SAN JOSE – North America-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers posted a 90-day average of $743.2 million in worldwide orders in October, down considerably from a year ago.

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Raven Industries today reported sales at its Applied Technology division grew 12% from last year to $39.5 million, a record for the third quarter.

NEWARK, NY -- IEC Electronics today reported fourth-quarter net income fell 23% year-over-year to $2 million despite a 6.3% rise in revenue.

DUBLIN – Favorable demographics, rising consumer incomes, and more interconnected lifestyles are anticipated to boost the global consumer electronics industry to an estimated $1.21 trillion in 2017, with a CAGR of 5.4% between 2012 and 2017, says Research and Markets.

BUCKS, UK – An upcoming SMART Group webinar will discuss pending changes and user obligations under major environmental regulations.

GLENVIEW, IL – ITW chairman and CEO David B. Speer has passed away from cancer. He was 61.

NEENAH, WI -- Plexus today announced Dean Foate will replace cofounder John Nussbaum as chairman following his retirement effective Feb. 13, 2013.

ELKHART, IN -- CTS, a global Top 50 EMS provider, today appointed automotive veteran Kieran O’Sullivan to succeed Vinod Khilnani as president and chief executive, effective Jan. 7.

ATHENS -- National Technical University of Athens researchers have developed a way to print polymer circuits with lasers.

NEW YORK -- Deutsche Bank today lowered its forecast for the PC market as consumers and businesses showed lackluster enthusiasm for the new Windows 8 OS.

ATLANTA -- By fabricating graphene structures atop nanometer-scale “steps” etched into silicon carbide, researchers have for the first time created a substantial electronic bandgap in the material suitable for room-temperature electronics. Use of nanoscale topography to control the properties of graphene could facilitate fabrication of transistors and other devices, potentially opening the door for developing all-carbon integrated circuits.

HONG KONG -- VTech Holdings' EMS unit reported sales rose for its fiscal first-half ended Sept. 30, led in part by higher demand for contract assembly work.