SAN DIEGO --  A Samsung Thales operator won the IPC crown as world's best hand solderer at the trade group's annual conference last month.

SAN JOSE --  Semiconductor fabrication equipment spending rose 20% in 2014 and is forecast to rise another 15% this year, according to a new report from SEMI. 

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Raven Industries' EMS unit continued to slow the company in its fiscal fourth quarter, with the division's net sales falling 27.3% in its fiscal 2015 fourth quarter.

DALLAS -- Supply chain services consultants Riverwood Solutions has opened a software development center in St. Petersburg, Russia, designed to help tech companies improve their manufacturing, product operations, and supply chain performance. 

TAIPEI -- Foxconn's momentum at the end of 2014 is carrying over to 2015.

ROCKLEDGE, FL – Delta Group Electronics completed a 10,000 sq. ft. expansion of its manufacturing facility here.

DALLAS, TX – A Foxconn subsidiary reportedly denied employment to two hearing-impaired applicants as a result of their disability.

EL PASO, TX -- Protech Global Solutions will increase its headquarters here by more than one-third, the EMS company said today.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — Total North American PCB shipments fell 2% year-over-year in January and the 90-day average bookings were off 2.9%.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – A new IPC study finds evidence of a labor shortage for electronics manufacturers. Other business issues are making the problem worse for some segments of the industry, IPC says.

HONG KONG – ASM Pacific Technology reported group revenue of $1.07 billion for the second half of 2014, up 41.5% year-over-year and 39.9% sequentially.

MANASSAS, VA – Zestron has released its annual Cleaning Webinar series schedule that starts later this month.