MINNEAPOLIS, MN - The SMTA is soliciting applications from full-time graduate-level students pursuing a degree and working on thesis research in electronic assembly, electronics packaging, or a related field, for the Charles Hutchins Educational Grant. 

Cosponsored by the SMTA and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazine, the Hutchins Grant was established in memory of past SMTA president Dr. Charles Hutchins. The $5000 grant has been presented annually since 1998.

All required materials are due Apr. 18. The grant will be presented at the SMTA Annual Meeting held in conjunction with SMTA International in Fort Worth, TX, Oct. 16-20.

For more information and to complete an application, visit http://www.smta.org/hutchins/student_app.cfm.

BOSTON – Bain Capital is considering selling electronics connector maker FCI and has enlisted outside bankers to advise on possible deals, according to published reports.

MINNEAPOLIS – CyberOptics Corp. today reported fourth-quarter 2010 net income was $971,000, compared to a net loss of $1.6 million in the prior year period.

The printed circuit board inspection equipment maker’s consolidated sales of $14 million, up 56% year-over-year. Operating income was $1.04 million, compared to an operating loss of $1.6 million in the same quarter of 2009.

For full-year 2010, CyberOptics reported consolidated sales of $57 million, up 110% year-over-year.

Earnings in 2010 were $3.1 million, compared to a net loss of $6.8 million in 2009.

“Fourth quarter sales were at the upper end of our previously issued guidance for this period, while our earnings exceeded our forecast for this period. The sales performance of our three product lines – electronic assembly sensors, inspection systems and semiconductor products – largely tracked our fourth quarter projections and were consistent with normal seasonal factors,” said Kathleen P. Iverson, CEO and chair.

The firm ended the fourth quarter with an order backlog of $7.2 million, compared to $12.8 million at the end of the third quarter. The majority of this backlog is scheduled to ship in the first and second quarters this year.

For the first quarter of 2011, the company is forecasting sales of $12.5 million to $13.5 million. For full-year 2011, the company expects sales of $60 million to $65 million.

HELSINKI -- Contract assembler PKC Group Oyj said EMS net sales rose 40.4% in 2010 to 73.7 million euros.