WAKE FOREST, NC -- A state agency is reportedly honing in on two local printed circuit board assembly companies as the sources of a water contamination issue.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Continued robust consumer demand and strong expectations for the fourth quarter have led International Data Corp. to increase its forecast for the worldwide tablet market to 117.1 million units, up from its previous forecast of 107.4 million units for the year.

BROMONT, CANADA – The US PTO has issued Cogiscan a patent for automating the use of RFID tags to identify reels of electronic components.

BOSTON -- Exhibitors at Design East here offered contrasting opinions on the first two days of the annual trade show.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL -- Foxconn Technology Group will invest a reported 1 billion Brazilian reais ($492 million) toward a new factory scheduled to come online by 2014, the company said.

ALPHARETTA, GA -- Some 16 major assembly equipment companies met two weeks ago as part of an informal consortium to collaborate on a common approach to whole-line electronics equipment assembly.

SHANGHAI -- Up to 6,000 workers at a Flextronics plant here reportedly are striking over plans to relocate production to a Suzhou plant.

WAKE FOREST, NC – The Environmental Protection Agency is opening a temporary office here after a dozen homes tested for high levels of trichloroethylene.

GUADALAJARA – KIC Thermal has launched a repair and calibration center here to meet increased customer demand.

SAN JOSE — Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment bookings in the second quarter fell 10% from last year, according to the latest survey of OEMs.

LOGANSPORT, IN — Total Electronics has formally changed its name to Cal-Comp Indiana as part of a global rebranding strategy being carried out by its parent company.

CHANGZHOU, CHINA -- Creation Technologies has moved into a new manufacturing facility here to meet growing demand for assembled printed circuit boards.