SOUTH KIVU, DRC -- The first flow of tin through a controlled supply chain has left a mine from the South Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the partners in the effort reports.

HONG KONG -- Based on analysis of the major platform companies and the white box market, Digitimes Research forecasts that global tablet shipments (including both branded and white box models) will overtake notebook shipments in 2013, growing by 38.3% over 2012 to 210 million units.

JAKARTA -- Foxconn Technology's planned expansion in Indonesia is reportedly stalled pending the company's fulfillment of several government requirements.

STAMFORD, CT — Worldwide semiconductor revenue is projected to total $311 billion in 2013, up 4.5% from 2012, research firm Gartner said today. The firm also lowered its fourth-quarter and full-year 2012 projections, citing economic headwinds and inventory corrections.

WESTLAKE, OH -- Nordson today reported record fourth-quarter and full-year results as electronics end-market demand drove a big jump in process, test and inspection equipment sales.

NEW YORK -- The chief executive of Flextronics this week became the latest to suggest the US is in line to reap a larger share of the manufacturing pie.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – A new standard from IPC on assessing and improving solder paste printing processes is now available in Danish.

Albuquerque, NM – US physicist Willis Whitfield, developer of the clean room, has died of cancer at 92.

NEW YORK -- The outcome of the "fiscal cliff" in the US coupled with its impact on business sentiment will be the single most important swing factor for the IT hardware  sector in 2013, a leading analyst says.

PHOENIX-- Avnet has agreed to acquire substantially all the operating assets of passive semiconductor distributor Universal Semiconductor for an undisclosed sum.

PHOENIX-- Avnet has agreed to acquire substantially all of the operating assets of passive semiconductor distributor Universal Semiconductor for an undisclosed sum.

SAN JOSE — Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment bookings plummeted 12% year-over-year in the third quarter, according to the SEMI trade group. Bookings were down 31% from the second quarter to $6.71 billion.