TEMPE, AZ – Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in August for the 25th consecutive month, says the Institute for Supply Management.

The August PMI fell a slight 0.3 percentage point to 50.6%. New orders were 49.6%, up 0.4 percentage point. Production dropped 3.7 points to 48.6%, and inventories rose 3 points to 52.3%. Customer inventories were up 2.5 points to 46.5%, while backlogs increased 1 percentage point to 46%.

“The PMI registered 50.6%, a decrease of 0.3 percentage point from July, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 25th consecutive month, at a slightly slower rate. The production index registered 48.6%, indicating contraction for the first time since May of 2009, when it registered 45%. The new orders and backlog of orders indexes edged up slightly from July, but both indexes are indicating contraction in August at slower rates than in July. The rate of increase in prices slowed for the fourth consecutive month, dropping another 3.5 percentage points in August to 55.5%. The overall sentiment is one of concern and caution over the domestic and international economic environment, which is affecting customers' confidence and willingness to place orders, at least in the short term,” said Bradley J. Holcomb, chair of ISM.

The overall economy grew for the 27th consecutive month, the firm says.

ARLINGTON, VA – Jedec Solid State Technology Association has published release 4 of the DDR3 serial presence detect document.

The updated specifications support three new memory module types, and are now available for free download at http://www.jedec.org/sites/default/files/docs/4_01_02_11R21A.pdf.

The JC-45 Committee for Memory Modules developed the SPD specification in conjunction with the development of the new module types, with the objective of enabling performance optimizations based on the characteristics of the DDR3 memories used on each module. 

“This release of the DDR3 SPD specification adds support for load reduction DIMMs used in high-end computing platforms and also for 16b-SO-DIMMs and 32b-SO-DIMMs used for embedded applications such as printers,” said Mian Quddus, chairman of Jedec's JC-45 Committee for DRAM Modules.

Modules using the new parameters in DDR3 SPD document release 4 will be released by manufacturers in the next year, Jedec says.

EL SEGUNDO – Shipments of small- and medium-sized panels – panels sized 1" to 9.x" – climbed slightly in June to 188.5 million units, up 1% sequentially, says IHS iSuppli. This marked the first sequential monthly increase since March.

Despite a small rise in shipments driven by demand for smartphones and tablets, the worldwide market for SMD panels is continuing to struggle with overall weak sales in the third quarter, the firm says.

“SMD panel shipments increased slightly in June because of continued strong demand among panel buyers for their smartphone and tablet lines, two products that remain popular among consumers,” said Vinita Jakhanwal, director for small and medium displays at IHS. “Panel buyers also are stocking up to keep inventories at reasonably adequate levels to meet demand for the third quarter and during the run-up to the holiday season. However, outside of the smartphone and tablet segments, the SMD panel market is being dogged by overall soft demand. Economic troubles in the US and European markets have dampened consumer appetite for many electronic items in which these panels are utilized, while a government crackdown on illegal handsets in China is stifling SMD demand there.”

Amid strong demand, pricing for SMD panels for tablets is remaining high. Tablet prices in the third quarter for 7" and 9.7" panels will average $53 and $65 respectively.

In contrast, prices are declining for SMDs used in digital still cameras and personal navigation devices, as demand decreases.

Among SMD panel manufacturers, fab utilization rates for the Taiwanese will average 61% in the third quarter, up from 55% at the end of June. Utilization rates are much higher among the Koreans, remaining at full capacity for LG Display and at 85% for Samsung Mobile Display.

SAN JOSE – California-based Presto Engineering said it would establish an Israeli branch to provide engineering services for high-tech printed circuit board firms. 

The Israeli branch will specialize in high-speed radio frequency PCBs, say published reports.

Moshe Zalcberg, former CEO of Cadence Israel, is heading up this effort, which involves opening a sales center and service lab that will focus mostly on Israeli startup firms in the late stages of product development.

Locations Herzliya and Zalcberg are currently hiring 15 employees.

Presto also has two facilities in France.

SAN JOSE – Electronics manufacturing services provider SMTC Corp. today said it has agreed to acquire the outstanding shares of EMS firm ZF Array Technology, with operations here and in China.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board shipments in July fell 12.1% year-over-year, says IPC. Orders decreased 16% compared to July 2010.

BEIJING – Environmental groups have published a report criticizing Apple’s supply chain in China for alleged environmental pollution.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — DRAM inventories have spiked, and a predicted 16% rise in shipments during the current period will further aggravate pricing pressure for the foreseeable future, a leading research firm said.

JASPER, IN – Kimball International said it would transfer all work at its Fremont, CA, electronics assembly facility by the end of September to its plant here, according to published reports.

SANTA CLARA, CA – Shipments of 3D-capable large-area TFT LCD panels increased to 5.2 million units in the second quarter, up 124% sequentially.

Shipments of 3D panels were primarily for LCD TVs, reaching 4.9 million units during the period, up 118% sequentially, and pushing the 3D penetration in LCD TV panels from 4.5% in the first quarter to 9.3% in the second, says DisplaySearch.

Panel makers are targeting 53% growth in 3D LCD TV panel shipments for the third quarter.

“The LCD TV panel industry has been in oversupply for more than a year, and panel makers are motivated to develop new features like LED and 3D to increase value. Although there are still doubts about whether the market is ready for 3D, 3D penetration is increasing due to falling prices and the ability to produce panels,” said David Hsieh, vice president, Greater China Market, DisplaySearch.

In addition to TV, 3D monitor panel shipments are growing rapidly, from less than 80,000 units in the first quarter to more than 250,000 in the second quarter, thanks to adoption in gaming and other special application monitors, says the research firm. Panel makers expect to double shipments in the third quarter.

Volumes of 3D panels for notebook PCs are still relatively small, with less than 100,000 units shipped in the second quarter. However, panel makers are promoting shutter glass, pattern retarder, and autostereoscopic solutions to the gamer and entertainment-focused notebook users. Shipments are expected to grow 126% in the third quarter.

For LCD TVs, larger panel sizes are seeing faster penetration of 3D, as the benefits are clearer. In 40" and larger LCD TV panel shipments, 3D penetration increased from 12.7% in the first quarter to 21.7% in the second. TV panel makers are aiming to reach 28.2% in the third quarter.

SAN DIEGO – IPC requests abstracts for poster presentations at IPC Apex Expo, Feb. 28 – Mar. 1, at the San Diego Convention Center.

SANTA CLARA, CA – Global TV shipments were soft in the first quarter of 2011, as the worldwide TV supply chain digested excess inventory. Growth, however, was still up 1% year-over-year, says DisplaySearch.

In the second quarter, TV shipment growth turned negative, declining 1% year-over-year, and falling more than 6% year-over-year in developed regions, which more than offset 3% growth in emerging markets.

Softer price declines and inventory pressure at retail due to lackluster consumer demand continue to put pressure on TV brands, the firm says.

LCD TV shipments worldwide grew at least 20% each quarter in 2010, but so far have only risen 9% year-over-year in the first quarter and 6% year-over-year in the second. The slowing growth has impacted both developed and emerging markets, with LCD TV units falling 5% and rising 19%, respectively, both well below the rate of growth a year earlier.

The main inhibitor to faster LCD TV price erosion, something that has a strong positive impact on consumer demand in the highly elastic TV market, has been the transition from CCFL to LED and slower component pricing declines. LED share increased from 18% of LCD TV shipments in the second quarter of 2010 to more than 43% in the same period in 2011, but still carries a 74% average premium across all sizes, though this is down from a 120%+ premium a year ago. Critical LED backlight cost breakthroughs have been slow to materialize, says DisplaySearch.

Plasma TV shipments showed surging growth in 2010, increasing a remarkable 30% year-over-year after negative growth in 2009. The boost in growth had much to do with market pricing advantages against LCD for similar sizes and consumers who continued to focus on price. LCD TV prices started to narrow the gap this year, and the premium for a 42" class CCFL LCD narrowed from 13% in the second quarter last year to less than 1% in the same period this year over plasma, which is having an impact. Plasma TV shipments fell 6% in this year’s second quarter after double-digit growth throughout 2010.

By region, China was still No. 1 by a small margin over North America, each representing about 17% of global TV shipments. China had stronger growth, rising 10% year-over-year compared to a 6% decline in North America. The Asia Pacific region grew to No. 3 for the first time, surpassing Western Europe, where retail inventory remains a problem. Despite concerns about weak demand following the Great Japan Earthquake, shipments of TVs in Japan surged 40% as consumers replaced older TVs with newer digital tuner equipped models, ahead of the July 24 analog broadcast cutoff.

As TV brands and retailers continue to push for the transition to LED backlights in LCD TVs, as a result of both premium prices and better energy consumption, the growth in shipment share continues to rise, reaching 43% in the second quarter. 98% of LED-backlit LCD TV shipments were edge-lit models because of slimmer form factor, lower power consumption and lower cost. Japan and Western Europe have already surpassed 50% of LCD TV shipments as LED and China is nearly at 50%. Most other regions, including North America, have around 20-35% of LCD TV shipments as LED.

3D rose from 4% of shipments in first quarter to almost 9% in the second. The growth in share signifies that manufacturers have greatly expanded the number of 3D-capable models and reduced the premium associated with the technology, giving consumers more choice, says DisplaySearch. There have also been a wider range of new sizes, down to 32", and in the case of LCD, lower frame rate models with 3D available. DisplaySearch estimates that about a quarter of 3D TV shipments use passive 3D technology, and the remainder use active shutter glass technology.

Samsung’s global flat panel TV revenue share was up slightly in the second quarter to 22.6%, a substantial lead over No. 2 LGE. Samsung was the No. 1 brand on a revenue basis in almost every region, with the exception of Japan and China, where domestic brands dominate, even surpassing LGE in Asia Pacific markets. Samsung was also No. 1 in LCD revenues and No. 2 in both plasma and CRT TV revenues. Samsung also regained the No. 1 LCD TV unit share position in the second quarter from Vizio for the first time in over a year.

LGE was the No. 2 brand worldwide at 14.4%, nearly unchanged from the previous quarter. In terms of revenues, LGE was No. 3 in LCD TV and plasma TV, but led in CRT TV with more than double the revenue share of any other brand. Sony remained No. 3 in global flat panel TV revenues during the second quarter, with a small increase in share. Sharp and Panasonic rounded out the top 5, trading share positions again compared to last quarter, mainly through the addition of Sanyo to Panasonic’s global TV business.

Samsung was the No. 1 global 3D TV brand overall, accounting for all technologies, with 35% of revenues. Within the 3D LCD TV category, Samsung overtook Sony for the top revenue share at 35%, while Panasonic reclaimed the 3D plasma TV revenue share lead at 48%.