Carlsbad, CA – Asymtek added a new team of sales representatives, Shanghai Kankun Trading Co., to market its automated fluid dispensing systems in China. Headquartered in Shanghai, Kankun also has branches in Suzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dalian, Chengdu and Wuhan.

Kankun (kankun.com.cn) will provide on-site equipment service, training, applications support and spare parts.  In addition, they offer extensive lab resources, including equipment demonstrations and the latest technical data on dispensing.

Kankun’s customer base includes the electronics, automotive, medical, and appliance markets. The company also employs more than 20 sub-distributors located throughout China.

Singapore - Contract manufacturer Flextronics and marine electronics maker Raymarine Plc. entered into an outsourcing relationship in which Flextronics will provide manufacturing services for Raymarine at a facility in Hungary.

The deal is worth about $500 million over five years, Flextronics said. The EMS company will not assume any Raymarine buildings or assets, and no employees will be transferred.

St. Charles, IL – With a military budget that is approximately equal to the sum of all the rest on the nations in the world, the U.S. is by far the largest single market for military connectors. However, the fastest growing defense budget is that of China, says a new report by Bishop and Associates.

According to the group, the world military market for connectors continues to grow, totalling $2.329 billion in 2004. The most significant change comes from the growing use of non-mil spec connectors in a market that was once virtually off limits to commercial suppliers.

Oulunsalo, Finland -- Elektrobit Group Plc is combining its Testing and Automation Solutions business units into the single Test and Automation unit. The units previously operated independently within the Products business segment.

Former executive VP of testing, Dr. Hannu Hakalahti is now executive VP of the combined unit.

Customers will include the manufacturers of mobile communication devices and mobile networks, network operators, electronics contract manufacturers, as well as automotive, consumer and industrial electronics companies. Test and Automation will be divided into four business areas: Production Solutions, Integrated Test and Automation Products, System Test and Network Test.

In terms of net sales, Test and Automation is the Group's largest business unit, accounting for 56% of net sales in 2004 (€113.5 million).