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ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCHUK, UK -- Electrolube reported worldwide sales rose 35% year-over-year on strong demand in the UK, China and Germany. It was the company’s highest growth rate in 72 years.
SAN MATEO, CA – IDC yesterday lowered its forecast for worldwide tablet shipments but said sales would still rise more than 53% year-over-year. According to the latest forecast from the market research firm, tablet shipments are expected to reach 221.3 million units in 2013, down slightly from a previous forecast of 227.4 million but still 53.5% above 2012 levels.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI-- Firstronic has been awarded state grant worth nearly $300,000 to train workers hired in part with funds from an earlier grant, the EMS company said today. The $289,550 Skilled Trades Training Funds grant from Michigan’s Workforce Development Agency comes on the heels of a $300,000 state grant awarded in September to help the contract assembler fund additional hiring driven by strong business growth.
HONG KONG -- ASM Pacific Technology continued its consolidation of the SMT process equipment market, acquiring DEK in a deal that is pending regulatory approval.
MILWAUKEE, WI – Salaries for quality professionals in 2013 increased 1.58% after a year of flat growth in 2012, according to a new survey of 6,500 workers.
NORTH SOMERSET, UK -- A company run by Mardsen Smith shareholder Robert Smith has acquired the EMS company out of administration for £50,000, according to published reports. Smith is director of Virtuose Circuits, and is also Mardsen Smith's largest shareholder.
BANNOCKBURN, IL – Total North American printed circuit board shipments increased 3.6% year-over-year in October.
The 90-day average PCB orders increased 7% year-over-year, bringing year-to-date growth into positive territory at 0.1%, says IPC.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide smartphone shipments are expected to surpass 1 billion units in 2013, representing 39.3% growth over 2012, IDC said. Despite a number of mature markets nearing smartphone saturation, the demand for low-cost computing in emerging markets continues to drive the smartphone market forward, the research firm stated.
MANIEMA PROVINCE, DRC -- Changes in local trade following the agreement to mine conflict-free metals in the Democratic Republic of Congo have had many positive impacts on the community, according to the promoters of a new mining traceability program.
SON, THE NETHERLANDS – Neways Electronics plans to terminate production activities at its subsidiary in Kassel, Germany, after a major fire in September brought all production at the site to a halt. The EMS company said that after an evaluation of its options, there's no alternative other than to terminate Neways Electronics Production's production activities.
HUDSON, NH – Contract assembler Altronics Manufacturing plans to increase its factory size by about 50% in order to accommodate system assembly and box build, the company told a local paper.
