GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works' Power Systems and Electronics business unit's revenues grew 20% year-over-year in the April quarter.

AUSTIN – Package-on-package volumes will continue to grow, with a CAGR of 31% from 2009 to 2015, a leading research firm says. 

Applications driving this double-digit growth include mobile phones (especially smartphones), tablets, games, iPods, and digital cameras, TechSearch International says.

“When Amkor ramped PoP in 2005, the mobile processor clock was 330 MHz with a 0.65mm pitch interface to the top SDRAM/NOR combo memory," said Lee Smith, VP of marketing and business development at Amkor Technology. "Now processor speeds exceed 1 GHz with a 0.4mm pitch interface to the top low power DDR, with near term roadmaps exceeding 2.5 GHz and high-density PoP interfaces supporting two channel LP DDR2. With more than four billion mobile processors forecasted for smart device applications in the next four years, PoP growth and advancements will continue at a high rate.” 

PoP provides a cost/performance solution that solves business and logistics issues associated with stacking devices directly – something that cannot yet be met by 3D TSV technology, according to TechSearch. Memory and the logic packages can be tested separately before assembly. Standardization of the top memory package footprint allows memory packages from various suppliers to be interchanged. Memory devices are wire-bonded in the top package, but the logic device in the bottom package is migrating to flip chip, including copper pillar.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS -- The management of Marantz Business Electronics, the AOI division of D&M Europe, has purchased the unit from its parent company.

TAIPEI -- After continued losses in 2010, Foxconn’s contract cellphone arm expects “dramatic improvement” in 2011.

RICHARDSON, TX ― Automated Circuit Design said first-quarter sales rose 33% year-over-year, reaching their highest mark for the period in the electronics manufacturing services company's history.

IRVINE, CA -- Probe Manufacturing today reported first-quarter net profits rose 53% year-over-year to $24,729.

LOUISVILLE, KY -- Sypris Solutions swung to a first-quarter net profit of $2.1 million, reversing a loss of $2.4 million in the year-ago period.

SMYRNA, GA – As printed circuit boards face unprecedented demands for size, functionality and cost, the upcoming PCB West 2011 technical conference and trade show offers the experts and information to face the challenge.

PCB West 2011 will be held September 27 – 29 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center and is sponsored by the UP Media Group publications PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB (pcdandf.com) and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY (circuitsassembly.com).

PCB West 2011 includes a three-day Technical Conference consisting of more than 50 presentations, including more than 10 workshops, panel sessions and half-day seminars. This year’s technical conference features speakers from Texas Instruments, Freescale Semiconductor, Multek and 3-M, and features the ever-popular Rick Hartley, Susy Webb and Gary Ferrari. Topics range from basic design techniques to flex circuit design, advanced RF, signal integrity and high pin count BGA routing.

PCB West 2011 also features a one-day exhibition showcasing the PCB industry’s leading vendors, plus an array of free technical sessions. This year’s conference also includes a special one-day assembly track coordinated by the SMTA Silicon Valley Chapter. Details regarding the conference and exhibition are available at www.pcbwest.com.

Now in its 20th year, PCB West provides show attendees – printed circuit board (PCB) engineers, designers, fabricators, assemblers and managers – with the most targeted conference in the PCB design industry. Registration is now open for PCB West: www.pcbwest.com.

Attendees who register for the conference by August 26, 2011 will receive a $100 discount on select conference packages. Admission is free for the one-day exhibition and other "FREE Wednesday" events (registration is free, but required). To register or learn more about the show, visit www.pcbwest.com.

For more information about PCB West, visit www.pcbwest.com or contact Show Manager Alyson Skarbek at 404-665-7749; askarbek@upmediagroup.com.

TREDEGAR, WALES -- LED lighting OEM PhotonStar LED Group has acquired EMS firm Camtronics Vale in a deal that could be worth up to £375,000.

WAYZATA, MN – For the quarter ended Mar. 31, Nortech Systems reported net sales of $29 million, up 33% year-over-year.

Net income for the first quarter totaled $600,000, compared to net income of $100,000 in the same quarter of 2010.

The company’s acquisitions, including Winland’s EMS operations, accounted for $5.5 million of the increase.

The firm’s 90-day backlog increased to $20 million, compared to $19 million for the same period last year, and $18.5 million at the start of the quarter.

Nortech is a contract electronics manufacturer of wire and cable assemblies, printed circuit board assemblies, higher-level assemblies and box builds.

LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES -- Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. reported net income of $377,000, down from $3.2 million a year ago, on higher material and shipping costs and currency fluctuations. The EMS firm plans to expand to Mexico and Europe soon, the company's top executive said.

CHICAGO – There were 11 completed EMS transactions in the first quarter, on par with M&A activity sequentially, as the industry is still making more moves than in 2009, according to a new report by Lincoln International.

Continued economic and credit market improvements combined with the general market need to deploy cash is driving further M&A, the firm says.

Both EMS consolidation and private equity investment represented four transactions each, or 36% of total activity in the quarter, respectively. While EMS consolidations remained relatively steady, this number of private equity investment transactions is double the amount exhibited in either of the previous two quarters. This highlights the current focus of private equity firms to deploy capital and a renewed desire to invest in the EMS industry, the firm says.

Six transactions occurred within the US and Canada in the first quarter, or 55% of total transactions, highlighting a trend of continued increased M&A activity in the regions year-over-year. Three European deals occurred, equivalent to the level exhibited in each of the last two quarters.

Two cross-border transactions occurred during the period, the highest number in more than two years.

Small tier companies (9) accounted for 82% of all transactions. The large and mid tiers each had one transaction, or 9% of activity each, says Lincoln.