DUBLIN -- A new study of PCB, material and interconnect trends and needs for electronics assemblies for high-speed applications explores the implications for next-generation architectures and the supply chain as data rates increase.

GARDEN GROVE, CA -- Metcal today announced the schedule for its Advanced Package Rework and Repair seminars during the first half of 2014. The seminars will address the latest techniques to rework and repair a variety of applications.

NEW TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN -- New Kinpo Group plans to invest some NT$3 billion (US$100 million) to expand production in Southeast Asia and Brazil. The investments will boost capacity for printers, hard disk drives and set-top boxes, company executives said.

JASPER, IN -- Kimball International plans to spin off its electronics manufacturing services business unit under a separate stock listing. The unit will be named Kimball Electronics, and will result in shareholders owning two standalone publicly traded companies.

CHENGDU, CHINA – Goepel Electronic has opened a subsidiary here to provide customer service and support for existing test systems and help in installing and running new equipment.

TOKYO -- Panasonic's cost-cutting will next hit its chip assembly unit as the company has a deal in place to sell three plants to United Test and Assembly Center, Reuters reported today. Panasonic is declining comment on the report, which claims a deal will be completed by early February.

MILPITAS, CA -- Silicon Turnkey Solutions today announced the asset acquisition of Bay Area EMS, a Milpitas-based electronics manufacturing services company. Terms were not disclosed.

AUSTIN, TX — VirTex Enterprises has acquired fellow EMS MTI Electronics for an undisclosed sum. Menomonee Falls, WI-based MTI will become a wholly owned subsidiary and is expected to maintain its current operations and personnel.

NEENAH, WI – Plexus tonight reported fiscal first-quarter sales of $534 million, up 0.66% year-over-year. Net income was $17.7 million, up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year.

IRVINE, CA -- MFlex today said preliminary fiscal first quarter revenue will be within previous company guidance albeit sharply lower than a year ago. Continued softness in the current quarter will spur restructuring and losses, the company said.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC released a global survey this month to collect data for the IPC International Technology Roadmap for Electronic Interconnections, and for IPC’s 2014 Technology Trends Study.

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics today guided for higher-than-expected revenue for its fiscal fourth-quarter ended Oct. 24. The EMS company had previously guided for $685 million to $715 million in revenue for the period.