SCOTTSDALE, AZ – HDMI-enabled mobile PC shipments will surpass 300 million units in 2014, according to In-Stat.

“Its small size is a better fit for size-conscious mobile PC OEMs,” says Brian O’Rourke, research director. “In addition, HDMI’s popularity across the CE segment makes HDMI a popular choice, especially for consumer mobile PCs. Dell, Sony, HP, Acer, and Toshiba all feature HDMI in their consumer notebook lines. Netbooks are adopting HDMI as well, particularly higher-end devices that are marketed as media devices, so that they can connect to an HDTV.”

Embedded DisplayPort will have a 35% attach rate in mobile PCs in 2013, says the firm. Plus, 117 million LCD PC monitors will ship with DVI this year. HDMI will have an 82% rate in A/V receivers in 2012, and more than 19 million HDMI-enabled digital camcorders will ship in 2014.

BRUSSELS -- Electronics manufacturing services in Europe is forecast to grow 6.4% this year, with the largest jump coming in the eastern nations.

TEMPE, AZ – Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September for the 26th consecutive month, but the supply chain is anxious over the future, says the Institute for Supply Management.

The September PMI was up 1 percentage point from August to 51.6%. New orders were flat at 49.6%, and production rose 2.6 points to 51.2%. Inventories dropped a slight 0.3 to 52%, and customer inventories were up 2.5 percentage points to 49%. Backlogs fell 4.5 points to 41.5%, the lowest level since April 2009 (40.5%).
 
“Respondents generally reflect concern over the sluggish economy, political and policy uncertainty in Washington, and forecasts of ongoing high unemployment that will continue to put pressure on demand for manufactured products,” said ISM spokesperson Bradley J. Holcomb.
 
The overall economy grew for the 28th consecutive month, the firm says.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board shipments in August decreased 4.4% year-over-year, as orders fell 8%, says IPC.

NEW DELHI – India’s government aims to bring in $100 billion in investments for electronic component manufacturing by 2020, according to published reports.

A draft of initiatives proposes tax incentives, special funding, 200 manufacturing clusters, and preferential access for locally made products.

The policy is expected to be completed by December, and the initiatives are expected to create 28 million jobs.

Local demand for electronics hardware is expected to reach $400 billion by 2020, up from $45 billion in 2009.

VANCOUVER – Pacific Insight Electronics Corp. reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $19,000, compared with a net income of $316,000 in the prior year.

The EMS firm reported sales for the period ended June 30 of $8.47 million, up 4% year-over-year.

Sales for the year ended June 30 were $32.8 million, up 12% compared to last year. Net income was $163,000, down 69.3% year-over-year.

Pacific Insight Electronics is a contract designer and assembler of electronics products.

SUWANEE, GA -- ASM Assembly Systems Americas has named Jeff Timms chief executive and general manager, Americas, replacing interim CEO Otto Waters.

WASHINGTON, DC — The 90-day average worldwide sales of semiconductors grew 2.2% year-over-year in August on higher demand for PCs.

BERLIN – The latest developments in flexible and stretchable electronics will highlight an annual two-day workshop taking place here Nov. 16 - 17.

The third annual Flexible and Stretchable Electronics Workshop will be preceded by a tutorial on Fabrication Technologies of Stretchable Electronic Systems. The Nov. 15 tutorial will consist of a half-day presentation of basic concepts to fabricate stretchable electronic substrates and systems.

The event is organized by researchers from the Institute for Microelectronics (IMEC, Belgium) and Fraunhofer IZM, where the tutorial will take place.

For more information, visit http://www.flexstretch2011.de/Workshop.html.

SMYRNA, GA – PCB West celebrated its 20^th anniversary in style this week, as attendance for the annual trade show rose 30.4% from last year.

HONG KONG -- Surface Mount Technology (Holdings) Ltd. today said negotiations with a potential investor that could keep the company out of bankruptcy are ongoing and it expects definitive agreements will be signed in October.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The US Securities and Exchange Commission next month will host a public meeting to discuss the looming "conflict metals" law.