REDMOND, WA – Data I/O Corp. has partnered with Aegis Software to deliver solutions for end unit traceability, process tracking, and quality management.

No financial terms were disclosed.

Aegis solutions aid in data acquisition and visualization, process tracking and control, quality analysis, document management, reporting and material traceability. Additional features include real-time data dashboards and interactive multimedia.

Data I/O provides RoadRunner 3 and PS Series automated programming solutions with Factory Integration Software. FIS track and remote modules interface with external software systems, including Aegis’.  FIS Track enables automated collection and export of programming results. FIS Remote provides remote control of programming commands.

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Raven Industries reported third-quarter sales in its contract assembly unit fell 3% from a year ago to $17.3 million on softer aerospace demand.

SHANGHAI – SMTA China is requesting papers for SMTA China Conferences in Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Wuhan in 2012.

These events will address issues in electronics manufacturing, business focus, advanced packaging, emerging technologies, and lead-free and reliability.

Papers are requested on topics associated with assembly, business, emerging technologies, harsh environment applications, and PCB technology.

Submit abstracts to Peggy Chen at peggy@smta.org, including your name, job title, company affiliation, and all pertinent contact information, as well as your choice of technology conference to present the paper.

Deadlines for bilingual abstract and bilingual speaker bio submissions are:

SMTA China East Conference: Feb. 10
SMTA China South Conference: June 10
SMTA China West Conference in Chengdu: Feb. 1
SMTA China North Conference in Wuhan: May 31

TORONTO – The SMTA Toronto chapter requests abstracts for the International Conference on Soldering and Reliability (ICSR), May 15-18.

Suggested topics include Pb-free assembly and test; manufacturing process; reliability; package on package; harsh environment; corrosion; tin whiskers; halogen-free laminates; new alloys; high-density interconnects; electromigration; thermal interface materials; thermal dissipation; underfill; environmental compliance/regulations; printed electronics; conformal coating, and die attach soldering and L-F challenges. 

Submit 200- to 300-word abstracts to Patti Hvidhyld at patti@smta.org. Abstracts are due Jan. 13.

Authors will be notified of acceptance by February. Technical papers are required on Mar. 30.

TOKYO – Japanese printed circuit board fabricators reported September revenues fell 4.7% year-over-year as flooding in Thailand and competition from Taiwan continues to take its toll.

Total revenue for the month was 52.8 billion yen, up 12.8% from August, traditionally a slower month.

Total production volume was 1.484 million sq. meters, up 9.1% sequentially, but down 13% year-over-year, says the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.  

Overall business is still trending downward, the trade group says, citing increased pricing pressure and lower production. 

Year-to-date revenue through September was 462 billion yen, down 14.9% year-over-year. Year-to-date production volume totaled 12.56 million m², down 10.2%
compared to 2010. The rate of decline in revenue is steeper than the rate of decline in volume, signaling pricing pressures.

Buildup rigid boards and rigid modules, key products for the PWB industry in Japan, did show signs of a rebound in September compared to August, but volume is still off by double digits compared to the same month last year, says METI.

The numbers are better for flexible circuit board shipments during September. Revenue shrunk 4.3%, but volume increased 10.5% compared to the last year. Manufacturers are lowering prices to maintain volume: The average price decrease for single-sided flexible circuit boards is almost 25%.

The flood in Thailand has caused many of the Japanese flexible circuit board manufacturers to temporarily halt production. Most of their plants are located in the hardest hit areas of the flooding, and it may take several months before they are back online, says METI.

VERN SUR SEICHE, FRANCE – Lacroix Electronique reported first-half fiscal 2011 revenues in its contract electronics group rose 27.2% year-over-year to 163.6 million euros.
 
Overall revenues for the period ended Sept. 30 were up 15% to 303.5 million euros.
 
“The group show[ed] strong growth, and this trend should be confirmed during the next financial year,” Lacriox said in a statement.
 
Lacroix operates SMT production plants in France, Tunisia, Germany, Poland and Romania. It also has five design centers.

SANTA CLARA – Total TV market shipments were up 3.7% year-over-year in the third quarter to 62 million units, up 12% sequentially, says DisplaySearch.

This marks a healthy rebound from the 1% year-over-year shipment decline in the second quarter and weak 1% year-over-year gain in the first. However, orders for LCD and plasma panels used in the production of TV sets were both down in the third quarter, resulting in a somewhat lean inventory situation toward the end of the period, says the research firm.

Many suppliers have taken a conservative approach to inventory for the holidays. Therefore, if demand is better than expected, there may not be much slack in the supply chain to fulfill restocking orders. This could potentially lead to some product shortages, the company says.

“End-market demand has been weak in North America during most of 2011, with unit shipments falling around 4% year-over-year through the first three quarters of the year,” noted Paul Gagnon, director of North America TV Research, DisplaySearch. “However, consumers, still quite sensitive to pricing, may be delaying purchases until the holidays when they expect to see the best deals. Consumers have learned this practice from observing previous holiday selling periods.”

LCD TV shipments worldwide were about 1% better than forecasted, rising 12.9% year-over-year to 51.5 million units compared to single-digit annual growth during the first and second quarters. This is a good indication of improving demand in end markets. Retail prices for some LCD sizes are falling below key price levels, like $300 for 32" and $500 for 40-42".

The transition to LED backlights continues, but the rate of adoption has been slower than expected. LED-backlit models have not been able to pass the 50% level, accounting for 48% of total LCD TV shipments, with the vast majority of those being edge-lit models.

Similarly, higher frame-rate models (120Hz or higher) have been mostly unchanged through 2011, representing about 22% of LCD shipments in the quarter. 3D grew to about 11% of LCD TVs, up from 9% in the second quarter. The slower growth of these two advanced features is indicative of a continuation of conservative consumer spending and reluctance to pay significant premiums, DisplaySearch says.

Plasma TV shipments have shown increasing softness in recent quarters, declining 6% year-over-year in the second quarter and falling 14% year-over-year in third to 4.1 million units. The decline in plasma TV shipments is the result of closer price competition with LCD models, leading to a transfer of market share at key sizes like 42" and 50". In addition, poor profitability at plasma TV heavyweight Panasonic has led to a shift in focus to larger models and more richly-featured sets with less emphasis on price competition. Within plasma, 720p models account for about two-thirds of unit shipments, but DisplaySearch forecasts a bigger shift to 1080p in the near future. Finally, 3D rose to about 27% of plasma TV shipments in the third quarter.

By region, China increased to more than 21% of all global TV shipments to become the clear leader in global TV demand. Shipments to China seasonally increase during the third quarter, ahead of October Golden Week promotions, but the level of share gain was substantial compared to previous years. The softness in consumer demand seen for developed regions led to much weaker growth than for emerging regions, with total unit shipments rising 12% year-over-year in emerging regions and falling 8% year-over-year in developed regions. China is a major driver of the stronger growth in emerging regions. In addition, adoption of advanced features, like 3D, has performed better in China than any other region. In fact, China was the leading region for LED LCD TV shipments, as well as for 3D LCD TVs.

Through the first three quarters of 2011, Western Europe and China were the leading adopters of 3D at 13% and 11% of total TV unit shipments, respectively. North America was initially forecast to be the leading market for 3D TV, but 3D accounted for only about 8.5% of total unit shipments. An unwillingness to pay much of a premium for 3D, and lower availability of low-cost 3D sets, compared to regions like China, have impacted uptake of 3D. During the upcoming holiday selling season in the US, 3D is not expected to be highly promoted. Instead, retailers will focus on large sizes with strong value pricing, but with lighter feature content, says DisplaySearch.

Samsung’s global flat panel TV revenue share was up slightly in the third quarter to 22.8%, a substantial lead over the No. 2 brand LGE. Samsung was the No. 1 brand on a revenue basis in every region, with the exception of Japan, where it does not sell TVs, and led LGE (a strong emerging market brand) in Asia Pacific and Latin America. Samsung was No. 1 in LCD and plasma TV revenues, No. 2 in CRT TV revenues, and was the only top-5 brand to post year-over-year growth in revenues.

LGE was the No. 2 brand worldwide at 13.1%, with small sequential and year-over-year revenue declines. LGE was No. 2 in LCD TV and No. 3 in plasma TV, but continued to lead in CRT TV with more than double the revenue share of any other brand. Sony remained the No. 3 brand in global flat panel TV revenues during the third quarter, but saw a significant decrease in market share and posted a 13% year-over-year decline in total revenues. Panasonic and Sharp rounded out the top 5, with Sharp gaining revenue share on increased shipments of large sizes like 60".

Samsung was the No. 1 global brand of 3D TV overall, accounting for all technologies, with 31% of revenues. Within the 3D LCD TV category, Samsung was No. 1, while Panasonic claimed the top 3D plasma TV revenue share.

NORWOOD, MA -- A new low-loss flip-chip package is said to provide an efficient, cost-effective chip-scale solution for power devices.

GLENVIEW, IL – Illinois Tool Works reported a year-over-year operating revenue increase of 14% for the three months ended Oct. 31.

WESTLAKE, OH -- Nordson has promoted John Byers, formerly president of its Asymtek unit, to chief information officer.

A Nordson employee since 1994, Byers had been president of Asymtek since 2006.

The company named Peter Bierhuis, formerly president of the company's March unit, to replace Byers as president of Asymtek. Bierhuis had been president of the plasma processing equipment OEM since 1999 and with Nordson since 1980.

March vice president of applications and business development Dr. James Getty will succeed Bierhuis.

Finally, Phil Vere has been promoted to president of Dage. He was managing director for bond testers. He succeeds Steven Kew, who is leaving to pursue other interests.

HONG KONG – VTech Holdings today reported fiscal first-half net profits fell 5.4% from last year to $88.5 million despite higher sales.

TIMISOARA, ROMANIA -- Flextronics has completed a 14,000 sq. ft. expansion to its facility here, paving the way for dedicated medical electronics production.