EVERYWHERE -- Virtual PCB opens its second day today with moderated chats on tin whiskers, LEDs, cleaning, improving assembly processes and more.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Most segments of the electronics interconnect supply chain worldwide posted double-digit year-on-year growth in the fourth quarter of 2010, with sales recovering to peak levels, a top trade group said today.

WASHINGTON, DC — Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose 14% year-over-year to $25.5 billion in January, the Semiconductor Industry Association said.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL – Electronics manufacturing services provider SigmaTron International reported revenues of $36.9 million for the third quarter fiscal 2011, up 21% year-over-year.

EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS – Assembléon said it is developing pick-and-place machines that will cut energy consumption and other operating costs by at least 30%.

The SuMa (Sustainable Machines) project aims to make electronics production equipment more sustainable, and strives to reduce the weight of moving machine parts without affecting machine robustness.

Assembléon is partnering with the Technical University of Eindhoven and research organization TNO, and the project is said to follow the Supreme research project began in 2009 to develop sustainable high-tech systems.

HONG KONG – Electronics manufacturing services provider EC Electronics opened EC Supply Chain Solutions here.

The Hong Kong-based company will facilitate and develop EC’s existing supply chain for electronic components, products and assembly services available from Asian and Chinese-based suppliers.

Chris Brown will head the facility as Asia supply chain manager.

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- Global inventories held by semiconductor suppliers surged to a 30-month high during the fourth quarter, a development that could spell trouble if chip industry growth loses steam this year, IHS iSuppli warned today.

NOGALES, AZ – A new quarterly online newsletter provides news and information about manufacturing in Mexico.

The premiere issue highlights the latest high-tech manufacturing facility to open its doors in Mexico, and how maquiladoras are evolving. It is published by Collectron International, a shelter plan and maquiladora service provider.

The newsletter is available at www.collectron.com/newsletter.

TOYKO -- Shipments of surface mount production equipment rose 76% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, the Japan Robot Association said.

ST. PETERSBURG – Jabil Circuit said it would lay off about 90 staff at its manufacturing plant here.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Northrop Grumman said it would cut about 500 staff at its Maryland plants in the coming months, as a result of a drop in defense spending.

The firm said it would offer voluntary buyouts at its Linthicum and Bay Bridge facilities, as well as locations in other states.

Northrop Grumman bid to build the new Air Force refueling tanker, but Boeing recently won the KC-X contract, valued at $3.5 billion.

If retirements fall below planned job cuts, layoffs will be finished by May.

The firm said it would help employees find work at other facilities or outside the company.

Northrop’s electronics systems division earned $1 billion in 2010 on $7.6 billion in sales.

Register now for Virtual PCB, the industry's only live, fully interactive, Web-based conference and trade show for PCB engineers, designers, fabricators, assemblers and managers worldwide, March 8-9. www.virtual-pcb.com

SANTA CLARA, CA -- Top 15 EMS firm Zollner reportedly recently came close to acquiring a factory here, multiple sources have told CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY.