NEEDHAM, MA – Desktop and mobile workstation shipments shrank 22.2% in the fourth quarter compared to a year ago as IT device spending slowed amidst economic concerns and fulfillment of backlogged orders, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Workstation Tracker.

TEMPE, AZ – Benchmark Electronics on Friday celebrated the grand opening of its new Precision Technologies facility in Mesa, Arizona. The company plans to invest around $20 million into capabilities and technology at the new facility, in addition to hiring 100 people to support this facility as the company ramps up with customers.

TAIPEI – Global DRAM revenue fell by 32.5% quarter-over-quarter to $12.28 billion, per TrendForce research. The fourth-quarter decline is larger than the QoQ decline of 28.8% for the third quarter and comes close to the QoQ decline of 36% for the final quarter of 2008, when the global economy was in the midst of a major financial crisis.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Economic data over the last month is providing a mixed view of the economy, according to the IPC’s February Economic Outlook report.

NEEDHAM, MA – Shipments of smartphones will decline 1.1% in 2023 to 1.19 billion units, down from the previous forecast of 2.8% growth as the market continues to suffer from weak demand and ongoing macroeconomic challenges, according to the International Data Corporation's latest Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker forecast.

We headed to IPC Apex Expo in late January not certain of what to expect. The backdrop, of course, was one of job upheaval. Blue chip tech companies were announcing large-scale layoffs, and the “disengagement” counts were starting to accumulate in striking fashion. To wit:

• HP: 4,000 to 6,000
• Dell: 6,650
• Google: 12,000
• IBM: 3,900
• Meta: 11,000
• Microsoft: 10,000
• Twitter: Everyone except Elon Musk and a couple of engineers brought over from Tesla*

HONG KONG – ASMPT reported revenue of HK$4.33 billion ($553.1 million) for the fourth quarter, a decline of 5.1% from the previous quarter.

TAIPEI – Foxconn Technology Group has leased a 293-acre plot of land to build new smart warehouses in Zhengzhou, the same Chinese city where the company operates the world's largest iPhone plant.

REDMOND, WA – Data I/O announced net sales of $7.3 million in the fourth quarter, up 14% compared to the $6.4 million in sales in the fourth quarter of 2021.

BELLA VISTA, AUSTRALIA – Australian electronics manufacturer Circuitwise has enlisted E&P Corporate Advisory to search for a private equity backer to help fund growth and manage succession.

SINGAPORE – Kulicke and Soffa Industries has announced the acquisition of Advanced Jet Automation, including the material business and assets formerly owned by its affiliate, Samurai Spirit Inc., a Taiwanese developer and manufacturer of high-precision micro-dispensing equipment and solutions.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American EMS shipments were up 10.1% compared to the same month last year, and decreased 3.7% from December's total, according to the IPC's North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.35.