FRAMINGHAM, MA – Smartphone shipments are expected to grow 3.1% in 2016, a substantial slowdown from the 10.5% growth in 2015 and 27.8% in 2014, says International Data Corp. Shipments are expected to hit 1.48 billion in 2016 and grow to 1.84 billion in 2020. The new forecast is 2.6 percentage points lower than IDC's previous forecast for 2016 on the basis of the continued slowdown in mature markets and China.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide tablet shipments are expected to decline for the second straight year in 2016, dropping 9.6% compared to 2015 volumes, according to International Data Corp.

SKOLKOVO, RUSSIA – Kunshan Nano New Material, a subsidiary of Foxconn, will build a research and development center here.

POOLE, DORSET, ENGLAND -- Ken Dickie, a customer support engineer at Blakell Europlacer for more than 15 years, has passed away following a tragic assault near his home here. 

SAN FRANCISCO – The global flexible electronics market was $20.9 billion in 2015, and is estimated to reach $87.2 billion by 2024, says Grand View Research.

WASHINGTON -- The SIA welcomed recommendations agreed to by global semiconductor industry leaders outlining a series of policy proposals to strengthen the industry through greater international cooperation.

TAIPEI -- Average contract prices of TLC- and MLC-based products fell 4 to 11% and 6 to 10%, respectively, on a sequential basis in the second quarter, according to DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – April North American printed circuit board orders increased 6.4% year-over-year, boosting year-to-date growth for the first quarter to 5%.
Orders were down 19.3% sequentially, says IPC.

DUBLIN – The automated material handling equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% between 2016 and 2022 and reach $44.68 billion by 2022, says Research and Markets.

ST. ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND -- An international program designed to legally bring minerals from central African mines to the world markets is drawing plaudits for its effectiveness.

OOSTERHOUT, THE NETHERLANDS -- Vitronics Soltec is celebrating a century of innovation in soldering and printed circuit boards this year.

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL – BEST released its solder training and certification schedule for the second half of 2016. The schedule can be found at http://www.solder.net/images/2016_Training_Schedule_Jul_-_Dec.pdf.