LOUISVILLE, KY – Sypris Solutions has appointed Paul Larochelle president of Sypris Technologies, effective Oct. 26.
 
Larochelle, who was also named vice president of Sypris Solutions, will be located at Sypris Technologies’ headquarters in Louisville and will report to Jeffrey T. Gill, president and CEO of Sypris Solutions.
 
Larochelle last served as VP of the structural products group of Dana Corp.
 
Sypris Solutions is an EMS provider focused on the defense markets.

MIAMI – A Heico Corp. subsidiary has acquired Dukane’s Seacom division, a maker of underwater locator beacons. Financial terms were not disclosed.
 
The business, which Heico has renamed Dukane Seacom, will be part of Heico’s Electronic Technologies Group. Its operations will remain in St. Charles, IL.
 
The firm said Dukane Seacom's management would remain with the business in their pre-acquisition roles. It does not expect other near-term staff turnover to result.
 
Heico expects the acquisition to be accretive to its earnings per share during the year following closing.

 

SAN JOSE – North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $732.8 million in orders in September, up 19.3% sequentially and 12.8% year-over-year, SEMI said today. Bookings rose year-over-year for the first time in 28 months.

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ROROS, NORWAY – Original design manufacturer Norbit has, with local employees, purchased Kitron Microelectronics AS. The operation has changed its name to Norbitech AS.

In a statement, Kitron CEO Jørgen Bredesen said, "We are very satisfied with the agreement reached and in particular that we have been able to secure continued operation and employment for the employees at Røros. We are confident that with Norbit AS as a strategic partner and significant shareholder, the operation at Røros will have a solid foundation to succeed outside Kitron."
 
Norbit is an ODM supplier of industrial electronics.

TOKYO – Japan-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $677.7 million in orders in September, up 11% sequentially and down 22.2% year-over-year, according to the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan.
 
September billings were $530.8 million, up 25% sequentially and down 42.2% compared to September 2008, says SEAJ.
 
On a three-month average basis, the September book-to-bill ratio was 1.28, down from August but well above the 1.0 benchmark indicating a growing market. A book-to-bill ratio of 1.28 means ¥128 worth of new orders was received for every ¥100 of product billed for the month.
 
$1 = ¥90.845

STOCKHOLM – Note Ab reported third-quarter sales dropped 33% year-over-year to SEK 267.4 million ($38.3 million).

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GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works today reported third-quarter revenues fell 19.8% year-over-year to $3.58 billion as demand began to show improvement.

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ST. LOUIS -- Sikorsky Aircraft awarded a $2.4 million add-on contract to LaBarge to produce wiring harnesses for the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter.

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KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – The US International Trade Commission has ruled Nokia did not violate certain InterDigital Communications Corp. patents covering 3G mobile handsets and components.
 
After reviewing petitions issued Aug. 31, the ITC said it would not grant InterDigital’s request to block imports of the Nokia phones.
 
InterDigital and a subsidiary originally filed a complaint in 2007 stating Nokia had violated four of the firm’s patents, claims Nokia has consistently denied.
 
The commission filed a joint response to both firms’ petitions on Sept. 8 and has since terminated its investigation.

 

CHAM, SWITZERLAND – Kirsten Soldering is holding a contest to find the oldest and most hardworking wave soldering machine.
 
The firm will award an iPod nano (RED) for each of the following categories
(Apple gives a portion of proceeds to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.):
 
· The hardest-working wave soldering machine (highest number of running hours).
· The oldest wave soldering machine still in use.
 
To enter, provide a photo of the hour meter showing the running hours of the wave solder machine, or a photo of the oldest wave solder system with the year of installation to improveyourmemory@kirsten-soldering.ch. 
 
Any wave soldering system owner or operator is eligible to enter.
 
The deadline to enter is Oct. 31.
 
Every participant will receive a 2GB USB memory stick.

 

VELLINGE, SWEDEN -- PartnerTech today reported September quarter sales of SEK 478.3 million ($70 million), down 16% year-over-year.

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TAIPEI -- Compal Electronics has raised its forecast for annual notebook PC sales, citing higher-than-expected demand in the West.

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