MILWAUKIE, OR – Thermal profiling OEM ECD is seeking the oldest M.O.L.E. thermal profiler still in use, and is making a contest of its search.

HELSINKI – PKC Group reported net sales for the September quarter were EUR 227.4 million, up 123% year-over-year.

TOKYO -- In the wake of gut-wrenching financial losses, Panasonic will cut its consumer electronics groups and reconsider several other business units, the company's president said.

BALVE, GERMANY – The Balver Zinn Group has acquired a global license for the SN100C alloy developed by Nihon Superior.

LONDON -- Cookson Group will spin off its solder materials and electroplating chemistry business units into a new company called Alent, the materials giant said today.

ATLANTA -- UP Media Group today announced the launch of Board Talk, a new bulletin board for the electronics industry.

JASPER, IN -- A 15% jump in Kimball's EMS sales helped boost the company to a 6% overall hike in revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 30.

WASHINGTON -- A pair of major US business groups have filed a lawsuit asking the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to modify or set aside in whole or in part the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulations requiring companies to publicly disclose their use of conflict minerals that originate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or an adjoining country.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The B revision of IPC/WHMA-A-620, Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies, has been released.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board shipments in September were down 6.7%, and orders decreased 3.3% compared to September 2011, says IPC.

INDIANAPOLIS – Specialty Coating Systems next week will host a free webinar on conformal coatings for medical devices.

SIEVI, FINLAND -- Scanfil reported third quarter net income of EUR 1.7 million on sales of EUR 48.2 million ($62.5 million).