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News

ORLANDO – The SMTA issued its final request for abstracts for SMTA International, taking place Aug. 17-21 in Orlando.

The deadline for abstracts is Jan. 7. (Short extension available upon request.) Abstracts will be accepted by March 3, and manuscripts are due June 1.

Papers should describe significant results from experiments, emphasize new techniques, and contain technical, economic or appropriate test data. Material should be original, unpublished and noncommercial.

Papers are being solicited in the following categories: evolving technologies/hot topics; components; assembly; PCB technology; process control, and business.

Participation includes discounted conference registration. $1,000 cash awards will be offered for the best of conference paper, best of proceedings paper, and best international paper.

Submit abstracts at www.smta.org/smtai/call_for_papers.cfm.

TAIPEI -- Quanta Computer, the largest contract assembler of PCs, plans to begin building notebook PCs in Vietnam, with production scheduled to start in the second half of this year.

HONG KONG – EMS provider Nam Tai Electronics Inc. announced the completion of the Nam Tai Group Structure reorganization involving its Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed subsidiaries: Nam Tai Electronic & Electrical Products Ltd. and J.I.C. Technology Co. Ltd.

SAN JOSE – Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose to $23.1 billion in November, an increase of 2.3% year-over-year, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported.

SHANGHAI – Fixed investment in China's electronics and information industry rose 29% year-over-year to reach $32.8 billion in the first 11 months of 2007, according to figures released by China's Ministry of Information Industry.

TEMPE, AZ – Manufacturing slowed in December, with the PMI dropping 3.1 percentage points to 47.7%, says the Institute for Supply Management. New orders decreased to 45.7%, down 6.9 points, while production dropped 4.6 points to 47.3%.

Inventories were down slightly to 4.5%, a decrease of 1.4 points, and customer inventories were up 2.5 points in December, to 51.5%. Order backlogs were also up, reaching 43%, an increase of 1.5 points.

“The manufacturing sector failed to grow in December ending 10 consecutive months of growth. The recent trend has been toward slower growth. However, December was apparently a very tough month as new orders, production and employment were all below the breakeven mark of 50%. Industries close to the housing market appear to be struggling more than others, and those involved in exports seem to be doing better. Slower demand appears to be more of a problem than excessive inventories based on the respondents' comments,” said ISM spokesman Norbert J. Ore.

The overall economy grew for the 74th consecutive month, says ISM.

BEIJING -- Microsoft's attempt to invest in a Chinese electronics manufacturer was blocked by the China Security Regulatory Commission as accusations of insider trading abound.

HELSINKI -- Elcoteq will restructure its operations, selling certain underperforming plants and improving its materials management in hopes of cutting $101.5 million to $116 million from its annual operating costs, the EMS firm said Thursday.

YANTAI, CHINA -- Foxconn this week claimed a fire on its Yantai PWB campus has not disrupted production.

However, a Commercial Times report claimed the fire destroyed more than one-third of the Yantai plant's capacity, a reported monthly output of 2.6 million sq. ft.

SAN FRANCISCO – Flextronics and Solectron are being sued for allegedly violating federal and state labor laws governing overtime pay. The suit alleges the EMS companies paid employees by their shift time, rather than for time actually worked.

SAN JOSE – “A year that started with great promise of bipartisan action to enhance American competitiveness in the global economy appears about to end with no significant action on any of the key elements,” said Semiconductor Industry Association president George Scalise. “To say that we are keenly disappointed would be a huge understatement.”

BANNOCKBURN, IL – November PWB orders climbed 11.8% year-over-year in North America, while shipments fell 9.1%, IPC said today. The book-to-bill fell 0.02 points to 1.06, remaining in positive territory for the ninth straight month.