MILPITAS, CA – North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $2.69 billion in billings worldwide in April (three-month average basis), according to SEMI, up 26% year-over-year and 10.7% sequentially.

LAGUNA, PHILLIPPINES – Cirtek Holdings Philippines reported first quarter consolidated revenues of $25.9 million, an increase of 53% compared to the same quarter in 2017.

NANJING, CHINA – Foxconn plans to launch an R&D center here for about $720 million, according to reports.

HAMPSHIRE, UK – The annual sales of fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the US will reach 5 million by 2026, says Juniper Research. The global market will account for 20 million new AVs sold during the same year.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC released additional test coupons for the IPC-2221B Gerber Coupon Generator, an annual subscription service for IPC member companies.

SEOUL -- Koh Young Technology reported first quarter revenue grew 13% year-over-year, boosted by a 20% increase in its 3-D AOI business.

HAIFA, ISRAEL – Green Point, the plastic and metal parts design and manufacturing division of Jabil, announced today the opening of its new 2,000 square meter Optics Technology Innovation Center here.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – IC Insights has raised its expectations for 2018 capital spending by six percentage points to a 14% increase. If this occurs, it would be the first time semiconductor industry capital outlays exceeded $100 billion. The worldwide 2018 capital spending forecast figure is 53% higher than 2016 spending.

WESTLAKE, OH – Nordson reported fiscal second quarter net sales of $553.7 million, up 11.6% year-over-year.

SAN JOSE, CA – Power Design Services (PDS) and Green Circuits announced a merger agreement, effective May 21. Financial and other terms were not disclosed.

SHANGHAI -- Some 16 companies, including Foxconn and China Telecom, announced their backing of the 5G industry alliance, announced yesterday here.

JASPER, IN -- Kimball Electronics announced today that it has signed an agreement to purchase substantially all of the assets and assume certain liabilities of GES Holdings, Global Equipment Services and Manufacturing, and its subsidiaries for approximately $50 million plus assumed liabilities, subject to certain post-closing working capital adjustments.