APPLETON, WI – Surface Mount Technology Corp. is expanding its facility here, with plans to add a total of 25,000 sq. ft. during the two-phase project.

SAN DIEGO – KIC will host an encore “15% Electricity Savings in 15 Minutes” Webinar on Sept. 29.

Brian O’Leary, sales manager - Americas, will provide the free, 20-minute Webinar, which focuses on a simple way to save money in the reflow process. Additionally, KIC will discuss energy-saving practices beyond profiling.

This session is a comprehensive approach to thermal management.  

For more information, visit https://kicthermal.webex.com/kicthermal/j.php?ED=115739902&UID=0.

STAMFORD, CT – The worst may be over for the PC industry, as worldwide PC shipments are on pace to reach 285 million units in 2009, a 2% decline year-over-year, says Gartner Inc.

The revised forecast is more optimistic than the firm’s June prediction, which anticipated a 6% unit decline in 2009.

BEIJING – The value of China's industrial output of electronics increased 4.8% year-over-year in August, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Color TV set volume was up 15.1% for the month compared to the same period in 2008. Production of LCD TVs in particular was up 123.2%, says MIIT, according to published reports.

Laptop computer volume rose 42.3% compared to August last year.

In the first eight months of 2009, the country’s industrial output value increased 8.1% year-over-year.

For the month, China's total industrial output value was up 12.3% compared to the prior year.

TORONTO -- Celestica will exercise its option to redeem nearly $340 million in outstanding 7.875% senior subordinated notes due 2011, a move that will save the EMS company $14 million this year in interest expenses.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PWB shipments in August decreased 26.5% compared to the year prior, while orders dropped 11.7%.
 
Year to date, shipments were down 27%, and orders declined 25.7%. Sequentially, shipments increased 4.5%, and orders rose 13.1%.
 
The book-to-bill ratio held steady at 1.07, says IPC.
 
August rigid PWB shipments dropped 27.4%, and orders were down 13% year-over-year. Year to date, rigid shipments were down 28.7%, while orders fell 26.9%. Sequentially, rigid shipments grew 4.8%, and orders increased 12.2%. The rigid book-to-bill ratio remained above parity at 1.09.
 
Flex shipments dropped 13.7% for the month, while orders rose 7.5% compared to the same month last year. Year to date, flex shipments were down 2.7%, and orders dropped 7.3%. Sequentially, flex shipments increased 2.1%, and orders were up 26.5%.
 
The flex book-to-bill in August fell to 0.92, says the association.
 
“It’s slow going, but we’re seeing more signs of recovery in the North American PCB industry,” said IPC president Denny McGuirk. “Rigid PCB bookings are strengthening, and that is keeping the book-to-bill ratio well above parity. It has been positive now for four consecutive months, which suggests that we should start to see the impact in sales growth this fall.”
 
Rigid PWBs represent an estimated 91% of the current industry in North America, says to IPC. In August, 87% of total shipments reported were domestically produced.
 
Domestic production accounted for 88% of rigid and 82% of flex shipments for the month.