BANNOCKBURN, IL — North American printed circuit board fabricators saw shipments fall 3.5% year-over-year in January, IPC said today. Bookings rose 6.2% from a year ago.

MORRISVILLE, NC — Juki Automation Systems has signed a long-term exclusive agreement to distribute Shenzhen JT Automation Equipment's soldering equipment in the Americas.

METHUEN, MA -- ZeeVee, a developer of high-definition video distribution products, recently moved its overseas contract manufacturing operations to Massachusetts from China, where it had been manufacturing since introducing its first-generation products about five years ago.

LONDON -- Cookson's electronics solder and surface finishes business unit reported revenues of GBP814 million ($1.29 billion), up 13% year-over-year. Demand was steady, with much of the revenue (GBP111 million) increase attributed to higher raw metals prices. Excluding price inflation, base business revenues were up 1% from 2010.

WILSONVILLE, OR -- Mentor Graphics today announced a new group of electronics design software developers and manufacturers dedicated to supporting its ODB++ data transfer format.

SINGAPORE – Electronics manufacturing services provider Venture Corp. reported fourth-quarter 2011 revenue of S$632.5 million, down 10.3% year-over-year and up 8.4% sequentially.

Fourth-quarter net profit was S$38 million, down 30% year-over-year and up 7.3% sequentially.

Full-year 2011 sales were S$2.4 billion, down 9.1% year-over-year.

The firm attributes the decline to the depreciation of the Singapore dollar.

2011 net profit was S$156.5 million, down 16.8% compared to 2010.

The company closed 2011 with net cash of S$309.1 million.

Venture anticipates improved traction with several customers in 2012, but is cognizant of the uncertainty of the global economy.

Ed: S$1 = US$0.7966

SAN JOSE – The 90-day moving average of semiconductor equipment orders at North America-based manufacturers was $1.18 billion in January, up moderately over the revised December numbers.

GAINESVILLE, GA – Count On Tools announced another expansion of its manufacturing operations at its headquarters here.

The expansion is in response to demand for SMT nozzles and consumables, as well as precision contract machining services.

The firm said it recently purchased a Haas TL-2 Toolroom Lathe.

Count On Tools provides precision components and SMT spare parts.

TOKYO -- Japanese semiconductor equipment manufacturers reported the 90-day moving average bookings fell 3.9% from last year to ￥99,304 million in January.

SANTA CLARA, CA — As flat panel displays become more prevalent in applications such as navigation, multi-functional in-console monitors, and rear seat entertainment, NPD DisplaySearch expects shipments for the automotive segment to grow nearly 50%, from 42 million units in 2011 to 62 million in 2015.

LA FRESNAY, FRANCE – Eolane has acquired electronics manufacturer Elcoteq Tallinn AS for an undisclosed sum, according to published reports. 

GARDEN GROVE, CA – OK International is offering Advanced Package Rework and Repair Seminars in 2012.

The seminars will address the latest techniques to rework and repair BGAs, QFNs and micro SMDs. 

The events will feature rework demonstrations with real-life applications and will include a 30-minute multimedia presentation, two hours of hands-on demonstrations and instruction, and a question and answer session.

Applications and topics include repair, rework, low-volume assembly, prototyping, screen printing for single components, flux gel deposition for BGA/CSP rework and repair, temperature profiling, and site preparation for rework and repair.

The seminar series is scheduled in the following areas:

April 10 – Northern California (Bay Area); April 25 – New England (Boston area); April 26 – NY Metro (Long Island); May 8 – Phoenix; May 22 – Guadalajara; May 22 – Chicago; May 24 – Minneapolis; June 5 – Baltimore area; June 5 – Los Angeles; June 7 – Orange County, CA; June 19 – Dallas, TX; June 21 – Austin, TX.

To register, visit http://seminars.metcal.com. The first 20 registrants will be admitted free.