News
TAIPEI -- Quanta Computer, the largest contract
assembler of PCs, plans to begin building notebook PCs
in Vietnam, with production scheduled to start in the
second half of this year.
HONG KONG – EMS provider Nam Tai Electronics Inc. announced the completion of the Nam Tai Group Structure reorganization involving its Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed subsidiaries: Nam Tai Electronic & Electrical Products Ltd. and J.I.C. Technology Co. Ltd.
SAN JOSE – Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose to $23.1 billion in November, an increase of 2.3% year-over-year, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported.
SHANGHAI – Fixed investment in China's electronics and information industry rose 29% year-over-year to reach $32.8 billion in the first 11 months of 2007, according to figures released by China's Ministry of Information Industry.
TEMPE, AZ – Manufacturing slowed in December, with the PMI dropping 3.1 percentage points to 47.7%, says the Institute for Supply Management. New orders decreased to 45.7%, down 6.9 points, while production dropped 4.6 points to 47.3%.
Inventories were down slightly to 4.5%, a decrease of 1.4 points, and customer inventories were up 2.5 points in December, to 51.5%. Order backlogs were also up, reaching 43%, an increase of 1.5 points.
“The manufacturing sector failed to grow in December ending 10 consecutive months of growth. The recent trend has been toward slower growth. However, December was apparently a very tough month as new orders, production and employment were all below the breakeven mark of 50%. Industries close to the housing market appear to be struggling more than others, and those involved in exports seem to be doing better. Slower demand appears to be more of a problem than excessive inventories based on the respondents' comments,” said ISM spokesman Norbert J. Ore.
The overall economy grew for the 74th consecutive month, says ISM.
BEIJING -- Microsoft's attempt to invest in a Chinese electronics manufacturer was blocked by the China Security Regulatory Commission as accusations of insider trading abound.
HELSINKI -- Elcoteq will restructure its operations, selling certain underperforming plants and improving its materials management in hopes of cutting $101.5 million to $116 million from its annual operating costs, the EMS firm said Thursday.
YANTAI, CHINA -- Foxconn this week claimed a fire on its Yantai PWB campus has not disrupted production.
However, a Commercial Times report claimed the fire destroyed more than one-third of the Yantai plant's capacity, a reported monthly output of 2.6 million sq. ft.
However, a Commercial Times report claimed the fire destroyed more than one-third of the Yantai plant's capacity, a reported monthly output of 2.6 million sq. ft.
SAN FRANCISCO – Flextronics and Solectron are being sued for allegedly violating federal and state labor laws governing overtime pay. The suit alleges the EMS companies paid employees by their shift time, rather than for time actually worked.
SAN JOSE – “A year
that started with great promise of bipartisan action to enhance
American competitiveness in the global economy appears about to end
with no significant action on any of the key elements,” said
Semiconductor Industry Association president George Scalise. “To
say that we are keenly disappointed would be a huge understatement.”
BANNOCKBURN, IL – November
PWB orders climbed 11.8% year-over-year in
North America, while shipments fell 9.1%, IPC said today. The book-to-bill fell 0.02 points to 1.06, remaining in positive territory for the ninth straight month.
ESPOO, FINLAND – Elcoteq SE, one of the world’s largest EMS firms, will
restructure its organization into three business units
– Personal Communications, Home Communications and Communications Networks. The
moves are effective Jan. 1.
The business units will have dedicated customer accounts and operations, and supply chain management.
Anssi Korhonen is president, Personal Communications, Vesa Keränen is president, Home Communications, and Tommi Pettersson is president, Communications Networks.
Joining them on Elcoteq’s management team are president and CEO Jouni Hartikainen, COO and deputy CEO Jukka Jäämaa, and CFO Mikko Puolakka;
The company had announced in October it would change its business structure in order to streamline its operations.
