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GARBSEN, GERMANY – LPKF Laser & Electronics AG has appointed Dr. Ingo Bretthauer as chief executive beginning Feb. 1.

He replaces Bernd Hackmann, who left the company at the end of 2008.

Bretthauer has broad experience in sales and marketing of industrial equipment, having previously worked at AEG, as chief marketing officer for DB Reise & Touristik and as CEO and managing director of Joh. Heinr. Bornemann GmbH.

TAIPEI -- Compal, one of the world's largest producers of notebook computers, reported December sales of NT$32.1 million ($96.5 million), down 6.5% year-over-year.

Sales were up 7.1% from November, however.

WASHINGTON -- Industry business leaders are calling on Congress to renew the depreciation laws tied to the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which allowed companies to reduce the time it take to recoup outlays for capital equipment.

Per H.R. 5140, Congress shortened the time frame under which certain businesses assets could be depreciated. The rules expired Dec. 31.

"A strong manufacturing sector is critical to a rapid economic recovery," wrote Matthew Holzmann, president of Christopher Associates, in one letter. "It would seem from the headlines that only certain industries would benefit from many of the proposals in Congress at present. Reinstatement of accelerated depreciation, especially as written in H.R. 5150, will help all industries and is a real, tangible tool for keeping America strong."

ARLINGTON, VA -- Electronic component orders fell in December for the second consecutive month, according to the monthly index compiled by the Electronic Components Association (ECA).

The 12-month average, comparing 2008 results to those from 2007, continued a descent that began this summer.

“Most manufacturers have seen declining results in November and December,” says Bob Willis, ECA president, in a press release. “There may be a modest positive bump in the first quarter of 2009 as inventories are adjusted, but there is little or no significant growth anticipated until the late third or fourth quarter.”

SINGAPORE -- A local union of electronics workers says 2,000 more layoffs are expected this quarter. That almost equals the sum -- 2,300 -- of the union's layoffs from all of last year.

The United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries union says many of the displaced electronics workers will be retrained to find jobs in the medical and hotel industries.