STAMFORD, CT – Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment spending is projected to total $34.6 billion in 2013, down 8.5% from 2012, says Gartner. The firm says capital spending will decrease 6.8% in 2013, due to diminishing 28nm investment from a softening in the mobile phone market.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Aided by a state grant, Firstronic plans to add 110 workers over the next 30 months to its site here as part of a major expansion project. The contract electronics assembler this week learned it won a $300,000 grant to expand its 35,000 sq. ft. site.

SANTA CLARA, CA -- Agilent Technologies will split into two publicly traded companies, one focus on life sciences, diagnostics and applied markets and the other on electronic measurement products. The breakup is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014.

ATLANTA -- With five days to go before the conference start, registration for PCB West is up 23% over last year, conference organizers announced. Advance registration for the trade show exhibits is also up more than 15%, UP Media Group said.