GLEN ALLEN, VA – The total market for silver inks and pastes in 2011 will be approximately $4.5 billion, an increase from 2010, according to a new report by NanoMarkets.

The market size for these kinds of materials will stay in this range for the next eight to 10 years, the firm says.

NanoMarkets believes silver prices will remain high and may increase, and expects many users to reduce silver consumption. The firm sees an opportunity for hybrid silver inks, as a result.

“While these more specialist inks currently account for no more than a few percent of traditional (i.e., non-nanosilver) inks/pastes at the present time, they could easily expand to (say) 15% of all traditional pastes and inks by 2016 or so.” This would be an increase from well under $100 million to more than $600 million by 2016, NanoMarkets says.

The market for nanosilver inks is expected to be not much more than $300 million by 2016, making it just 7% of the silver inks and pastes market as a whole, the firm adds.

Thick-film applications will generate $1.8 billion in 2011 and $2.1 billion by 2016, with growth in consumer electronic markets in particular.

To request a full report, visit http://nanomarkets.net/news/article/nanomarkets_announces_availability_of_new_report_on_silver_inks_and_pastes/.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works' Power Systems and Electronics business unit's revenues grew 20% year-over-year in the April quarter.

AUSTIN – Package-on-package volumes will continue to grow, with a CAGR of 31% from 2009 to 2015, a leading research firm says. 

Applications driving this double-digit growth include mobile phones (especially smartphones), tablets, games, iPods, and digital cameras, TechSearch International says.

“When Amkor ramped PoP in 2005, the mobile processor clock was 330 MHz with a 0.65mm pitch interface to the top SDRAM/NOR combo memory," said Lee Smith, VP of marketing and business development at Amkor Technology. "Now processor speeds exceed 1 GHz with a 0.4mm pitch interface to the top low power DDR, with near term roadmaps exceeding 2.5 GHz and high-density PoP interfaces supporting two channel LP DDR2. With more than four billion mobile processors forecasted for smart device applications in the next four years, PoP growth and advancements will continue at a high rate.” 

PoP provides a cost/performance solution that solves business and logistics issues associated with stacking devices directly – something that cannot yet be met by 3D TSV technology, according to TechSearch. Memory and the logic packages can be tested separately before assembly. Standardization of the top memory package footprint allows memory packages from various suppliers to be interchanged. Memory devices are wire-bonded in the top package, but the logic device in the bottom package is migrating to flip chip, including copper pillar.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS -- The management of Marantz Business Electronics, the AOI division of D&M Europe, has purchased the unit from its parent company.

TAIPEI -- After continued losses in 2010, Foxconn’s contract cellphone arm expects “dramatic improvement” in 2011.

RICHARDSON, TX ― Automated Circuit Design said first-quarter sales rose 33% year-over-year, reaching their highest mark for the period in the electronics manufacturing services company's history.

IRVINE, CA -- Probe Manufacturing today reported first-quarter net profits rose 53% year-over-year to $24,729.

LOUISVILLE, KY -- Sypris Solutions swung to a first-quarter net profit of $2.1 million, reversing a loss of $2.4 million in the year-ago period.

SMYRNA, GA – As printed circuit boards face unprecedented demands for size, functionality and cost, the upcoming PCB West 2011 technical conference and trade show offers the experts and information to face the challenge.

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).

PCB West 2011 includes a three-day Technical Conference consisting of more than 50 presentations, including more than 10 workshops, panel sessions and half-day seminars. This year’s technical conference features speakers from Texas Instruments, Freescale Semiconductor, Multek and 3-M, and features the ever-popular Rick Hartley, Susy Webb and Gary Ferrari. Topics range from basic design techniques to flex circuit design, advanced RF, signal integrity and high pin count BGA routing.

PCB West 2011 also features a one-day exhibition showcasing the PCB industry’s leading vendors, plus an array of free technical sessions. This year’s conference also includes a special one-day assembly track coordinated by the SMTA Silicon Valley Chapter. Details regarding the conference and exhibition are available at www.pcbwest.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. Registration is now open for PCB West: www.pcbwest.com.

Attendees who register for the conference by August 26, 2011 will receive a $100 discount on select conference packages. Admission is free for the one-day exhibition and other "FREE Wednesday" events (registration is free, but 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 404-665-7749; askarbek@upmediagroup.com.

TREDEGAR, WALES -- LED lighting OEM PhotonStar LED Group has acquired EMS firm Camtronics Vale in a deal that could be worth up to £375,000.

WAYZATA, MN – For the quarter ended Mar. 31, Nortech Systems reported net sales of $29 million, up 33% year-over-year.

Net income for the first quarter totaled $600,000, compared to net income of $100,000 in the same quarter of 2010.

The company’s acquisitions, including Winland’s EMS operations, accounted for $5.5 million of the increase.

The firm’s 90-day backlog increased to $20 million, compared to $19 million for the same period last year, and $18.5 million at the start of the quarter.

Nortech is a contract electronics manufacturer of wire and cable assemblies, printed circuit board assemblies, higher-level assemblies and box builds.

LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES -- Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. reported net income of $377,000, down from $3.2 million a year ago, on higher material and shipping costs and currency fluctuations. The EMS firm plans to expand to Mexico and Europe soon, the company's top executive said.