Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

LUXEMBOURG – Top tier EMS firm Elcoteq has scheduled a round of statutory cooperation procedure talks in Finland.

"The company estimates that the need for possible personnel reductions in Finland could apply to at most about 50 people across all employee categories," the company said in a statement.

The news comes on the heels of an announcement of the shuttering of the company's manufacturing plant in Salo, Finland. That move cost 36 employees their jobs.

Elcoteq currently has roughly 21,000 employees worldwide, approximately 180 in Finland.

ARLINGTON, VA – Electronic component orders took a dip in November, although not nearly as drastic as the one in September, says the Electronic Components Association. The 12-month average, comparing this year’s results to those from 2007, continued the slight descent that began this summer.

HIALEAH, FL -- Simclar Inc. intends to voluntarily delist its common shares from the Nasdaq Capital Market and voluntarily deregister its common shares by Dec. 19 and cease filing reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the EMS company said today.

The company, a 73.4% owned subsidiary of privately held Simclar Group Ltd., said the costs of its Nasdaq listing and SEC compliance is "substantial" and the benefits "intangible."

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Forrester Research lowered its 2009 US IT spending forecast to 1.6%, on slower demand for computers. The research group previously guided for 6.1% growth next year. It marks the fourth time in 10 months the firm has reduced its 2009 outlook.

NEW YORK -- Deutsche Bank Equity Research today cut its 2009 EMS industry revenue outlook to a 7% drop.

BREDA, HOLLAND – Cobar Europe recognized its top sales performers for 2008.

The Sales Team of the Year was awarded to PEM Technologies, manufacturer’s representatives for South Africa since November 2007.

Sales Person of the Year was awarded to Jerzy Ziolkowski of C.H. Erbslöh, representatives for Poland. In 2004, Erbslöh Poland won the sales team award.

Cobar Europe, part of the Balver Zinn Group, supplies solder, paste, fluxes and related materials.