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WASHINGTON – The US House of Representatives has introduced a bill calling for the phase-out of decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca), a common brominated flame-retardant used in most circuit boards.

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) on Friday introduced The Decabromine Elimination and Control Act of 200 (H.R. 4394), which calls for a ban on Deca in all products, including those designed for children, by the end of 2013.

Deca has been found to remain in the environment and accumulates in food and in people. Critics of the measure say the material is needed because a viable substitute for flame retardance in electrical products like printed circuit boards does not exist.

In a statement, Rep. Pingree said, “The chemical industry hasn’t always lived up to voluntary agreements. This bill will make sure they do.”

BRUSSELS – IPTE will sell its money-losing PCB test division to two company shareholders for 2 million euros ($2.9 million) plus certain additional royalties, the firm announced today.

In a statement, IPTE said it would sell its automation business to Huub Baren and Vladimir Dobosch, whom together own about 34% of IPTE. Baren also is the company's founder.

The terms call for IPTE to receive an additional amount based on the division's profits through December 2012. The sale is subject to shareholder approval and is planned to close in the first quarter 2010.

IPTE plans to take a one-time fourth quarter charge of 17 million to 18 million euros. It is one of Europe's largest EMS companies, with 2008 sales of 166 million euros ($240.7 million), according to the CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50.

WESTLAKE, OH – Nordson Corp. has named Michael F. Hilton as president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 16.

KISSIMEE, FL – Diagnosys Systems is expanding its Kissimmee, FL, PCB test and repair facility in response to greater demand.

SAN JOSE – North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted a 90-day-moving average of $790.5 million in orders in November and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.06, according to a report published today by SEMI.

TORONTO -- Celestica's acquisition pipeline is full, but it's unlikely the company will consider any smaller EMS companies, the firm said yesterday.

WASHINGTON – Investment in technologies and the opening of markets abroad are at the core of a new policy for manufacturing issued by the Obama administration this week.

Among the components of the proposed policy are to provide workers the opportunity to gain needed skills; investment in technologies and business practices; the creation of efficient capital markets for investment; transition aid; transportation infrastructure investment; an improved business environment; and market access and fairness in foreign markets.

Toward the latter, the policy includes many trade-related provisions, including opening foreign markets, enforcing trade agreements, reviewing export control regulations, and promoting exports.

The document asserts that through “sound government policy,” US manufacturing could see momentous growth.

The Small Business Administration also is taking on programs to support manufacturing exporters: training modules; awareness campaign; business outreach; encouraging trade financing; protecting IP; revising tax breaks; reducing trade deficit, and expanding adjustment assistance.

ST. LOUIS – Sikorsky Aircraft awarded LaBarge a multi-year contract valued at approximately $18.9 million to produce electronic assemblies for various models of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters through 2014.

LaBarge has manufactured cables and electronic assemblies for the Black Hawk program since 2005. The new contract expands the firm’s manufacturing role to include additional types of electronic assemblies that support lighting and power systems in the helicopters.

Production on the contract’s initial release, which is valued at $3.5 million, began this month and is expected to continue through December 2010.

LaBarge is performing the work at its Huntsville, AK, facility.

Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

WESTLAKE, OH -- Nordson reported fourth-quarter sales rose 15% sequentially, with all regions and segments reporting strong growth.

MILTON, NY -- Sono-Tek Corp. reported third-quarter sales of about $2 million, up 18% sequentially and 37% year-over-year for the period ended Nov. 30.

NEWARK, NY -- IEC Electronics today acquired EMS firm General Technology Corp. for $14.2 million in cash.

HONG KONG — Semiconductor revenue fell for the sixth time in the past 25 years, with worldwide revenue dropping 11.4% to $226 billion in 2009. It was the first time the semiconductor industry posted consecutive annual declines.