SAN MATEO, CA – International Data Corp. today more than doubled its 2012 forecast for worldwide semiconductor revenues.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Electronics manufacturing services provider Firstronic said it has formed an alliance with design firm DornerWorks.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly market their respective services to customers requiring design and manufacturing support.

No financial terms were disclosed.

WARRENDALE, PA -- A proposed revision to the standard governing counterfeit components that would expand the scope to include all "fraudulent" parts is seen by some as too broad a change.

SHENZHEN -- Nam Tai Electronics reported a first-quarter net loss of $3.6 million, down from net income of $2 million last year, as the EMS company worked to shed its money-losing liquid crystal display panel production.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) reported first-quarter net profits of NT$14.92 billion ($511.4 million), up 3.6% year-over-year.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board industry shipments in March decreased 12.2% year-over-year, says IPC.

WUHAN, CHINA -- Several hundred Foxconn workers today reportedly threatened to jump off a factory roof here in a protest over wages.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn's cellphone manufacturing business unit forecast a larger first-half loss on weaker demand and higher costs.

EL SEGUNDO – IHS iSuppli today upped its 2012 forecast for semiconductor growth to 4.3%, citing strong consumer demand for wireless products like cellphones and media tablets. The researchers warned that inventory levels must continue to come down, although progress has been made.

OSLO – Electronics manufacturing services firm Kitron reported first-quarter revenue of NOK 450.4 million, up 4.8% year-over-year.

EBIT was NOK 21.5 million, up nearly 94% compared to the same period last year. EBITDA was NOK 30.4 million, up 62% year-over-year.

Orders for the quarter were NOK 448.1 million, while the order backlog was NOK 797 million, up 9.2% and down 2.5% respectively.

Kitron ranked 45th on this year's CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50. 

NOK 1 = US$0.1744

TOKYO – DuPont-Toray has filed a lawsuit in Tokyo District Court against Ube Industries for allegedly infringing a Japanese patent related to formulation and properties of polyimide film used in chip-on-flex circuits.

In its court filing, DuPont-Toray alleges Ube has infringed patent no. 4777471 covering Kapton polyimide film.

The firm says Ube manufactured and sold polyimide film graded as UPILEX SGAV1.

VELDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS – Assembléon is transferring to a new CEO and management, one year after spinning off from Royal Philips.