CAMBRIDGE, MA -- In today’s computers, moving data to and from main memory consumes so much time and energy that microprocessors have their own small, high-speed memory banks, known as “caches,”  which store frequently used data. Traditionally, managing the caches has required  fairly simple algorithms that can be hard-wired into the chips.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL -- SigmaTron today swung to a July quarter profit on an 18% year-over-year jump in revenues. The electronics manufacturing services company reported revenues of $56.2 million for its first quarter of fiscal 2014, which ended July 31.

NEW YORK -- Plexus this morning raised its earnings guidance while reiterating fiscal fourth-quarter revenue forecast of $545 million to $575 million.The electronics contract assembler raised its EPS guidance by roughly $0.05 to $0.66 to $0.70 from prior guidance of $0.60 to $0.66.

SMYRNA, GA – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY today announced the opening of its 2014 New Product Introduction Awards (NPI) for printed circuit board assembly.

WASHINGTON – The US Environmental Protection Agency has launched a web-based tool to improve access to chemical specific regulatory information developed by EPA and data submitted under the Toxic Substances Control Act. "ChemView" displays key health and safety data in an online format that allows comparison of chemicals by use and by health or environmental effects.

SAN JOSE — Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment billings fell 27% from last year in the second quarter. Billings rose 3% sequentially to $7.55 billion, reported the SEMI trade group.

TAIPEI -- Hon Hai, the parent company of Foxconn, reported consolidated August sales rose 2.6% year-over-year to NT$280.4 billion ($9.44 billion). Sales were down from 6.6% July, however, the company said.

SAN JOSE, CA – A new study of trends in IC packaging says 0.5mm pitch will remain mainstream for years to come.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – The total disk storage systems market in the second quarter generated $7.7 billion in revenue, down 5% year-over-year, and had a slight sequential decline, says the International Data Corp.

DETROIT -- SAE International will host a free telephone/webcast on Oct. 10 to clear up misunderstandings among users and to explain differences between the organization’s standards governing counterfeits.

LISLE, IL -- Koch Industries will buy Molex in a deal worth some $7.2 billion. Molex is best-known as a designer and manufacturer of various types of board connectors, and also builds flex circuits and PCB assemblies.

ROME, NY -- The ESD Association is sponsoring a symposium highlighting best practices for EOS/ESD management in the factory. The four-day event, which includes exhibits, takes place Oct. 28-Nov. 1 in Penang, Malaysia.