LONDON — SMART Group, Europe’s largest technical trade association for SMT, next month will release a process defect photo guide on QFN and bottom terminated components.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — Total North American printed circuit board orders in July increased 8% year-over-year, driving year-to-date order growth up to 2.5% above the same period last year. Orders were down 19.8% sequentially, says IPC.

ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 31, 2017 – UP Media Group Inc. today announced dates for its popular PCB2Day workshop series featuring Rick Hartley for fall 2017.

MINNEAPOLIS – Saying it needed to grow to survive, Smart Group will become part of SMTA, effective Jan. 1, 2018.

SCOTTS VALLEY, CA – Semblant opened a customer innovation center in Shenzhen.

DEERFIELD BEACH., FL -- The growing requirement for mobility and connectivity in customer electronic products and rising demand for higher electronic systems in automobiles are expected to drive the semiconductor assembly and testing services over the next five years.

LA GRANGE, MO -- Nemo Manufacturing says higher demand is spurring the EMS company to move to a new factory.

EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS – Neways Electronics reported first-half sales rose 7.9% year-over-year to EUR 213.6 million ($254.5 million), on strong contributions from semiconductor, automotive and defense customers.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide smartphone shipments are expected to grow from 1.47 billion in 2016 to just over 1.7 billion in 2021, says International Data Corp.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn will reportedly expand its production capacity in the Czech Republic, according to local Prague media.

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA – An ASTM International committee is developing a new standard for handheld XRF equipment used to analyze metal content.

KUALA LUMPUR -- Contract assembler EG Industries reported fiscal fourth quarter revenue rose 63% to RM262.6 million ($61.5 million) on higher demand for data storage products.