STAMFORD, CT – 2010 global semiconductor sales were up 31% to $299.4 billion, the largest dollar increase ever as a result of post-recession demand, says Gartner.

Memory vendors reported the strongest growth, with strong demand for mobile devices.

Intel kept its No. 1 spot for the 19th consecutive year, with its revenue from semiconductors up 26%; its market share, however, fell slightly compared to commodity memory vendors.

No. 2 Samsung saw its semiconductor sales surge 58% because of DRAM and NAND flash booms.

No. 3 Toshiba's semiconductor revenue was up 29% on strong sales of NAND flash memory used in mobile devices.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — Steve Pudles led a long list of executives and engineers feted by IPC during its annual trade show last week.

ORMOND BEACH, FL -- Werner Engelmaier, perhaps the industry's preeminent expert on solder joint reliability, died Friday. He was 72.

ATTLEBORO FALLS, MA -- Contract electronics manufacturer Distron has started building a 13,000-sq. ft. addition to its headquarters here.

KREUZWERTHEIM, GERMANY -- A German regional court has found for Seho Systems in its patent dispute against Ersa. Ersa is appealing the judgment.

LAS VEGAS – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY today announced winners of its 2011 Service Excellence Awards (SEAs) for electronics manufacturing services providers and electronics assembly equipment, materials and software suppliers.

STRATHAM, NH -- Vitronics Soltec USA will close its facility here and move production of its reflow and selective soldering lines to other Vitronics and Speedline sites.

LAS VEGAS – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY today announced winners of the 2011 New Product Introduction Award for electronics assembly equipment, materials and software.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Technology Group announced plans to invest up to $12 billion in new manufacturing capacity and related services in Brazil.

LYON, FRANCE -- Flip chips made up 13% of all IC packages sold in 2010, and some 29% of the global IC  assembly, packaging and test market, a new research report says.

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.