BANNOCKBURN, IL — Leading macroeconomic indicators and electronics supply chain indicators point to slow growth in the second quarter, according to IPC's monthly report.

ATLANTA – RF and microwave printed circuit board design and manufacture, 3D IC packaging, and new component packages are among the leading topics at the upcoming PCB West 2013 technical conference and trade show.

HERNDON, VA -- An iNEMI working group will host an open conference call next week to review an industry survey on safety standards specific to implantable medical electronics.

BANNOCKBURN, IL -- Some 85% of electronic components placed are surface-mount and 15% are plated through-hole, a new IPC study of EMS companies has found.

PARNU, ESTONIA -- Scanfil is adding employees and equipment at its plants in Pärnu and Suzhou to keep pace with customer demand.

ELKHART, IN -- CTS will take up to $20 million in restructuring charges as part of its latest manufacturing consolidation.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- EMS companies Firstronic and Maxway Technology have formed a joint manufacturing operation to be based in Shenzhen, the companies said today.

WASHINGTON -- The US Department of Defense is hosting a public meeting to obtain the views of experts and interested parties in government and the private sector regarding the electronic parts detection and avoidance coverage proposed for inclusion in DoD procurement guidelines.

RAMOS ARIZPE, MEXICO -- Flextronics reportedly closed its plant here on May 30, sending 700 workers to the unemployment line.

ARAD, ISRAEL -- Flextronics reportedly is laying off 100 workers at its plant here and moving some operations to another plant in the country.

ARLINGTON, VA -- US manufacturing technology orders totaled $372.5 million in April, down 26.6% from March and down 12.6% from April 2012.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA -- Chinese OEM Hisense has invested $35 million in a new, massive industrial park here where it will produce hundreds of thousands of TVs, refrigerators and other white goods each year.