COLUMBIA, MD – GDP numbers are the best in more than 18 months, suggesting the recession is in clear retreat, says the National Association of Credit Management.

After a mild recovery in the third quarter, numbers jumped 5.8% in the fourth. The bulk of this growth is attributed to manufacturers starting to replenish inventories, mostly since the beginning of December, says the NACM.

This shift is reflected in the Credit Managers’ Index numbers as well. “The jump in manufacturing was stark and unexpected and, since the decline registered in the last iteration of the index, there has been a major leap in some critical areas,” said Chris Kuehl, Ph.D., economist for the NACM. “The combined CMI saw a jump from 52.9 to 55.1, which is impressive enough, but the real movement came from the manufacturing side,” he said.

The manufacturing sector jumped from 52.1 to 55.1, reversing the trend from the December index when the sector stagnated and slipped in terms of positive factors.

Atmosphere was improved in both manufacturing and service sectors, resulting with the most activity in the combined index’s favorable factors, specifically sales and new credit applications, according to the association.

Sales in the combined index jumped from 56.7 to 60.7, marking the first time this figure has been above 60 in 18 months. There was also progress in new credit applications – a jump from 54.2 to 57 – signaling movement in the credit sector.

One of the biggest leaps came from dollar collections, now at 61.3, after sporting readings in the 40s nine months ago.

The same pattern can be seen in amount of credit extended, now at 58.8, after sitting in the 40s just five months ago.

Thus far, these are the highest numbers seen since February 2009. Since then, growth has been even, but not dramatic, says the NACM. That trend of slow growth is likely to return, but the suggestion from this month’s data is substantial gains for the bulk of the first quarter.

Service sector gains were not as dramatic as the manufacturing sector, but there was growth. In both sectors there has been some improvement in terms of the number of accounts placed for collection and the number of disputes, and there has been a fairly steady decline in the number of bankruptcies as well.

The contrast between January 2009 and January 2010 is stark. It was a year ago the recession reached its deepest point, and the index showed numbers buried in the 40s. Now the index has climbed into solid expansion territory and is well into the mid 50s.

SMYRNA, GA – A number of technical webinars will debut during Virtual PCB, the industry’s virtual trade show and conference for the PCB design, fabrication and assembly markets.

The live event will take place Mar. 2-4.

Scheduled on-demand webinars include Go Greener in Your Cleaner!; How Interconnects Can Screw Up High Speed Serial Link Signals and What Transceivers Can Do About It; Next Generation Design Data Management; Solving Mechanical Challenges with a 3D PCB Environment - Make Sure it Fits the First Time!; Status of the Proliferation of Lead-Free Alloys: 2010; Using FPGAs to Embed Test Instruments into Your PCB Design, and more.

Also available will be downloadable information about these topics: Pb-free alloys; package-on-package; advanced cleaning practices; signal integrity, and counterfeit component identification and mitigation.

Exhibiting firms include Altium, Assembléon, Bare Board Group, Cadence, CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY, Downstream Technologies, EMA Design Automation, EPEC Engineered Technologies, FHP Reps, Imagineering, Kyzen, National Instruments, PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB, Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA), Sunstone Circuits, UP Media Group, Zuken and more!

Register for free at https://vts.inxpo.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10100&ShowKey=1783.

Visit http://www.virtual-pcb.com for more information.

Virtual PCB is brought to you by UP Media Group, parent firm of Printed Circuit Design & Fab and Circuits Assembly.

The SMTA is an exclusive sponsor of this event.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American-made shipments of printed circuit boards fell 3.2% year-over-year in December, while orders rose 22.1% compared to the same month in 2008.

For the year, shipments were down 21.7%, and orders fell 17.2%. Compared to November, combined shipments increased 12.6%, and orders rose 21.5%, said IPC, which tracks the data.

The book-to-bill ratio dipped but remained positive at 1.04. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next two to six months.

Rigid PWB shipments fell 3.4%. However, orders were up 27.3% compared to December 2008. For the year, rigid shipments were down 23.2%, and orders dropped 18.1%. Sequentially, rigid PWB shipments increased 13.2%, while orders increased 23.3%. The book-to-bill ratio was 1.05.

Flex circuit shipments for the month fell a slight 0.4%, while orders dropped a dramatic 27.4% year-over-year, according to the association. For 2009, flex shipments were down 1.1%, and orders were down 4.9%. Sequentially, flex shipments rose 4.9%, while orders fell 2.9%. The flex book-to-bill in December slipped to 0.95.

Rigid PWBs represent an estimated 91% of the current industry in North America. In December, 86% of total shipments reported were domestically produced. Domestic production accounted for 86% of rigid and 84% of flex circuit shipments.

REDMOND, WA – Data I/O’s outlook is brightening, the company’s president says in a just-published presentation.

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SAN JOSE -- The Semiconductor Industry Association today reported that worldwide semiconductor sales in 2009 were $226.3 billion, a decline of 9% from 2008.

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MILWAUKIE, OR – ECD has received a patent on its OK Button.

The feature is standard on MEGAM.O.L.E. 20 and V-M.O.L.E. thermal profilers, and is also an option for OvenCHECKER.

The OK Button provides an automatic ‘Go/No Go’ decision based on preloaded specifications for the desired thermal profile.

ECD manufactures thermal profiling equipment and software.

DURHAM, NC – ACW Technology Inc. plans to open a printed circuit board assembly plant in Durham, NC.

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NEW YORK – Dover Corp. today reported fourth-quarter 2009 revenue of $1.5 billion, down 12.7% compared to 2008.

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NEWARK, NY – EMS provider IEC Electronics Corp. reported revenue of $18.1 million for the first quarter 2010, up 12.2% year-over-year.
Net income was $753,000, up 29.3% over the first quarter last year.

The company’s Dec. 16 acquisition of General Technology Corp. from Crane Co. had almost no impact on the results, the firm said.

Operating income was 7.2% of sales versus 6% for the same period last year.

In a statement, chairman and CEO W. Barry Gilbert guided for sales to increase from $16.3 million in fiscal second quarter 2009 to approximately $25 million in fiscal second quarter 2010. “While much of the increase will be related to the GTC acquisition, over 20% of the balance is organic growth,” he said.

DANDERYD, SWEDEN -- NOTE AB named Göran Jansson acting CEO and president, replacing Knut Pogost, who assumed the role atop the electronics manufacturing services company just last June.

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ST. LOUIS-- LaBarge today fiscal 2010 second-quarter net sales rose 1% from last year to $69 million. Revenues were up 9.3% sequentially, the electronics manufacturing services provider said.

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ESPOO, FINLAND – Elcoteq SE will provide Nokia Corp.’s customers with aftermarket services for their Nokia devices.

Elcoteq is expected to start these operations gradually during the second quarter of 2010.

The firms plan to work as a team on other projects in the near future.

No financial terms of their agreement were disclosed.

Elcoteq has a global network of aftermarket service sites that serve consumer electronics and systems solutions customers.