EL SEGUNDO – Global ultrabook shipments are expected to soar to 136.5 million units in 2015, up from less than 1 million in 2011, a massive level of growth that will have major repercussions for the global electronics supply chain, says IHS iSuppli.

IRVINE, CA – Probe Manufacturing reported third-quarter net sales increased 61% year-over-year to $1.23 million.

The electronics design and manufacturing services company reported operating income of $92,820, up 380%, with net income up 212% over the same period last year.

“Sales increased to $3,298,692 for the nine months ending September 30, 2011, an increase of 65% compared to $2,005,237 for the previous year, and profitability continues on a strong, consistent pace,” said John Bennett, CFO of PMI.

MUNICH – Any fears that Productronica would be a disappointment were allayed today. The crowds were out in force, with the show floor busy from opening to close.

ST. LOUIS – Viasystems Group said it would withdrawal its previously announced proposed public offering of 2,000,000 shares of common stock, as well as its shareholder's offering of 2,000,000 shares of common stock.

The provider of multilayer printed circuit boards and electromechanical solutions made the decision to withdraw the offering as a result of unfavorable market conditions.

SANTA CLARA – Agilent Technologies reported $1.73 billion in fourth-quarter revenues, up 9% year-over-year.

Net income was $289 million, down slightly more than 1% compared to the same period in 2010.

The measurement firm’s R&D spending during the quarter increased 3% to $163 million compared to the year-ago period.

It finished the quarter with $3.53 billion in cash and cash equivalents.

PÉCS, HUNGARY – Contract electronics manufacturer Flextronics could hire up to all 1,500 recently laid off Elcoteq staff here, say published reports.

Flextronics reportedly plans to hire 500 of the 1,500 workers Elcoteq dismissed last month in Pécs, plus the other 1,000 at its site under expansion in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary.

Flextronics has neither confirmed nor denied the report.

MILWAUKEE, WI – Electronics manufacturing services provider Creation Technologies today said it has acquired the design, product development and manufacturing group of Quest Product Development Corp.

TAIPEI – In 2012, Sony plans to shift some three to four million orders for LCD TVs to Foxconn from Wistron, according to published reports.

INDIANAPOLIS – Specialty Coating Systems will host a free webinar on Dec. 1: Advances in Conformal Coatings: Enhancing the Reliability of Innovative Technologies.

The 60-minute webinar will provide an overview of ultra-thin, pinhole-free Parylene coatings; Parylene’s properties that enhance reliability of components; how Parylene is applied to result in ultra-thin conformal coatings; examples of applications that benefit from Parylene’s properties; new advances that have been made in adhesion technologies, and advanced applications for Parylene.

For more information, visit www.SCSwebinars.com.

MUNICH – Initial thoughts from Productronica, where the weather was brisk outside, but starting to heat up inside.

Traffic was a bit slow relative to past years. The show itself seems smaller – and again, this is relative, as it remains bigger than almost all the other major electronics assembly trade shows combined – with traditional powerhouses like Siemens, Universal Instruments and other placement companies occupying booths that, while they would still qualify as monstrous at any other show, no longer fill entire halls on their own. (This is a good thing.)

AUSTIN – A new TechSearch International survey reveals market growth and the latest developments for fan-out wafer level packages.

BRATISLAVA – Samsung Electronics plans to invest $123 million to modernize its Slovak operations and to prepare for production of new TVs, say published reports.