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SAN JOSE, CA – The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reported that global semiconductor sales set a new monthly record for the fourth consecutive month. Worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $21.9 billion in October, an increase of 9.2% year-over-year. Sales increased by 2.5% from the $21.4 billion reported in September 2006.

SAN JOSE, CA – The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) released its annual forecast of global semiconductor sales, projecting that consumer demand for electronic products will drive sales to $321 billion in 2009. The SIA forecast projects a compound annual growth rate of 9% for the forecast period between 2006 and 2009.

The new forecast projects that sales will reach $248.8 billion in 2006, an increase of 9.4%, followed by increases of 10% to $273.8 billion in 2007, 10.8% to $303.4 billion in 2008, and 5.8% to $321 billion in 2009.

SAN ANTONIO - Indium Corp. has received the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Global SMT Solder Paste Customer Value Enhancement award. The company demonstrated outstanding achievement and superior performance in expanding and maintaining its customer base by using innovative value creation and enhancement strategies. It was chosen based on an in-depth analysis of market competitors, as well as interviews with companies in the SMT soldering materials industry. It was the fourth time the company nabbed the honor. It previously won in 1998 and 2000 for Engineering Customer Focus, and in 2003 for Product Innovation.

WESTLAKE, OH – Nordson Corp. today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire testing and inspection equipment manufacturer Dage Holdings, Ltd. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to review by the German Federal Cartel Office.

Nordon also owns Asymtek, March Plasma Systems and EFD, among others.

Dage employs more than 200 people and had revenues of approximately $59 million during the 12-month period ending Oct. 31.

Dage makes bond testing and digital x-ray systems.

“The purchase of Dage fits Nordson’s strategy of acquiring companies with above-average
growth in markets currently served by Nordson companies,” said Edward P. Campbell,
chairman and chief executive. “Over the three-year period ending April 30, Dage revenues and operating profit grew at annual rates of 24% and 69%, respectively. These growth rates are nearly identical to those of Nordson’s Advanced Technology Systems segment, which since 2003 has grown revenues and operating profit at annual rates of 23% and 59%, respectively.”

Campbell added, “Dage’s operating margins during the first half of its fiscal 2007 were 21%.

The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Nordson’s fiscal year 2007 earnings per share.

BRUSSELS – Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, products sold in the European Union must be in metric units. The measure, by the European Union Council Directive 80/181/EEC, also known as the Metric Directive, bans use of any other measurements for most products sold in the EU.

ATLANTA – Product gone missing is a massive expense: some $24 billion in European distributors centers alone each year. Thus it is easy to grasp why supporters of active RFID are so high on its future.

If the hype at the Active RFID Summit last week in Atlanta is to believed, active RFID means unlimited potential and a $7 billion opportunity in the next 10 years.