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MUMBAI, INDIA -- Electronics OEMs are reporting modest price increases of end-products, the result of higher materials and logistics costs.

In recent days, Mirc Electronics Ltd., a maker of consumer electronics, said it will raise prices 5 to 7% across the board.

Also, Videocon Industries also said it will hike prices on consumer goods by some five to 10%.

Mirc Electronics makes TVs, DVD players and white goods under the Onida brand. Videocon makes TVs and white goods. Both companies cited higher raw material prices, especially for copper and other metals.

Separately, notebook PC EMS firm Wistron in in talks with customers over increasing manufacturing quotes to reflect rising material and component costs, according to chairman Simon Lin. Wistron is one of the world's largest notebook PC makers.

SAN JOSE – North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.07 billion in orders in April, down 32% year-over-year, SEMI reported.

The three-month average book-to-bill ratio was 0.81, meaning that $81 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

BRUSSELS – Greenpeace’s campaign against brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) in electronics puts consumers at risk of being injured or killed by fire, says the bromine industry’s science and environment trade group.

The Bromine Science and Environmental Forum says the international environmental group ignores “the significant fire danger that electronic products can pose if they overheat” and is “aiming to force major game console manufacturers – and their customers – to stop using the best tested and scientifically documented flame retardants.”

“It is essential that consumer electronics are fire safe. Brominated flame retardants are a very effective, proven way to provide that protection – and they have also been categorically proved to be safe for human health and the natural environment,” said Michael Spiegelstein, BSEF chairman. “Greenpeace is acting irresponsibly by simply campaigning to ban some of the best scientifically tested and approved flame retardants.”

Greenpeace recently issued a report, “Playing Dirty,” in which it claimed analysis of game consoles showed high levels of bromine, which does not break down easily and builds up in the environment. Long-term exposure can lead to impaired learning and memory functions, and can interfere with thyroid and oestrogen hormone systems. In the report, Greenpeace noted that were game consoles classified as toys, EU legislation concerning hazardous chemicals use in toys would mean they couldn’t be sold in the EU market.

BSEF, an international organization representing the bromine chemical industry, claims manufacturers that submit to Greenpeace’s demands would be forced to use less-tested chemicals – since products that are not fire-resistant are not an option – and in so doing would put customers at risk.