TEMPE, AZ – US manufacturing activity expanded in March for the 32nd consecutive month, says the Institute for Supply Management.

The PMI was up 1 percentage point to 53.4%, and new orders were down 0.4 percentage point to 54.5%. Production grew 3 percentage points to 58.3%, while Inventories reached 50%, up 0.5 percentage point. Customer inventories fell 1.5 points to 44.5%, and backlogs were up 50 basis points to 52.5%. Employment increased 2.9 percentage points to 56.1%.

“The PMI registered 53.4%, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 32nd consecutive month. Of the 18 industries included in the survey, 15 are experiencing overall growth. Comments from the panel remain positive, with several respondents citing increased sales and demand for the next few months,” said Bradley J. Holcomb, chair of ISM.

The overall economy grew for the 34th consecutive month, the firm says.

WASHINGTON — The 90-day moving average worldwide semiconductor sales slid 1.3% sequentially in February, obscuring a 1.1% climb in the Americas region.

LONDON -- Is Cookson considering splitting the company in two?

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Foxconn’s chairman Terry Gou said the firm would continue to increase China’s worker salaries and cut hours, according to published reports.

His statement yesterday comes after the electronics manufacturer’s poor working conditions have been exposed by a recent audit by the Fair Labor Association.

Gou also said the maker of Apple iPhones and iPads would build manufacturing facilities in Hainan, China, and expand operations in Brazil.

Apple and Foxconn agreed last week to improve conditions among the 1.2 million workers, say reports. According to the agreement, Foxconn will hire thousands of new workers, eliminate illegal overtime, improve safety protocols, and upgrade housing.

BOAO, CHINA -- Faced with higher worker salaries in Southeast China, Foxconn Technology Group plans to open manufacturing facilities in Hainan and expand operations in Brazil, chairman Terry Gou said yesterday.

HERNDON, VA – iNEMI is forming a project team to develop a white paper based on the Appendices A and B that were removed from the IPC9704A standard that was revised last month.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board shipments in February decreased 2.3% year-over-year, while orders increased 6.5%, says IPC.

Year to date, shipments were down 2.9% and orders were up 6.3%. Sequentially, shipments for February increased 6% and orders increased 6%. The book-to-bill ratio rose 1.04. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests current demand is ahead of supply, and is considered a positive indicator for sales growth over the next two to three months.

Rigid board shipments in February were down 1.9% year-over-year, but orders were up 6.9% compared to the same month last year. Year to date, rigid board shipments decreased 2.5% and orders increased 8.8%. Sequentially, rigid PCB shipments increased 5.9% and orders increased 4.3%. The rigid board book-to-bill ratio climbed to 1.04.

Flex circuit board shipments were down 6.4% and orders were up 1.8% compared to February 2011. Year to date, flex shipments decreased 7.1%, while orders dropped 14.9%. Sequentially, shipments increased 7.4% and orders were up 26%. The flex book-to-bill ratio rose to 1.10.

“Growth rates for both rigid PCB and flexible circuit sales in North America are improving,” said Sharon Starr, IPC director of market research. “Although year-on-year sales growth rates are still negative, they are moving up and nearing positive territory,” she added. “Order growth was especially strong in February, and it pushed the book-to-bill ratio up to 1.04, indicating that sales are likely to continue strengthening for the next several months.”

Rigid PCBs represent an estimated 89% of the current industry in North America, says IPC.

In February, 85% of total shipments were domestically produced. Domestic production accounted for 85% of rigid and 83% of flex board shipments.

Bare circuits accounted for about 42% of flex board shipment value reported for the month.

HONG KONG -- EMS firm Surface Mount Technology (Holdings) Ltd. has asked its creditors for more time to meet its financial obligations, the company said today.

MUNICH -- Roselektronika (Rosel) and Rohde & Schwarz have signed a memorandum of understanding under which Rosel will distribute Rohde & Schwarz's test equipment in Russia.

SHENZHEN – A Fair Labor Association audit of Foxconn has determined the firm to have excessive working hours and health and safety issues, according to published reports.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC has appointed John W. Mitchell president and CEO, effective April 23.

Mitchell has experience in strategic and tactical planning, international alliances and joint ventures, engineering management, creation of intellectual property, product marketing and business negotiations.

Mitchell spent five years as general manager and director at Bose, which he left in 2008. Prior to Bose, he spent 11 years in upper management at Alpine Electronics of America. Most recently, he served as CEO of Golden Key International Honour Society. 

As IPC’s chief staff officer, Mitchell will lead the organization’s global operations and staff and will report to the IPC board. He succeeds Denny McGuirk, who left last fall after 12 years with IPC. Jim Herring, IPC’s interim president and CEO, will assist with the transition.  

Mitchell becomes just the fourth president in IPC's 55-year history, after Ray Pritchard, Thom Dammrich and McGuirk.

OSAKA, JAPAN – Nihon Superior says measurements of products shipped from its distribution center show radiation levels present no risk to its customers.

Since the Fukushima nuclear plant was damaged by the earthquake and consequent tsunami in March 2011, the soldering materials supplier has monitored radiation levels of all goods received into and dispatched from the distribution center.

Measurements have been made in accordance with the International Commission on Radiological Protection, and results have been checked for consistency with those obtained by the Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health. 

Radiation levels for goods passing through the Osaka Distribution Center have stayed below the ICRP limits for normal exposure.

Nihon Superior said it would continue to monitor radiation levels.