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FRAMINGHAM, MA – Fourth-quarter worldwide PC microprocessor shipments rose modestly sequentially and set a new record.

SAN JOSE -- Sanmina-SCI last night reported fiscal first-quarter sales of $1.48 billion, up 9% sequentially and 4% year-over-year.

SMYRNA, GA – UP Media Group today announced the addition of three leading suppliers as exhibitors for the third annual Virtual PCB, the industry’s only virtual trade show and conference for the PCB design, fabrication and assembly markets. The two-day worldwide event takes place March 2-4, 2010.

Top electronics design automation suppliers Altium Ltd. and EMA Design Automation have signed on for the event. Also exhibiting is Kyzen Corp., a leading supplier of cleaning products for SMT and semiconductor manufacturing.

A fully interactive, Web-based event, Virtual PCB (www.virtual-pcb.com) incorporates all the critical features of a live event, while allowing PCB design, fabrication and assembly equipment and materials buyers and sellers to interact online. Virtual PCB is supported by a proven software platform (provided by INEXPO), and will be accessible on-demand for two months beyond the two-day live event.

Features of the upcoming virtual event include custom exhibit booths, live attendee-attendee and attendee-exhibitor communication, live and on-demand equipment demonstrations, real-time technical presentations, open “chats” moderated by industry experts, and much more.

“We are thrilled to have these industry leaders as exhibitors,” said UP Media Group president Pete Waddell. “Even more telling, Altium and Kyzen are repeat exhibitors, demonstrating the value and return-on-investment of Virtual PCB.”

For more information about Virtual PCB, visit www.virtual-pcb.com or contact Alyson Skarbek at askarbek@upmediagroup.com.

SAN JOSE – The Semiconductor Industry Association today urged confirmation of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke to a second term.

“Chairman Bernanke has exercised prudent stewardship during a time of severe economic turmoil,” said SIA president George Scalise, in a statement. “Throughout his tenure at the Fed, Chairman Bernanke has recognized the important role of America’s high-tech industries – and especially of the semiconductor industry – in driving economic growth and enhancing the productivity of American workers.

“Understanding the vital role of technology in the US economy is critical in shaping economic and fiscal policies that promote job growth and attract investment in research and capital-intensive industries. We urge the Senate to confirm Chairman Bernanke’s nomination.”

MUNICH – Siemens today reported its electronics assembly business’ fiscal first-quarter losses narrowed to €14 million from €27 million a year ago.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – SonoLab, the applications laboratory division of Sonoscan, has recently developed analytical techniques that bring to 25 the number of acoustically detectable features and characteristics used to separate counterfeit plastic IC packages from genuine packages.

HOUSTON – BPM Microsystems announced the retirement of Lyman Brown, executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 31.

Founder Bill White will take over as president and CEO. He launched the company in 1985 and ran it until 2003.

Brown began his career with BPM Microsystems in June 2003 as director of business development. He was promoted to executive vice president and COO in November the same year.

MEDWAY, MA – A pair of assembly equipment OEMs have teamed to develop a combination printer-placement line.

Milara and Mirae have developed the P3, a printer and pick-and-place system, which will premiere at Apex in April.

Milara will distribute the line in North and South America, while Mirae will do so in Asia.

No financial terms of the partnership were disclosed.

Milara provides stencil printers for SMT and wafer applications. Mirae manufactures equipment for semiconductor, display and SMT-related applications.

SAN JOSE – North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $863.3 million in orders in December, up 8.3% sequentially, according to SEMI.

SAN JOSE – The Semiconductor Industry Association hailed the latest guilty plea in an ongoing prosecution of people involved in the sale of counterfeit semiconductor products.

NEENAH, WI – Plexus Corp. posted fiscal first-quarter revenue of $430 million, with profit up 4.7% sequentially, reaching $17.8 million.

LAGUNA HILLS, CA – Acculogic’s Manufacturing Test Systems Division has opened a testing services and support satellite office in Laguna Hills, CA.

The provider of electronic test and production solutions has opened the facility to provide technical support, training and contract services for the firm’s install base of flying probe and boundary scan systems.

The office is equipped with two flying probes, including the double-sided and multi-probe Flying Scorpion FLS850, as well as Sprint 4510 systems.

The facility provides post-sales technical support and contract circuit board testing services.