TOKYO – Shipments of SMT process and assembly equipment fell 81% during the first quarter, according to the Japan trade group that tracks the data.

SAN JERONIMO, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO -- Although no longer talking about employing 30,000 workers here, Foxconn (Hon Hai) plans to have 7,500 employees in place by fall, according to published reports.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works' Power Systems and Electronics unit's May quarter sales fell 37.1% year-over-year, the company reported today.

ENDICOTT, NY -- Endicott Interconnect Technologies has acquired the assets of eV Products Inc., a maker of x-ray and gamma-ray detectors. Financial terms were not disclosed.

ARLINGTON, VA -- The 30-day average orders of electronics components leveled in May, offering hope for the coming months.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai) reported non-consolidated revenues fell 11.2% year-over-year to NT$91.7 billion (US$2.8 billion) in May.

PENANG -- The SMTA is seeking papers for the South East Asia Technical Conference on Electronics Assembly Technologies in November.

The conference takes place Nov. 19-20, in Penang, Malaysia, in conjunction with the SMTA Penang Academy and 2009 SMTA Penang Tabletop Exhibition.

The abstract (300 words) deadline is July 6. Visit http://www.smta.org/education/education.cfm#asia_pacific for more information or to submit an abstract.

SALEM, NH -- A Synchronized Manufacturing Technologies technician was airlifted to an intensive care unit after a wave soldering machine caught fire and burned him from the chest up on Monday.

NEENAH, WI -- The outlook for Plexus in fiscal 2009 is stabilizing, the EMS company told analysts Wednesday. The company reiterated its long-term target of 15 to 18% growth, saying it could reach $3.4 billion in sales by fiscal 2013.