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LONDON – Findings from a recent report show recovery for the automotive semiconductor market in 2010, and steady growth for much of the decade, with sales forecast to rise to more than $35 billion in 2017, says Semicast.

The automotive semiconductor market is expected to have fallen 17% in 2009 to $15.8 billion, the largest-ever one-year revenue decline, says the firm.

The decline the past two years can be directly attributed to a fall in light vehicle production, according to Semicast. Global production also peaked in 2007, at around 67 million units, but fell to 54 million in 2009.

Global production is forecast to recover to 61 million in 2010, with strong growth in China, India and Brazil, stabilization in Europe and Japan, and recovery in North America.

Global light vehicle production is forecast to rise steadily over the medium term, to around 85 million in 2017; over this period, China is forecast to emerge as a key player, with production in China projected to exceed Japan in 2012 and North America in 2016.

As global light vehicle production recovers, so too will automotive semiconductor sales, says the research firm. Semicast forecasts growth in the automotive semiconductor market of 16% this year, with sales rising to $18.4 billion.

A key factor is the use of electronics in almost all the main systems in the vehicle.

LONDON -- The SMART Group, a UK-based SMT professional society, has released its first standard, “Control of Solder Paste used in Electronic Assembly Process.”

NINGBO, CHINA -- Electronics manufacturing services provider Kitron has entered into a five-year lease agreement for a new factory here, the company said.

PHOENIX -- The EMS supply chain risk is trending down from its second-quarter 2009 peak, according to recent data released today by Charlie Barnhart & Associates.

STRATHAM, NH -- Soldering equipment OEM Vitronics-Soltec has eliminated its Advanced Technology Group, CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY has learned.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Two producers of Chicago-area electronics trade shows agreed to jointly produce an electronics manufacturing conference and exhibition this fall.

IPC and Canon Communications said Electronics Midwest will take place Sept. 28–30 in Rosemont, IL.

The event combines IPC Midwest Conference & Exhibition, previously held in Schaumburg, and Canon’s Electronics Midwest show, and is co-located with four other Canon manufacturing shows: MD&M Midwest, Design & Manufacturing Midwest, Assembly Technology Expo, and PLASTEC Midwest.

Founded three years ago, IPC Midwest has met with modest results. Meanwhile, Canon’s Electronics show, acquired in 2006 from Reed Exhibitions, has seen interest drop significantly since the appearance of IPC Midwest and following a well publicized split with SMTA, which previously coordinated the concurrent tech conference. SMTA now sponsors its own show, SMTA International, which also takes place each fall, but alternates between Florida and California.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai) reported December revenues fell 9.7% sequentially to NT$133.1 billion (US$4.2 billion).

Sales were up 8.98% year-over-year.

ST. LOUIS -- Viasystems' fourth-quarter sales rose 8% sequentially to $131 million and bookings suggest more to come, company executives said.

MANCHESTER, NH – Contract assembler EPE Corp. is relocating to a larger facility here, the company said.

The move to a 45,000 sq. ft. facility, which began this month, would provide 50% more manufacturing space.

EPE provides electronic contract manufacturing services for the military and defense, medical instrumentation, communications, industrial automation, RF Technology, and professional consumer markets.

LAS VEGAS -- Sales of consumer electronics will top $165 billion this year, a slight increase from 2009, according to a semiannual industry forecast released today by the Consumer Electronics Association.

BRIDGEWATER, MA -- Chase Corp., the parent of Humiseal and the eponymous EMS company, reported revenues fell 8% year-over-year to $28.7 million for the quarter ended Nov. 30.

ARLINGTON, VA -- Electronic component orders grew for the sixth straight month in December, boosted by PC shipments, an industry trade group said today.