ST. LOUIS – Viasystems Group said it expects only minor impacts on the direct flow of supplies as a result of the Japan disasters; however, the possible impacts on its customers’ future order patterns are more difficult to assess.

TAIPEI -- Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) reported first quarter sales rose 34% year-over-year as the world's largest electronics manufacturing services provider brushed off sourcing problems stemming from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

WASHINGTON – The US Environmental Protection Agency requires electronic submissions for new chemical notices under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Beginning Apr. 6, companies can no longer submit new chemical notices and support documents on paper for EPA’s review. This is aligned with Europe, China, and the EPA's mission to modernize chemical reporting and eliminate outdated modes of chemical data management. 

All new TSCA section 5 pre-manufacture notices must be submitted electronically through CDX – or on optical CD – and must use e-PMN software. 

The same rule applies to support documents for notices submitted after Apr. 6, 2010. Optical discs can no longer be used after Apr. 6, 2012.

With PMNs, new chemical notices must be submitted to EPA at least 90 days prior to the manufacture or import of the chemical.

For more information on EPA’s electronic reporting software and CDX, visit http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/newchems//epmn/epmn-index.htm.

ELGIN, IL — Starfire Electronics, an electronics assembly company, seeks to consolidate its operations to a revamped site in this west Chicago suburb.

BURLINGTON, VERMONT -- Manufacturing Market Insider has released its annual list of the largest EMS companies, and at the top is, of course, Hon Hai (Foxconn).

HONG KONG — The worldwide semiconductor equipment market grew 143% in 2010 to nearly $41 billion on broad-based market strength.

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- Supply disruptions brought on by natural disasters in Japan will spur higher semiconductor pricing, particularly for memory, in 2011, a leading analyst said today.

FREMONT, CA ― EMS firm Ryder Industries will open a massive manufacturing campus in western China to take advantage of the push inland.

VICTOR, NY – Redcom Laboratories has launched a electronics manufacturing services unit here.

Redcom EMS is an extension of the firm’s in-house electronics manufacturing capability. The new business focuses on small and new OEMs whose products incorporate complex, mid-to-high density printed circuit board assemblies.

The EMS firm offers expertise in burn-in, thermal cycling, and other accelerated aging processes.

SAN JOSE – An upcoming series of workshops will highlight manufacturer product compliance strategies for RoHS2.

The presentations are designed to help manufacturers navigate through new requirements, with a focus on product conformity risk assessment, materials risk and supplier risk. Manufacturers need a systematic approach for gathering and analyzing declarations and test reports from suppliers, says Environ, which is sponsoring the roadshow.

Under RoHS2, manufacturers are required to produce technical documentation that enables assessment of RoHS conformity for the product, and includes a conformity risk assessment. “Technical documentation shall, wherever applicable, include test reports.” In particular, if the RoHS2 technical documentation for a product does not include test reports for certain parts, then the manufacturer is required to explain why test reports are not applicable. 

Manufacturers, importers and distributors are required to take immediate action for noncompliant equipment, including product withdrawal or recall if appropriate, and inform Member States where noncompliant equipment was sold. 

To register for the TechAmerica 2011 International Environmental Compliance Roadshow, which starts April 12, visit www.techamerica.org/environment2011. 

SAN JOSE — The 90-day moving average worldwide sales of semiconductors slipped 1.1% sequentially to $25.2 billion in February, on seasonality swings. Sales rose 13.6% from a year ago.

EMPALME, SONORA, MEXICO -- Arc-Tronics, a US-based contract manufacturer, will open a facility here and expects to hire up to 125 workers for the site.