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STOCKHOLM – Sony Ericsson will slash 2,000 jobs worldwide over the next 12 months, as the mobile phone maker seeks to dramatically cut costs.

The company today reported a 97% drop in second-quarter net profits and said it planned to cut operating costs by 300 million euros each year.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – iSuppli Corp. reported it has acquired Telematics Research Group Inc., specializing in vehicle electronics intelligence.

Established in 2000 and based in Minnetonka, MN, TRG analyzes and forecasts global and regional demand trends for automotive and mobile electronics technologies.

TRG’s operations will be integrated with the existing iSuppli Automotive Infotainment and Electronics Services, along with its research on MEMS.

Financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

STAMFORD, CT – Global PC shipments reached 71.9 million units, a 16% increase year-over-year, a top research firm said.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND – DEK International today promoted Michael Brianda to president. Brianda has been with DEK since 1996, most recently as global sales and marketing director. He has also held roles as general manager, and sales manager for Germany.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The 90-day rolling average of EMS shipments rose modestly in May and continues to track ahead of historical baselines.

According to IPC, the EMS shipments index rose 1 point sequentially, to 106. The indices are baselined to 2000.

New orders for computer and electronic products in the US rebounded to about $28 billion in May, on a par with March and up about $1 billion from April.

Rigid printed circuit board and semiconductor shipments both rose, yet remained well below their 2000 index levels.

WELLESLEY, MA – The global market for printed electronics is expected to be worth $3.1 billion in 2008, and will increase to $8.8 billion by 2013, a CAGR of 23.2%, says BCC Research.

The market includes optoelectronics, radio frequency, energy, sensors and other applications. Optoelectronics applications dominate the market with a share of more than 85% in 2007 and 2008, but will decline to 69% in 2013. Optoelectronics generated $2.5 billion last year, an estimated $2.7 billion this year, and a projected $6.1 billion in 2013, for a CAGR of 18.1%, according to the research firm.

Sensors were the second largest segment in 2007, with $375 million in revenue, and should continue in second place through 2008, generating $423.5 million. Sensors are expected to lose market share during the next five years, declining from 13% of the market to 9.5%. Expected revenue in 2013 is $842.5 million, for a CAGR of 14.7%.

RF applications are expected to grow from $10 million last year to $18.4 million this year and $413 million in 2013, a CAGR of 86.3%.

The energy segment is the fastest growing segment and is expected to achieve a market share of 16.2% by 2013. Energy applications generated $9 million in 2007 and are expected to reach $18.1 million this year. This is expected to increase to $1.4 billion in 2013, for a CAGR of 139.5%, says BCC.

Other applications are expected to grow at a CAGR of 118.7%, from an estimated $1 million in 2008 to $50 million in 2013.

Currently, major end-uses of printed electronics include consumer products, advertising and medicine and health care/life sciences. End-user segments expected to gain significant market share during the next five years include building products and transport and logistics.

TAIWAN – ODM handset maker Arima Communications and EMS provider Elcoteq have temporarily set aside merger talks in favor of joining forces to produce low-cost handsets for LG Electronics, company sources told DigiTimes.

Merger talks for the past three years recently have hit a deadlock, with the two firms disagreeing over the scale of equity acquisition, DigiTimes reported.

Arima wished to acquire part of Elcoteq's assets to integrate its own ODM capability with Elcoteq's EMS strength in handset production; Elcoteq was more apt to sell its assets in a bundled deal, the sources told DigiTimes.

Under the new cooperation plan, Arima will switch its outsourcing of LG's low-cost handsets targeting the Latin American market from Flextronics to Elcoteq's plant in Brazil, with production volumes likely to reach several million units, according to DigiTimes' sources.

ALBANY, NY – IBM Corp. will invest $1.5 billion in Albany and will build a semiconductor plant somewhere in upstate New York.

The investment is expected to increase research jobs to 325 at the University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. The state government is providing $25 million for new semiconductor equipment at that site.

In addition, the company will construct a 120,000 sq. ft. semiconductor packaging center at a location to be determined. Albany NanoTech will own and manage the facility, which reportedly will create more than 675 jobs.

In total, the state will spend $140 million, with IBM investing more than $10 for every $1 that New York spends, say published reports.

IRVINE, CA – Henkel Corp. named the executive team that will lead its electronics group, following its acquisition of the Adhesives and Electronics Materials businesses from National Starch and Chemical Co.

Under the direction of corporate senior VP Alan Syzdek, the electronics group of Henkel will be organized on a global basis by industry sector.

Dr. Michael Todd will lead Henkel’s global product development initiatives as vice-president of product development and engineering, with more than 18 years’ materials development experience.

Former Ablestik general manager, Andreas Mader, has been tapped to head Henkel’s semiconductor group.

To direct its electronics assembly business, the company has selected former Emerson & Cuming general manager Joe DeBiase. DeBiase has more than 20 years’ experience in electronic materials for the PCB fabrication and electronic assembly industries.

Rounding out the executive appointments is Doug Dixon, global marketing director.

Management of the operational organization is the responsibility of Dr. Michael Reilly, former National Starch vice-president of global operations.

Overseeing the development of the business is the role of Zhiwei Cai, former Henkel global vice-president of product management.

Other key appointments to the leadership team include Luc Godefroid, who heads the project management office, and Hilary Norris, who leads the company’s financial team.

MARSHFIELD, MA – Alden Johnson, 64, died July 8 from what his family believes to be a massive heart attack.

Johnson was a chemical and metallurgical engineer who held several patents at Speedline Technologies before retiring from the company about four years ago.

Most recently, he was chairman of the Marshfield Agricultural Commission, a Eucharistic minister at Trinity Episcopal Church, a Mason in Scituate, and on the board of directors of the William Lawrence Camp in New Hampshire.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – EMS provider SigmaTron International today reported April quarter revenues increased 11% to $44 million over the prior year.

The net loss was $8.2 million, versus a net profit of $822,000 last year. The company recorded a previously announced $9.3 million charge for goodwill during the quarter.

SAN JOSE – Sanmina-SCI today reported that third-quarter revenue from continuing operations was approximately $1.9 billion, topping the EMS company’s previous guidance of $1.77 billion to $1.87 billion.

The results exclude the company’s PC business, which was sold July 7 and has been classified as a discontinued operation.