EL SEGUNDO, CA – iSuppli Corp. predicts global PC shipments will rise to 264 million units in 2007, up 11.2% from 239 million in 2006.
iSuppli upgraded its forecast following stronger-than-anticipated first-quarter shipments of notebook computers. The previous forecast envisioned 10.7% growth for the year.
SAN JOSE, CA – North American manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.67 billion in orders in May (three-month average) and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.0, according to SEMI.
BANNOCKBURN, IL – April shipments of rigid PCBs were down 12.8% and bookings were off 11.8% year-over-year, IPC reported today.
Shipments of rigid and flex boards decreased 12% year-over-year, and orders dropped 8.5%. Year to date, shipments are down 9.1% and bookings are down 16.5%. Compared to March, April shipments were down 16.2% and bookings were off 15.3%.
The combined industry book-to-bill ratio in April increased to 1.01, 1.28 for flex boards and 1.0 for rigid.
Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are down 9.9% and bookings are down 18.9%. Sequentially, rigid PCB shipments fell 15.5% and bookings decreased 12.6%.
Flex circuit shipments were up 3% and bookings were up 68.9% compared to April last year. For the year, flex shipments are up 3.9%, bookings 30.1%. Flex shipments fell 25.1% and bookings were down 39.2% versus March.
SAN JOSE -- Two of the largest EMS firms in the world will join forces as No. 2 Flextronics International this morning announced it would acquire No. 3 Solectron Corp. for $3.6 billion in cash and stock.
The combined company will have about 200,000 employees and annual revenue of more than $30 billion, ahead of the current market leader, Hon Hai (Foxconn).
SPRINGFIELD, MA -- In the second largest EMS acquisition of the day, Nu Visions Manufacturing and San Francisco-based private equity firm Golden Gate Capital bought Veritek Manufacturing Services for an undisclosed amount.
San Marcos, CA-based Veritek has plants in San Jose and Longmont, CO.