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ROGERSTONE, SOUTH WALES -- TT Electronics may lay off as many as 80 workers here, according to published reports.

The EMS company reportedly warned workers at the Tregwilym Industrial Estate site that layoffs could begin in a month if the market conditions do not improve.

SMYRNA, GA -- No, your eyes aren't deceiving you: CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY has redesigned its website.

The new design takes into account the best research on website design, readability and navigability. New additions include easy translations into nearly three dozen languages, to accommodate our large numbers of overseas subscribers and readers. We've moved the latest announcements of new equipment and materials to the front, to better draw attention to a very popular part of our site. Same with our columnists and features: these will rotate each month right on the home page. (The current issue and archives are still available, of course.)

SAN JOSE – The 90-day moving average for semiconductor equipment orders from North America-based manufacturers was $263.5 million in February, down 78% from last year, the SEMI trade group said. The bookings figures were the lowest since 1991.

PALO ALTO, CA -- Agilent Technologies has issued an application note describing improved methods for measuring distortion in broadband devices.

In a statement, the company said the paper illustrates the importance of characterizing broadband commercial and defense systems for linearity. The information focuses on the tests used to determine the level of a system's distortion and how they relate to Intermodulation Distortion and Intermodulation Distortion Noise. It summarizes with the test methods and the instruments used.

It is downloadable at http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5989-9880EN.pdf.

SMYRNA, GA – PCB East returns this year to the greater Boston area as the premier annual East Coast conference and exhibition for PCB engineers, designers, fabricators and managers.

PCB East will be held Apr. 27 - May 1 in Waltham, MA at the Westin Waltham-Boston.

More than 30 technical courses will be offered at the 14th annual PCB East, along with Free Wednesday, a day of one-hour technical sessions and events free to all attendees.

Other highlights of the conference include several new speakers and the premiere of an Evening with Industry Experts.

The conference will be accompanied by a free one-day tabletop exhibition on Apr. 29.

For more information, visit www.pcbeast.com.

This show is produced by UP Media Group, parent company of Circuits Assembly and Printed Circuit Design & Fab.

SANTA CLARA, CA – Agilent Technologies has integrated Aster’s TestWay Coverage Analyst across Agilent’s PCB assembly test platforms.

TCA is a push-button test coverage analysis tool for coverage estimation (pretest program development) and coverage measurement (post-test program measurement) using PCOLA-SOQ1. It calculates theoretical coverage using CAD files and measures real coverage from the developed test programs.

The tool has been added to Agilents Medalist i3070 & i1000 platforms and other test and inspection equipment.

No financial terms of the agreement were disclosed.

LONGMONT, CO – EMS firm DBM Technologies next month will relocate to larger digs in south Loveland, the former site of Wolf Electronix.

HERNDON, VA – The SMTA DC Chapter in May will offer a special workshop on Clean Energy, addressing how SMT intersects with solar/fuel cell technology.

The May 20 event takes place at the Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon, VA.

MINNEAPOLIS – The SMTA is currently seeking individuals for its board of directors.

Nominations are being accepted through April 17 for the term that begins at SMTAI, Oct. 4-8 in San Diego.

Candidates must be SMTA members who have demonstrated commitment to the association.

To nominate a board member, visit http://www.smta.org/nominations/nominations.cfm, or contact JoAnn Stromberg at joann@smta.org.

The SMTA is an international network of professionals who build skills, share practical experience and develop solutions in electronic assembly technologies, including microsystems, emerging technologies and related business operations.

NEW YORK -- Is Big Blue seeking Sun? According to several reports today, IBM is in negotiations to buy Sun Microsystems for a sum that could exceed $6.5 billion.

ITASCA, IL – Kester recently completed an expansion project at its Itasca headquarters to dedicate more floor space to solder paste and tacky soldering flux products.

Floor space was increased more than 3,000 sq. ft., the company said.

The project was centered on improving environmental control for these products, and to improve product quality, says the firm.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Pricing for commodity electronics components is falling at a moderate rate, but the pace of erosion reflects the fact that pricing has already hit rock bottom in many commodity categories, according to iSuppli Corp.