Latest News
CHICAGO – An upcoming conference in Chicago will focus on SCADA security and penetration techniques. The “open workshop” will include discussions, briefings of recent security incidents, and slide presentations on prevention against hacking of PLC, RTU, and other embedded instrumentation and controls, conference organizers say.
Attendees will participate in “red teaming” exercises and security countermeasure techniques. The organizers of the not-for-profit conference said attendees will be encouraged to develop policies and standard ethical positions.
“The reason we're doing this is because most of the R&D is not getting out in the open in any form. We're not eager to make anyone look bad, but at the same time, we need to figure where the fragile parts of common embedded systems are, how we can mitigate these problems, and what to tune our intrusion monitoring systems to,” said one of the organizers.
The group seeks embedded system developers, particularly software, and hardware developers willing to discuss broad-based issues with end-users, IT security professionals and others.
The event takes place May 14-15.
For more information, visit http://gathering.infracritical.com.
GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA – DEK has appointed Laser Stencil Technology as licensee for VectorGuard stencils in South Africa.
No financial terms were disclosed.
“Licensing our VectorGuard stencils to partners in various locations across the globe has effectively enabled us to expand our technology footprint, while allowing customers to manage their business locally,” said DEK global franchise and product manager Michael Zahn.
LOS ALTOS, CA -- World electronics equipment production will grow 7.5% this year on broad-based gains in demand and inventory replenishment, a leading analyst said today.
GARBSEN, GERMANY – LPKF Group posted 2009 earnings before interest and tax of $10.4 million, up 79.5% year-over-year.
Consolidated sales rose 12% to $75.4 million.
Incoming orders were $83.3 million, up 16.4% over the previous year. Orders in hand rose to $21.9 million, up 43% year-over-year. Growth was influenced by changed product mix and cost reductions, says the firm.
Compared to the same quarter the previous year, fourth-quarter earnings before tax and interest rose 67% to $3 million. Growth was attributed to the Cutting and Structuring Laser Segment.
LPKF expects 2010 growth in sales to exceed 10%, with growth potential in almost all divisions, particularly the LDS business.
Danaher Tool Group’s Steve Breitzka will lead the new firm as president and CEO.
Cooper and Danaher will each hold a 50% ownership stake in the new joint venture. No other financial terms were disclosed.
The company, yet to be named, will be headquartered here, and will market tool industry brands such as Allen, Apex, Armstrong Tools, Campbell, Cleco, Crescent, Erem, GearWrench, H.K. Porter, Jacobs Chuck, Jobox, K-D Tools, Lufkin, Nicholson, Plumb, Sata, Weller and Wiss.
BANNOCKBURN, IL – February PWB shipments by North American fabricators increased 8.5% year-over-year, while orders rose 29.1%.
TAMPA, FL -- Researchers from Sypris Electronics and Purdue University have formed a team to focus on the US government's cyber security.
Kahn, known for his work in integrating cameras into phones, will discuss the art of motion sensing. He will reflect on how motion shapes lives and how hybrid sensors hold an opportunity for the next generation of mobile devices to integrate complex and advanced motion solutions and the necessary software technology.
The keynote takes place May 20.
For more information about the symposium, visit www.meptec.org.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil Circuit last night announced preliminary results indicate sales rose 4% year-over-year to $3 billion in its fiscal second quarter.
LOUISVILLE, KY -- Sypris Solutions today reported fourth-quarter net income from continuing operations of $14.8 million on revenue of $66.1 million.
LONDON – Global industrial/medical electronics revenues will grow 11% to $560 billion in 2010, a research firm said today.
As the effects of the global credit crunch and recession pass, revenue growth will return to the long-term historical average of between 5% and 8% per year, according to Semicast’s preliminary findings.
The firm forecasts industrial/medical electronics revenues to grow to $850 billion in 2015.
The industrial transport sector, including construction equipment, materials handling and agricultural machinery, showed the largest revenue decline and steepest percentage fall in 2009; revenues in the industrial transport sector are forecast not to return to 2008 levels until 2012.
Similarly, factory automation revenues suffered a significant decline in 2009, although this was largely the result of a substantial fall in the value of sales of semiconductor manufacturing and test equipment, says Semicast. Revenues in the factory automation sector are forecast to return to 2008 levels next year.
Other traditional markets fared better in 2009, with the revenue loss for the test and measurement and lighting/building automation/HVAC sectors estimated at less than 3%, while revenues for chip cards and payment processing systems increased moderately.
Revenues for the medical imaging and diagnostics sector rose in 2009 and are forecast to grow steadily through 2015. Governments in many developed areas, most notably the US, Japan and the EU, continue to face social implications of a steadily aging population. As a result, ongoing government spending on national healthcare programs, particularly in areas such as increased screening, implementation of implantable electronics and greater use of tele-health services, are certain to grow, the firm said.
Renewable energy is also identified as a high growth application. Many of the most developed, and most polluting, countries have announced plans or legislation to decrease dependency on energy production using fossil fuels, with a corresponding increase in production from renewable sources such as solar (photovoltaic) and wind.
