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ALPHARETTA, GA -- AssemblÃ©on next week will launch its MC (Modular Compact) Platform for high-quality, high-mix production during the Virtual PCB online trade show.

It is the first time an electronics equipment OEM is using this online event for a major product launch.

HONG KONG -- Foxconn International Holdings, part of Hon Hai, will lay off an unspecified number of employees and close certain plants, the company said today.

Plans to open a plant in Vietnam may be put on hold until the economy improves, the company also said, the Wall Street Journal is reporting.

Foxconn, the world's largest EMS/ODM per the Circuits Assembly EMS Top 50, has undergone some layoffs and consolidated certain production facilities, Foxconn spokesman Vincent Tong told the Wall Street Journal, declining to provider further details.

RAPID CITY, SD -- Sanmina-SCI, fresh off the announced acquisition of a JDS Uniphase plant in China, will shut its site here and lay off 275 workers, the Rapid City Journal is reporting today, citing a company spokesperson.

The factory once employed 1,700, according to local news reports.

ERLANGER, KY – Seho, a manufacturer of soldering equipment, has relocated to Erlanger, KY.

The facility houses a demonstration facility, spare parts and inventoried machines.

ANAHEIM, CA – The electronics segment of the Electronics West show held at the Anaheim Convention Center earlier this month was small, covering perhaps three or four rows, only half applicable to electronics manufacturing. But overall, the show seemed really busy.

SINGAPORE – Venture Corp., a top 10 EMS company, reported net fourth-quarter profits of S$4.6 million, bogged down by non-operational charges, on sales of S$906.9 million.

TOKYO -- Top Japanese electronics OEMs may soon find themselves in the midst of contentious disputes over pay to union workers, several published reports say.

The major unions presented a monthly pay hike offer of 4,500 yen to management representatives today as part of Japan's annual spring labor-management wage negotiations.

Corporate responses are due March 18, and it's not at all clear the unions will like them. Management at NEC, Hitachi Panasonic and others are seeking pay cuts, with Hitachi's top personnel affairs officer saying "talks on whether annual pay hikes should continue are necessary."

NEC is proposing cuts in overtime pay and Toshiba plans to propose a temporary wage reductions as well, reports said.

HANOI -- Foxconn International Holdings (Hon Hai) has received government signoffs to build a $200-million cellphone plant in the Binh Xuyen II Industrial Park in Vinh Phuc province, some 60 km north of Hanoi.

The Vietnam News Agency is reporting production is scheduled to launch in the first quarter next year.

The factory will have capacity of 89 million cellphones and tens of millions of cellphone parts per year, VNA said.

ST. PETERSBURG — Just months after receiving millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives as part of a controversial proposal to stay rooted here, Jabil has asked for a two-year extension on its plans for a new headquarters. The state has not issued a statement on the request.

Last fall, Jabil negotiated some $34 million in incentives from local and state government in exchange for promises to invest some $50 million in the headquarters and increase its local employment. Jabil isn't eligible for the incentives until work on the headquarters is ready to start, according to reports.

Construction on the site was scheduled to begin this year, but facing lower revenues, Jabil asked for the extension, local papers are reporting. Per the agreement, Jabil may make a request for a delay once.

DONGGUAN, CHINA – EMS provider Express Manufacturing Inc. has opened a 120,000 sq. ft. subsidiary in Dongguan.

The Hong Kong-based subsidiary, EAL Electronics Ltd. (EMI Asia Ltd.), has been fully accredited by ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004.

EAL provides flexible high-mix/batch-volume and high-volume production on Fuji lines, RoHS materials handling, turnkey (material sourcing) solutions and DFX Services.

SHENZHEN – Workers at JDS Uniphase's manufacturing facility here are resuming operations following a reported walkout, according to company sources. The plant is scheduled to be acquired by Sanmina-SCI in the next two months, and reports held the workforce sought certain incentives as part of the deal.