ZANDT, GERMANY – Zollner Elektronik is expanding its Asian business capabilities by acquiring Bluechips Microhouse, a contract manufacturer based in Thailand.

SINGAPORE – SP Manufacturing has announced the acquisition of the Asia operations of Ideal Jacobs, a Hong Kong-based EMS provider.

BRONSCHHOFEN, SWITZERLAND – Cicor Group has acquired Swedish development company Nordic Engineering Partner AB and established a significant presence in the Nordics.

SAN CLEMENTE, CA -- XLR8 EMS and Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. have signed a deal to form a strategic alliance that includes the transfer of certain employees to XLR8.

SAINT-HERBLAIN, FRANCE -- Lacroix reported third quarter revenue for ongoing operations fell 9.5% from a year ago on slower demand from North America and a downturn in the automotive market.

ATLANTA – Sales sentiment for electronics components seems to be mired in the doldrums with October sentiment as measured by the Electronics Components Sales Trend survey (ECST) struggling to remain essentially neutral at 97.1 compared to September.

JASPER, IN -- Kimball Electronics announced fiscal first quarter sales of $374.3 million, down from $438.1 million a year ago for the period ended Sept. 30.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nortech Systems reported third quarter net sales of $31.4 million, down 5.9% from a year ago.

WASHINGTON — Global semiconductor sales rose 23.3% year-over-year to $166 billion in the third quarter, the Semiconductor Industry Association said today.

BANGKOK -- Fabrinet reported record fiscal first quarter revenue of $804 million, up 17% from a year ago and was above company guidance.

SAN JOSE -- Sanmina reported fiscal fourth quarter revenue of $2.02 billion, down 2% year-over-year and up 9.6% sequentially.

NEEDHAM, MA – Worldwide tablet shipments grew 20.4% in the third quarter, totaling 39.6 million units, according to preliminary data from IDC.