to Dr. Hayao Nakahara of NT Information.