For the quarter, orders fell 16% to $6.9 million. “We were disappointed to see some orders slide out, primarily in Europe and the US, but Asia remained very strong with orders up nearly 50% compared with the same quarter of 2007," said Fred Hume, president and CEO, in a statement.

STOCKHOLM – NOTE today reported September sales of $50.7 million, up 2.2% over a year ago. Operating profits were $1.8 million, down 50%. Net profits were down 59% to $980,000.

The operating margin of 3.6% is down 50% from last year. The EMS company took $1.2 million in restructuring charges for the quarter.

Through September, NOTE had nine-month sales of $164 million and a net profit of $7.3 million. Year-to-date operating profits were $5.6 million. To date, the EMS provider has taken $3.8 million in charges for ongoing restructuring. Profit after items, but before taxes, was $9.8 million, down more than 50% year-over-year. Operating margins are 3.4%, down from 6.5% last year.

NOTE is transferring labor-intensive production and sourcing services to lower-labor rate countries, and cutting its headcount in Sweden by 200 staff, or just over 25%.

BREST, FRANCE – Jabil Circuit will close, sell or otherwise restructure its plant here, a local paper reported this week.

CORINTH, MI – Ayrshire Electronics has acquired ACT Electronics' facility here for an undisclosed amount.

In doing so, Ayrshire saved the largest EMS factory in the US – some 350,000 sq. ft. – and the jobs of about 200 full-time workers and 50 more part-timers.

In a statement, the office of Gov. Haley Barbour said, "Ayrshire Electronics ... is expected to keep 200-plus workers on the job under the umbrella of a new corporate structure and new management effective as early as (today)."

WYLIE, TX – Global Innovation Corp., provider of bare boards and contract assembly services, reported fiscal 2008 sales of $33.5 million, up 1.6% over 2007. Gross profits rose 14% to $7.2 million, while net income was up 93% to $348,000.

The higher sales were primarily attributable to new customers and partially offset by a sales decline at GIC’s largest customer. The higher gross profit was tied to a shift to higher technology products, and lower pricing pressures. Gross margins rose 240 basis points to 21.5% in 2008.

MINNEAPOLIS – CyberOptics reported third-quarter sales of $11.6 million, down 29% from last year. The net loss was $772,000, down from net income of $1.5 million a year ago. The net loss included about $650,000 of pre-tax expenses related to transition of inspection systems-related R&D and manufacturing to Singapore and a $257,000 income tax benefit.

SURREY, UK – TT Electronics Plc reported year-to-date operating profits were down year-over-year on lower demand at its sensors and electronic systems, and electronic components business units. Specific numbers were not provided.

The company cited lower production in the automotive sector, where demand is expected to be off in the fourth quarter as well.

Electronic manufacturing services demand will remain in line with expectations, TT Electronics said.

The company expects to take a £5.3 million fourth-quarter charge related to the July closing of a South Wales plant and the proposed relocation of AB Electronic in Romford, UK, to China and India.

ANGLETON, TX – Benchmark Electronics reported sales fell 4.6% to $642 million in the September quarter from the prior year. Net income was $24 million, up 9% over last year.

TORONTO – Celestica Inc. reported third-quarter revenue was $2.03 billion, down 2.4% year-over-year, in line with company guidance.

Net earnings were $32.1 million, down nearly 38% compared to the same quarter last year.