MILPITAS, CA – Global semiconductor equipment billings increased 38% year-over-year to $26.8 billion in the third quarter, growth of 8% sequentially, said SEMI.

NEW YORK – Worldwide trends in technology, media and telecommunications are being driven by the global pandemic's economic and societal shifts, resulting in an increasingly connected and multi-device world, fueling the world's need for more chips, growth in connectivity, and entertainment options, according to a new report from Deloitte.

ATLANTA – The electronic component sales sentiment index points to an acceleration in its steep decline for the December forecast, according to ECIA’s most recent survey.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The US auto sector has historically maintained an inventory-to-sales ratio of nearly 2.4, says Shawn DuBravac, Ph.D., chief economist, IPC, in a report released today. That means under normal conditions the auto sector could cover some 10 weeks of sales with inventory on-hand. Today, however, inventory-to-sales for new vehicles is 0.389, which means the auto sector can only cover 12 days of sales with current inventory levels.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – Material and labor costs continue to be two of the largest issues facing the electronics supply chain, according to an IPC report released today. Nine in ten electronics manufacturers report rising material costs, and nearly three-fourths report rising labor costs, the association says.

SAN JOSE – Flex completed its previously announced $540 million all-cash acquisition of Anord Mardix from private equity firm Bertram Capital.

GLENVIEW, IL – Illinois Tool Works completed the acquisition of the MTS Test & Simulation business from Amphenol Corp.

PATHUMTANI, THAILAND – SVI Public Co. on Nov. 30 finalized its previously announced acquisition of a 100% stake of Tohuku Pioneer (Thailand) Co. for an undisclosed sum.

FORT WALTON, FL – Investment firm TRS Capital has acquired a majority stake in Alta Electronics, a provider of wiring harnesses and cable assemblies, and distributor of electrical components to the transit, automotive, telecommunications, defense, heavy equipment, and aerospace industries.

A bevy of tech talks are available to industry engineers, regardless of their location.

As readers of this space may know, the Printed Circuit Engineering Association is acquiring the assets of UP Media Group. Once that happens, I’ll become president of PCEA. Going forward, this column will focus on the ways PCEA is addressing issues of concern to our membership and the industry at large.

For the past year-plus, this column has been written by Kelly Dak, our erstwhile communications director, and Stephen Chavez, our chairman. In the next couple months, the PCEA is transitioning from an all-volunteer organization to one with a fulltime staff, which will allow the board of directors to focus on higher-level strategy. Steph’s role, then will no longer be tied to monthly communications but rather leading the board in charting the goals and direction of the association. And filling the gaps is where I come in.

Think of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association as a “ground up” organization. We aim to advance the careers of professional engineers. We do this primarily through a peer-to-peer network where we offer training, technical knowledge, and career advice across the printed circuit engineering spectrum: design, fabrication, assembly, and test.

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ATLANTA, GA – UP Media Group Inc. seeks abstracts for its annual PCB West technical conference coming in 2022.

KUALA LUMPUR – EMS provider Aurelius Technologies (ATech) launched its prospectus for its initial public offering, involving up to 103.87 million ordinary shares comprising public issue of 77.01 million shares and an offer for sale of up to 26.86 million shares.