TEMPE, AZ – US manufacturing grew in April for the ninth consecutive month, with the PMI up 0.8 percentage points to 60.4%, says the Institute for Supply Management. The rate of growth was the fastest since June 2004, when the index hit 60.5%.

A reading above 50% indicates the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.

New orders jumped 4.2 points to 65.7%, and production was up 5.8 points to 66.9%. Inventories were down 5.9 percentage points to 49.4%, while customer inventories dipped 6 points to 33%. Backlogs were down a slight 0.5 points to 57.5%.  Employment registered its fifth consecutive month of growth.

“The manufacturing sector grew for the ninth consecutive month during April,” said ISM spokesperson Norbert J. Ore. “Manufacturers continue to see extraordinary strength in new orders, as the New Orders Index has averaged 61.6% for the past 10 months. Overall, the recovery in manufacturing continues quite strong, and the signs are positive for continued growth.”

The overall economy grew for the 12th consecutive month.

RICHARDSON, TX – EMS provider Trilogy Circuits has completed its facility expansion, doubling its size to 20,000 sq. ft.

“With the expansion of our facility, we look forward to continued growth in all areas of our markets, including government and the aerospace industries, as well as expanding on our existing capabilities, which include functional tests, box build and chassis units, printed circuit assembly and cabling assembly,” said Charles Capers, CEO of Trilogy Circuits.

Trilogy Circuits has hired several production engineers and assembly technicians since beginning the expansion of its headquarters in 2009, and plans to increase its workforce in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by an additional 20% over the next year.

SAN JOSE -- The 90-day moving average of worldwide semiconductor sales in March rose 4.6% sequentially and 58.3% year-over-year, setting a new monthly record in the process, the Semiconductor Industry Association today reported.

ANGLETON, TX -- While others in the EMS industry are buying up competitors and announcing expansion plans, Benchmark Electronics has no plans to alter its global footprint, company executives say.