SAN JOSE – OnCore Manufacturing Services today said it intends to enter into a medical product design alliance with Proven Process Medical Devices.

The partnership would provide turnkey design-to-production solutions, the contract electronics manufacturer said.

Oncore said it would “significantly expand” its capabilities in the medical device market with the partnership.

No financial terms were disclosed.

BINGHAMTON, NY -- Universal Instruments today said its global market share rose nearly 2% year-over- year in the fourth quarter.

SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Sparton reported fiscal second-quarter net income rose 36% to $1.9 million, boosted by higher demand in all its end-markets.

ST. LOUIS -- Viasystems Group forecast December quarter sales of $269 million, up 10% year-over-year and down 4% sequentially on broad-based strength.

HELSINKI -- Nokia will lay off 8% -- some 4,000 employees -- of its workforce in Finland, Hungary and Mexico as part of its now year-long cost-cutting measures.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The SMTA is soliciting applications from full-time graduate-level students pursuing a degree and working on thesis research in electronic assembly, electronics packaging, or a related field, for the $5000 Charles Hutchins Educational Grant. 

TEMPE, AZ – Finetech plans to donate a die bonder in a drawing this summer open to qualified US and Canadian universities and colleges.

The multi-application Pico MA bonder with 5 µm placement accuracy is valued at $100,000. The platform is for advanced packaging and assembly applications, such as flip chip, optoelectronics, 3-D, wafer-level integration, micro-optics assembly, sensor packaging, and precise die bonding.

Finetech celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

COHOES, NY – Precision Valve & Automation welcomed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to its plant Monday.

PVA was chosen to host the senator’s visit as an example of increasing production 150% and doubling its workforce during the past two years.

The senator toured the facility with owner/president Tony Hynes, and then addressed a crowd that included leaders of Capital District Chambers of Commerce, Centers for Economic Growth, local elected officials, and local business leaders.

PVA supplies conformal coating systems and fluid dispensing solutions.

BANGKOK -- Fabrinet chief financial officer Mark Schwartz has informed the EMS company's board of his intention to resign, effective March 1.

BANGKOK -- Fabrinet reported its first-ever quarterly loss, as the Bangkok area floods closed two of the company's largest plants for several weeks last fall.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – The worldwide mobile phone market grew 6.1% year-over-year in the fourth quarter as the feature phone market declined faster than anticipated, dragging market growth down to its lowest point in over two years.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – The worldwide smartphone market grew 54.7% year over year in the fourth quarter as Apple unleashed its iPhone 4S on an eager marketplace.