OYSTER BAY, NY -- Branded tablet shipments will rise 20% year-over-year this year, ABI Research forecasts. The research firm calls 2014 a "pivotal year" for tablets as the traditional markets leading computing and CE deployments reach a tipping point and give way to growth regions.

SAN JOSE — The 90-day moving average orders at North America-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers rose 20.1% year-over-year to $1.29 billion in February. Bookings were up 0.7% from the revised January figure of $1.28 billion, the SEMI trade group said.

MILWAUKIE, OR -- Electronic Controls Design has promoted Todd Clifton to president. Clifton has been with the oven profile OEM since 1996, first as director of business development and, since 2011, as vice president of sales and marketing.

LAS VEGAS – A Honeywell scientist will take home US best paper honors at IPC Apex Expo next week for his work on bismuth alloys.