KIRKLAND, QUEBEC – In a rebound from depressed 2009 levels, global demand for light vehicle original equipment manufacturer automotive electronics will advance 12.3% annually to $174 billion in 2014, says Electronics.ca Publications.

Beyond the expected recovery from the 2009 recession, automotive electronics demand will find uplift from increasing regulatory pressure and the continued search among automakers for cost-effective ways to differentiate their products.

Safety and security electronics will register the biggest increase through 2014, as more advanced safety features percolate down into mass market vehicles. Powertrain electronics will also experience strong demand, driven by stringent fuel economy and emissions standards in developed markets, particularly the US and Western Europe, according to Electronics.ca.

Communication and navigation electronics systems will see rapid increases, as more OEMs integrate these technologies into vehicles. Instrumentation and comfort, convenience and entertainment electronics will experience lower, but still attractive growth rates, as more emerging market players install these features into vehicles.

LAS VEGAS – The ERAI Executive Conference 2011 will be held here Apr. 28 and 29.

The conference will focus on performance requirements, counterfeit avoidance/identification and risk mitigation techniques. The event will provide a standards overview for SAE International’s AS5553, AS6081 and AS6171 that provide uniform requirements, practices and methods to mitigate the risks of purchasing and supplying counterfeit electronic parts.

Topics also include hedging liability/risk in the supply chain, onsite distributor assessments, current counterfeiting techniques and identification methodologies, contract language required to confiscate, quarantine and subsequently destroy counterfeit parts, government agency efforts to fight IP theft, and solutions to gather critical market intelligence.

For more information, visit http://www.erai.com/ERAI_EXECUTIVE_CONFERENCE_VEGAS_2011_public.aspx.

BUCKS, UK – SMART Group has announced upcoming technical webinars on micro-BGA assembly and developing an electronics inspection system.

In the first, micro-BGA reevaluates an existing manufacturing process, inspection and size control of different solder alloy spheres. It will provide example packages and demonstrate reliability through assembly and soldering trials within different industries. Topics include project overview, industry survey, micro-BGA requirements, solder alloy requirements, solder sphere manufacture, existing process and issues, and future industry benefits.

The second webinar concerns the development of an electronics system for inspecting welded joints in plastic pipes. It will cover the current objectives of the TestPEP project; an overview of the work program; the principles of phased array inspection, butt fusion welds, and electrofusion welds; and initial results.

To register for both, visit www.smartgroup.org/diary.

SMYRNA, GA – With two weeks to go, a record number of companies have signed up for the fourth annual VIRTUAL PCB online trade show, UP Media Group announced today.

ANTHEM, AZ – A new report describes 18 emerging countries in terms of their current readiness for electronics manufacturing.

The 80-page report, by Charlie Barnhart & Associates, characterizes the nations’ infrastructure, population and high-tech “readiness.” It provides an analytical framework to help midmarket OEMs and EMS companies assess opportunities and challenges in establishing or expanding their global footprint, says the author.

“Next Horizons in Electronics Manufacturing for Midmarket Companies,” which was authored by Jennifer Read, provides country profiles and recommendations for a successful global strategy.

The report is available to the consulting firm’s Outsourcing Navigator Council members, and includes country profiles on geographies, as well as EMS profiles, data charts related to infrastructure, population, electronics readiness, corruption, and ease of doing business. For more information, visit www.charliebarnhart.com.

LAGUNA, PHILLIPPINES – Electronics manufacturing services provider Integrated Microelectronics Inc. posted 2010 income of $4.7 million, down 53% compared to 2009.

POMONA, CA – Everett Charles Technologies’ contact products group received US patent #7,862,391 for its ZIP family of flat technology Pogo pins.

The ZIP family includes products for final test, wafer scale, Kelvin, and Scrub for Pb-free, burn-in and test interface markets.

Some of these application-specific products are marketed as ZIP Scrub, ZIP Kelvin, ZIP Super Short and ZIP Long-Travel.

SOUTH TYNE, UK – Infoteam EMS has purchased Summit 1 EMS Ltd. in a move between two UK-based EMS companies.

No financial terms of the purchase were disclosed.

Contract manufacturer Infoteam, which has a 20,000 sq. ft. site also in Fife, reportedly has expansion plans for Summit 1. The latter, the former UK design and contract manufacturing arm of Mitsumi, has a 40,000 sq. ft. facility in a Tyne industrial park.

Summit specializes in printed circuit board design, manufacturing and testing.

TAIWAN – Foxconn is planning to increase wages for workers in mainland China, after two increases in 2010.

Apple is said to support the plan, which reportedly consists of a three-tiered schedule, with the wage increasing to 1,650 yuan minimum after a six-month probation, with the potential to hit 2,000 yuan after another
three months.

Including bonuses and benefits, new staff could potentially earn as much as 3,600 yuan monthly, putting Chinese workers on par with their Taiwanese counterparts, possibly instigating a loss of local talent.

BANGALORE – India’s government is considering an electronics incentive package to spur a local market for electronics components and products.

The government is attempting to improve the incentive package introduced under its partially failed semiconductor policy of 2007, which only attracted investments from the solar photovoltaic segment. The new focus reportedly will no longer be on large projects, but will focus on all aspects of the value chain of electronic systems.

The government estimates India's demand for electronic hardware will grow to $400 billion by 2020, compared to $45 billion in 2009. However, at current growth rates, domestic production could be a quarter of the demand by 2020.

The package includes subsidies for lowering the country’s energy and transport costs and improving infrastructure.

WESTLAKE, OH -- Electronics equipment OEM Nordson today reported record first-quarter sales, operating profit and net income.

SHENZHEN -- Nam Tai today reported fourth-quarter net profit of $5.3 million, up nearly 13 times the net profit of a year ago.