CHICAGO – An upcoming conference in Chicago will focus on SCADA security and penetration techniques. The “open workshop” will include discussions, briefings of recent security incidents, and slide presentations on prevention against hacking of PLC, RTU, and other embedded instrumentation and controls, conference organizers say.

Attendees will participate in “red teaming” exercises and security countermeasure techniques. The organizers of the not-for-profit conference said attendees will be encouraged to develop policies and standard ethical positions.

“The reason we're doing this is because most of the R&D is not getting out in the open in any form. We're not eager to make anyone look bad, but at the same time, we need to figure where the fragile parts of common embedded systems are, how we can mitigate these problems, and what to tune our intrusion monitoring systems to,” said one of the organizers.

The group seeks embedded system developers, particularly software, and hardware developers willing to discuss broad-based issues with end-users, IT security professionals and others.

The event takes place May 14-15.

For more information, visit http://gathering.infracritical.com.

GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA – DEK has appointed Laser Stencil Technology as licensee for VectorGuard stencils in South Africa.

No financial terms were disclosed.

“Licensing our VectorGuard stencils to partners in various locations across the globe has effectively enabled us to expand our technology footprint, while allowing customers to manage their business locally,” said DEK global franchise and product manager Michael Zahn.

LOS ALTOS, CA -- World electronics equipment production will grow 7.5% this year on broad-based gains in demand and inventory replenishment, a leading analyst said today.

GARBSEN, GERMANY – LPKF Group posted 2009 earnings before interest and tax of $10.4 million, up 79.5% year-over-year.

Consolidated sales rose 12% to $75.4 million.

Incoming orders were $83.3 million, up 16.4% over the previous year. Orders in hand rose to $21.9 million, up 43% year-over-year. Growth was influenced by changed product mix and cost reductions, says the firm.

Compared to the same quarter the previous year, fourth-quarter earnings before tax and interest rose 67% to $3 million. Growth was attributed to the Cutting and Structuring Laser Segment.

LPKF expects 2010 growth in sales to exceed 10%, with growth potential in almost all divisions, particularly the LDS business.