SAN JOSE – Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment orders grew 18% year-over-year during the first quarter to $11.08 billion.

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Legacy Electronics said it has completed Phase 1 of its move from San Clemente, CA, to its 40,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility here.

The firm has completed installation, calibration and qualification of the location’s first electronics component production line.

Several new employees have been hired, with more hiring expected. Some existing employees have relocated with the firm.

SANTA CLARA, CA – China is expected to surpass Japan in large-area TFT LCD panel production in the second quarter of this year, with Chinese suppliers indicating expanded production plans, says DisplaySearch.

Large-area TFT LCD panel production by Chinese makers, including mini-note, tablet PC, notebook, monitor, and TV applications, was 2.7 million units monthly in the first quarter, compared to 3.2 million units monthly from Japanese makers.

However, China will increase to 3.4 million units in the second quarter, while Japan is expected to fall to 2.3 million units. China is also expected to be higher than Japan in unit production from the third quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012.

On an area basis, Japan will remain larger than China for some time, as there are higher generation fabs, including Gen 6, Gen 8 and Gen 10, in Japan. However, Chinese companies like BOE, ChinaStar and CEC-Panda will be ramping up Gen 6 and Gen 8 fabs within the year, and there will be more expansions in 2012, says the research firm.

Chinese TFT LCD makers still lag behind counterparts in Korea, Taiwan and Japan in new technology implementation.

Sharp, LG Display and other panel makers will start producing tablet PC panels in Gen 8 using advanced array and thin glass technologies. In 2011, 10% of Gen 8 capacity is being allocated to produce tablet PC panels.

The majority of the fabs producing mini-note and tablet PC panels will be Gen 5 and below, which accounted for 90% of these panels in the second quarter of this year, while Gen 6 and Gen 8 accounted for 10% during that period. According to panel makers’ production plans, in the first quarter of 2012, 25% of mini-note and tablet PC panels will be made in Gen 6 to Gen 8 lines.

CEC-Panda, which has acquired capacity and technology from Sharp, will not only make LCD TV panels in its Gen 6 line, but will also allocate 27% of its capacity for LCD monitor panels.

While Korean and Japanese panel makers like Samsung, LG Display and Sharp are allocating some of their Gen 8 capacity to non-TV applications, Taiwanese Gen 8 owners AUO and Chimei Innolux are allocating 100% of their lines to LCD TV applications.

HannStar will allocate more than 50% of its capacity to small/medium panel production, says DisplaySearch.

ARMONK, NY – IBM researchers have designed a high-speed circuit made of graphene, a broadband frequency mixer built on a silicon wafer, the first known complete circuit derived from the material.

CORDOVA, IL – 3M has expanded its electronics cleaning materials manufacturing facility here.

The plant manufactures specialty chemicals and adhesives, including Novec brand products.

3M attributes the expansion to increased demand for sustainable chemicals.

BRUSSELS – The Council of the European Union revised the directive on hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, extending protection from dangerous chemicals to more electrical appliances, and improving the safety of products such as mobile phones, refrigerators and electronic toys.

First adopted in 2003, the law bans six hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, including lead, mercury and cadmium.

The review extends the scope of the ban to more products, now in principle applying to all electrical and electronic equipment, as well as to cables and spare parts.

Monitoring and control devices and medical devices will be covered in three years, in vitro medical devices in five years, and industrial control appliances in six years.

The new law obliges the commission to regularly review and adapt the list of restricted substances according to a number of criteria; further substances in electrical and electronic equipment may be banned in the future.

Photovoltaic panels to produce energy from solar light do not have to comply with the restriction. Energy-saving light bulbs are also temporarily exempted from the directive.

The revised act will enter into force shortly after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU and must be transposed into national law within 18 months.

WOODRIDGE, IL – The Morey Corp. promoted Vincent Petrella to president. Petrella has served as CFO of the company for 10 years.

As president, Petrella will lead all day-to-day operations of manufacturing, engineering and corporate support functions.

The board of directors split the CEO and president roles, both of which were held by Scott Morey for the past 22 years. Employees have grown from 150 to 720 on 1500% revenue growth during that time. Morey will retain the CEO role.

Paul Callaghan will replace Petrella as CFO, coming to the firm from Motorola.

DONGGUAN, CHINA – Nordson Corp. today said it has opened a new demo center here for its Advanced Technology Systems operating segment.

The center will initially focus on products and solutions from Nordson Asymtek, Nordson Dage and Nordson YESTech.

The facility will provide greater access to equipment demonstrations, application engineering support, training, sales and service for customers in South China.

TOKYO -- Following the devastating earthquake, tsunami and electrical power crisis that severely impaired both the Japan and world semiconductor industry, many supply chain players now report that production has reached pre-earthquake levels with minimal risk to future shipments.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn will split itself into multiple companies as the contract manufacturing behemoth tries to boost its profitability and possibly shed underperforming business units.

ANAHEIM, CA -- Multi-Fineline Electronix has opened two printed circuit board fabrication and assembly facilities in China, bringing the company's total to five.

SAN JOSE — Capital expenditures and installed semiconductor manufacturing capacity is on the rise, and 2011 will be a record year for equipment expenditures, according to the SEMI World Fab Database.