TEMPE, AZ – Economic growth in the US will continue in 2011, says ISM. Expectations are for a continuation of the economic recovery that began in mid-2009.

The manufacturing sector continues to outpace the non-manufacturing sector and has greater expectations for growth in terms of revenue, the firm says.

The manufacturing sector expects revenues to increase in 16 of 18 industries, while the non-manufacturing sector appears slightly less positive about the year ahead, with 12 of 18 industries expecting higher revenues.

Sixty-five percent of survey respondents expect revenues to be greater in 2011 than in 2010. The panel of purchasing and supply executives expects a 5.6% net increase in overall revenues for 2011, compared to a 7.9% increase reported for 2010.

The 16 manufacturing industries expecting improvement over 2010 – listed in order – are primary metals; fabricated metal products; petroleum and coal products; apparel, leather and allied products; transportation equipment; miscellaneous manufacturing; furniture and related products; plastics and rubber products; machinery; textile mills; wood products; electrical equipment, appliances and components; food, beverage and tobacco products; printing and related support activities; chemical products, and paper products.

Business investment will increase substantially in the manufacturing sector, while investment in the non-manufacturing sector will increase at a lower level.
In the manufacturing sector, respondents report operating at 80.2% of normal capacity, up from 72.8% reported in April 2010.

Purchasing and supply executives predict capital expenditures will increase 14.5% in 2011, compared to a 5.9% increase reported for 2010.

Survey respondents also forecast they will reduce inventories in an effort to improve their purchased inventory-to-sales ratio in 2011.

Manufacturers expect employment to increase 1.8 %, while labor and benefits costs are expected to increase an average of 1.9% in 2011.

Manufacturing purchasers are predicting strength in exports and imports in 2011. They also expect the US dollar to weaken on average against the currencies of major trading partners.

The panel also predicts prices will increase 2.7% during the first four months of 2011, and will increase an additional 1.3% during the balance of the year, with an overall increase of 4% for the year.

Survey respondents expect to realize supply chain improvements through improved inventory/asset management; cost reduction; supplier development/better metrics; supplier consolidation, and better risk management.

PROSPECT, CT – Design-2-Part Shows for design and contract manufacturing released their 2011 schedule. The schedule is highlighted by the show’s first appearance in Houston.

The 2011 show schedule is as follows:

Texas Design-2-Part Show, Feb. 23 and 24, Grapevine, TX.
Southeast Design-2-Part Show, Mar. 16 and 17, Atlanta, GA
Mid-Atlantic Design-2-Part Show, April 13 and 14, Oaks, PA
Greater Chicago Design-2-Part Show, May 3 and 4, Schaumburg, IL
Northern California Design-2-Part Show, May 18 and 19, Santa Clara, CA
Midwest Design-2-Part Show, June 14 and 15, Covington, KY
Mid-South Design-2-Part Show, September 28 and 29, Nashville, TN
Southern California Design-2-Part Show, October 12 and 13, Pasadena, CA
Southern Design-2-Part Show, October 19 and 20, 2011, Kissimmee, FL
New England Design-2-Part Show, November 2 and 3, Marlborough, MA
Southern Texas Design-2-Part Show, November 16 and 17, Houston, TX

Design-2-Part Shows provide design engineers, manufacturing engineers and managers, and purchasers the opportunity to meet contract manufacturers to source custom parts, components, services, and design.

Exhibiting companies will showcase design-through-manufacturing services featuring more than 300 product categories for the metal, plastics, rubber and electronics industries.

For more information, visit www.D2P.com.

SAN JOSE – SEMI issued a call for presenters for technical sessions and presentations at Semicon West 2011, which will take place July 12-14 in San Francisco.

TAIWAN – Smartphone maker High Tech Computer plans to add new suppliers and is currently discussing orders for 2011 with PCB makers.

The move follows the firm’s projection of substantial increases in smartphone shipments, according to published reports.

HTC expects next year’s shipments to hit 45 to 50 million units, up from an estimated 25 million units in 2010.

The company is reportedly looking at Ichia Technologies for flexible PCB.

Existing suppliers include Career Technology, M-Flex and Flexium Interconnect.

HTC is also working with Unitech Printed Circuit Board, Unimicron Technology, and others based in Japan.