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BILLINGSTAD, NORWAY – Kitron ASA has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Veru Electronic GmbH for 700,000 euros (about $1.1 million).

The closing of the deal is subject to reaching an agreement about the debt financing of the company, and is scheduled for early 2010. After the close, Veru will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Kitron ASA.

In announcing the deal, Kitron said the company was attractive because of its location. “It is part of Kitron ASA’s strategy to enter into new geographical markets," said Roger Hovland, corporate vice president. Germany is the largest EMS market in Europe and is seen as having the highest potential for further outsourcing, the company said. "Having a local entity gives credibility and shows long-term commitment," Kitron said in a press release.

Veru will be used for prototype and NPI work, the company said.

Veru, which operates a 25,000 sq. ft. plant in Großbettlingen, had 25 employees and sales of 2 million euros in 2007, according to the CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Directory of EMS Companies.

BUCKS, UK – Some 70% of all end-of-line defects are associated within the printing process, according to a recent study conducted by the SMART Group.

The results came from a poll of SMART Group members as a lead-in to its “The Road to ZERO Defects” workshop. Attendees were taken through 42 recommended audit steps for pre-placement during the workshop, the first in a back-to-basics series to celebrate the group’s 25th anniversary.

Presentations covered solder paste, process contamination, printing platforms, stencil specifications, solder paste inspection SPI/SPC, and stencil cleaning and housekeeping.

The series includes sessions on reflow soldering; materials; wave and selective soldering, flux selection; and hand assembly and rework.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Jabil Circuit reported fiscal first-quarter sales of $3.1 billion, down 8.8% from last year. After taking large restructuring charges a year ago, the EMS company swung to a profit in the latest quarter.

ATLANTA -- ASYS Inc. and EKRA Americas will merge under the name of ASYS Group Americas as of Jan. 1, the companies said today.

WASHINGTON – Three major producers of decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca) plan to phase out production of the disputed brominated flame-retardant by December 2012.

Chemtura, Albemarle and ICL Industrial Products say the decision is voluntary and is being undertaken in accordance with the wishes of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

While critics have long claimed that bromines are major causes of environmental and human health problems, H-P, Dell, Lenovo and other electronics OEMs state a lack of practical alternatives keeps them from switching to less controversial flame chemicals.

The news comes two days after legislation to require removal of Deca was introduced in the US House of Representatives. The Decabromine Elimination and Control Act of 200 (H.R. 4394) would ban Deca in all products by the end of 2013.

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.