NEW YORK - Universal Instruments is pleased to announce the appointment of Shane Nunes as Chief Operating Officer. Nunes joined Universal in 2023 and was previously Vice President of Global Products and Solutions. In this new position, he oversees and directs operations, quality, product development, product management, the supply chain, and the Advanced Process Lab. He will be responsible for driving continued improvements in operational excellence while collaborating closely with the president to effectively execute the company’s strategic business goals.

“I am excited about the possibilities that are ahead of us. The technology targets are fast-moving, and we have so much to offer for precision automation and advanced packaging where the opportunities are exploding,” said Nunes. “Our expanded portfolio features innovative solutions for these applications, and our decades of experience in both arenas gives us the expertise to help our customers succeed. We’re also preparing to launch our next-generation Surface Mount platform this fall, continuing our lineage of benchmark platform performance. The first iteration will expand our capabilities and presence in the Consumer space predominantly and the full lineup will enable us to offer this leading-edge solution across a full range of markets.”

Universal Instruments’ President, Brad Bennett, said, “We're building a team that thrives on vision, integrity, and results, and Shane has the mindset and drive that fits perfectly with that. I’m confident that he will bring valuable strategic leadership to Universal and play a critical role in shaping our future and accelerating our momentum."

To learn more about Universal’s solutions for any electronics manufacturing challenge, contact Universal Instruments at +1-800-432-2607 or +1-607-779-7522 or visit www.uic.com.

NEENAH, WI -- Plexus today announced fiscal second quarter revenue was $980 million for the period ended Mar. 29, up 1.4% year-over-year.

OULU, FINLAND – Scanfil reported first quarter revenue of 192.6 million euros ($219.3 million), down 3.2% from a year ago. 

NEEDHAM, MA - Global smartphone shipments rose 1.5% year-over-year to 304.9 million units in the first quarter, according to preliminary data from IDC. The industry’s performance matched expectations, with manufacturers accelerating output to sidestep anticipated US tariff increases on Chinese imports.

IDC expects continued volatility in 2025 as companies face strategic choices in an unstable trade environment.

“The looming threat of tariffs drove vendors to front-load shipments, especially into the US,” said Francisco Jeronimo, VP of Client Devices. “This created an artificial boost that outpaced normal demand.”

Although the US government has temporarily paused tariffs on smartphone imports from China, uncertainty continues to cloud the outlook.

“This pause offers short-term relief, but long-term reliance on China’s supply chain remains a major risk,” said Ryan Reith, group VP of device trackers. He added that US brands should maximize the exemption window by shipping aggressively, though softer consumer demand could still emerge.

US shipments rose over 5%, driven by preemptive buying before potential price hikes. “The pause could also drive quarter two sales as consumers move to buy before tariffs return,” said Anthony Scarsella, research director.

Chinese government subsidies for devices under CNY6,000 ($820) boosted domestic sales, especially for mid-range brands. Samsung led the global market with 60.6 million units shipped, followed by Apple at 57.9 million—its strongest Q1 ever. Apple’s gains were tied to global stockpiling ahead of tariffs, though its Chinese sales lagged due to exclusion from subsidies. Xiaomi and Vivo saw growth in China, while OPPO slipped due to weaker international performance.

Q1 2025 Global Smartphone Shipments (millions):

• Samsung: 60.6
• Apple: 57.9
• Xiaomi: 41.8
• OPPO: 23.5
• Vivo: 22.7
• Others: 98.4
• Total: 304.9