SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Sparton today swung to a fiscal fourth quarter net loss of $700,000 on impairment charges due to the potential loss of revenue in its medical business.

SMYRNA, GA – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY today announced it is accepting entries for its 2012 New Product Introduction Award (NPI) for electronics assembly.
 
The NPI Award recognizes the leading new products for electronics assembly introduced this calendar year. Awards are selected and presented by CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY.

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Equipment - automation tools (conveyors, feeders, etc.); bonders; cleaning equipment; component placement - high-speed; component placement - multifunction; device programming; dispensing equipment; labeling equipment; process control tools; rework and repair tools; screen/stencil printing; screen/stencil printing peripherals/consumables; soldering – reflow (convection); soldering - wave; soldering - selective; soldering - other (vapor phase, hot bar, laser, etc.); soldering - hand tools; software - process control; software - production; software - management (ERP, MRP, etc.); test and inspection - AOI; test and inspection - AXI, and test and inspection - ICT; materials - adhesives; cleaning materials; coatings/encapsulants; underfills; flux; soldering materials (paste, bar, wire, core, etc.), and cored wire.

The deadline for entries is Dec. 29, 2011. To be eligible, entries must have been introduced to market (any region) no earlier than Feb. 1, 2011.
 
Entries will be judged on creativity and innovation, compatibility with existing technology, cost-effectiveness, reliability, performance and user-friendliness.
 
Awards will be presented during a ceremony on Feb. 28, 2012 during the IPC Apex Expo in San Diego.
 
For more information, visit http://www.circuitsassembly.com/cms/npi-award, or contact senior editor Chelsey Drysdale at cdrysdale@upmediagroup.com. To register, visit http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1011530. 

SANTA CLARA, CA – Pete Waddell, president of UP Media Group Inc., will moderate the annual Designers’ Roundtable at the upcoming PCB West 2011 technical conference and trade show.

The roundtable is a moderated discussion focused on the world of PCB design, its challenges and future, including how to facilitate communication with the entire PCB supply chain. PCB/layout/circuit designers, engineers and related technologists are invited to attend the free session, which takes place September 28 from 2 pm to 3 pm.

Waddell is a 20-year veteran of printed circuit board design and design technical editor of PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB. He founded UP Media Group Inc. in 2002.

PCB West 2011 will be held September 27 – 29 at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center and is sponsored by the UP Media Group publications PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB (pcdandf.com) and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY (circuitsassembly.com).

Now in its 20th year, PCB West provides show attendees – printed circuit board (PCB) engineers, designers, fabricators, assemblers and managers – with the most targeted conference in the PCB design industry.

PCB West 2011 includes a three-day Technical Conference consisting of more than 50 presentations, including 10 workshops, panel sessions and half-day seminars; a one-day exhibition, featuring the PCB industry's leading vendors; and an array of free technical sessions. Full details regarding the conference and exhibition are available at www.pcbwest.com.

Admission is free for the one-day exhibition and other "FREE Wednesday" events (registration and a badge required). To register or learn more about the show, visit www.pcbwest.com.

For more information about PCB West, visit www.pcbwest.com or contact show manager Alyson Skarbek at 678-234-9859; askarbek@upmediagroup.com.

HONG KONG -- An independent auditor this week cast doubt on Surface Mount Technology Holdings' future, saying its plan to restructure carries so many unknowns, an opinion as to the EMS firm's survival could not be formed.

OLATHE, KS -- Micro-tier EMS firm Elecsys Corp. reported first-quarter net income nearly doubled to $213,000 as revenues rose across all its business segments.

SAN JOSE — SEMI has lowered its semiconductor fabrication capital expenditure forecast for 2011, but maintains this year will set a record for investment.

SAN JOSE – Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment bookings fell 8% year-over-year in the second quarter, SEMI said.

NEW DEHLI, INDIA -- Electronics manufacturing services provider PG Electroplast held an initial public offering yesterday, becoming one of the first Indian EMS companies to go public.

WASHINGTON, DC — The 90-day average sales of semiconductors worldwide rose 3.2% year-over-year in July and seasonal demand brings hope for further growth, the Semiconductor Industry Association said.

IVYLAND, PA -- Da-Tech Corp. has acquired the assets of fellow EMS company Synchronized Manufacturing Technologies.

HELSINKI – Finnish electronics manufacturer Elcoteq said its three subsidiaries have filed for bankruptcy.

BURNSVILLE, MN – Vapor phase manufacturer R&D Technical Services said today that it has relocated to a new manufacturing facility here, about one mile from its previous location. 

The firm says the facility enables them to create better manufacturing flow for production and respond more efficiently to customers’ needs.

R&D signed a lease that will save them nearly 30% on the firm’s annual rate, says president David Suihkonen.

R&D provides equipment for SMT reflow, Pb-free reflow, curing, drying, mechanical attachment and plastic package testing.