HAMPSHIRE, UK – A surge in demand is expected in the emerging smart wireless accessory sector, a tech research firm said today.

SINGAPORE -- SMT Holdings' fortunes finally reversed for the better as sales and earnings rose in the contract assembler's fiscal 2014 first quarter. Revenue for the three months ended June 30 was HK$178.8 million ($23.1 million), up 10.7% from a year ago.

TORONTO -- Bittele Electronics will produce discounted PCB assemblies for students participating in company-accredited electronics design competitions.

NEW YORK -- A New York based labor rights group is again going after Apple for violations at its subcontractors' factories. What's notable this time is the China Labor Watch has turned its attention to Pegatron.

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI - A new white paper from Nordson EFD explains dispense valve systems for specific medical device applications. The white paper documents common problems encountered with fluid dispensing in the medical device industry and offers tips for improving dispense valve performance.

VESTAL, NY -- Longtime IBM engineer Paul Blanchette died in an accident July 25. He was 61.

TORONTO -- Celestica's second-quarter net income fell 18% from a year ago to $38.6 million, the company said last night.

WASHINGTON -- The US flash manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to 53.2 in July, up130 basis points, according to Markit.

MILPITAS, CA – Flextronics reported first-quarter net sales were $5.79 billion, down 3.2% compared to the same period last year.

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics said second-quarter net income fell 43% year-over-year as one-time restructuring charges took their toll.

GAITHERSBURG, MD – The National Institute of Standards and Technology announced a competition for grants to support new or existing industry-driven consortia to develop research plans that address challenges impeding the growth of advanced manufacturing in the US.

CHICAGO – BEST said its annual tech symposium will focus on soldering of bottom-terminated components and how to clean around them.