MUNICH – The global SMT equipment market slowed in the second half, but shipments topped 2010's figures, according to data released today by Siplace.

DUSSELDORF – Henkel reported fourth-quarter 2011 sales up 1.9% year-over-year to 3.8 billion euros. Organic sales growth reached 3.8%.

Net income amounted to 304 million euros, up 19.7% year-over-year.

Adjusted operating profit for the quarter was up 12.3% to 502 million euros compared to the prior year period.

The firm increased sales in fiscal 2011 to 15.6 billion euros, up 3.4% year-over-year.

Adjusted net income for the year rose 11.4% to 1.36 billion euros. Net income for 2011 was 1.28 billion euros compared, up 12.2% year-over-year.

Adjusted operating profit improved 9%, to 2.03 billion euros, with all three business sectors contributing.

Operating profit totaled 1.86 billion euros, up 7.8% above 2010.

Adhesive Technologies increased sales organically 8.3% to 7.75 billion euros. Adjusted operating profit rose 14.7% to 1.08 billion euros. With an EBIT of 1.002 billion euros, operating profit passed the 1 billion euro mark for the first time in the sector.

The firm posted an increase in organic sales in Western Europe of 2.8% to 5.6 billion euros, benefiting from a solid performance in Germany. In North America, a slight increase in sales was achieved. Developments in the emerging markets were strong across the board, Henkel says.

Sales in Eastern Europe rose 6.2% to 2.8 billion euros. Organic sales growth here was 10.3%, generated primarily by the businesses in Turkey and the adhesives business in Russia. Growth in the Africa/Middle East region was adversely affected by the political unrest in some countries, the firm says. Sales rose 3.7% to 934 million euros.

The firm expects fiscal 2012 organic sales growth between 3% and 5%.

1 euro = US$1.327

SANTA CLARA, CA – Shipments of 3D LCD TV panels spiked to 7.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 26% sequentially. As a result, total 3D TV panel shipments in 2011 reached 21.2 million, accounting for 10% of all LCD TV panels shipped, says NPD DisplaySearch.

Advanced LED + 3D panel makers are targeting very strong growth of 138% for 2012, which would lead to 3D LCD TV panel shipments of 50 million units, for a penetration rate of 21.6% of all LCD TV panel shipments, the firm says.

Shutter glass technology use is still larger than patterned retarder technology, with 6.2% penetration in total LCD TV panel shipments in 2011, with patterned retarder accounting for 3.9%. According to NPD DisplaySearch, 2012 penetration rates will increase to 11.6% for shutter glass type and 10% for pattern retarder type.

In addition to TV, panel makers are aggressively promoting 3D monitor panels, especially for consumer entertainment and gaming PCs. In 3D LCD monitor panels, pattern retarder manufacturers are more aggressive than shutter glass makers. Panel makers are targeting shipments of more than 1.5 million per quarter from the second quarter of 2012 onward. This is up from 235,000 in the fourth quarter of last year.

MANAUS, BRAZIL -- It might not be much, but Elcoteq's factory here remains up and running, the smallest facility left of the 14 sites the EMS supplier operated just 18 months ago.

HARTLEPOOL, ENGLAND -- Stadium Group is on the prowl for acquisitions, the electronics manufacturing services company said today.

ATLANTA -- Two more "chats" with leading industry experts have been scheduled, featuring outsourcing analyst Charlie Barnhart and industrial environment expert Kal Kawar.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nortech Systems today reported fourth-quarter net income rose 71% over last year to $234,783.

LONDON -- Researchers at a pair of London area universities are finding printed circuit boards a low-cost but effective alternative to bipolar plates in fuel cells.

SUZHOU, CHINA – Enics plans to start operations in the greater Shanghai area in the second quarter of this year.

The industrial electronics manufacturing services provider has signed an agreement with Changshu Municipal and Changshu Southern Development Zone authorities. The new site is 10,000 sq. m. (108,000 sq. ft.), and there is the possibility to double the floor space.

The site is expected to employee several hundred workers when it comes online later this year.

This would be the EMS firm’s second plant in China, with the other in Beijing. No financial terms were disclosed.

DONGGUAN, CHINA – 3CEMS plans to triple the size of its just-opened EMS production plant here by June, the company says.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC reported a 26% increase in attendance over 2011 at IPC Apex Expo, with 4,915 conference and exhibit hall attendees.

IPC said 407 exhibitors participated in the event, resulting in 8,963 total visitors.

The show was the best attended in more than four years.

IPC Apex Expo this year kicked off its first hand soldering contest. Adam Conaway, S and Y Industries, was named Grand Champion.

The show returns to the San Diego Convention Center Feb. 19 - 21, 2013.

TAOYUAN, TAIWAN – Qisda today reported fourth-quarter consolidated revenue of NT$21.86 billion ($739.8 million), up 8.8% quarter-on-quarter. Operating income rose NT$150 million quarter-on-quarter to NT$270 million.