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.

FARMINGDALE, NY -- Cemtrex has entered into an agreement to acquire all assets of an electronics manufacturing company located in northern Germany.

CALGARY – Foxconn will purchase Smart Technologies in an all-cash deal worth $200 million.

CHICAGO – The surface mount technology market in the APAC region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11% between 2015 and 2020, says RnR Market Research. The total SMT market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.84% during the forecast period.

RALEIGH, NC -- Asteelflash USA has been awarded a major consumer electronics manufacturing contract at its facility in Raleigh-Morrisville, NC that will result in the adding of more than 100 new jobs.

NEENAH, WI -- Plexus will relocate its Neenah Design Center to a building across from the company’s global headquarters downtown here.

LINDSAY, ONTARIO, CANADA -- Spectron Electronics, an EMS provider based here, has closed and will be auctioned.

CARLSBAD, CA – A group of cleaning companies will cohost free workshops in California this June.