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News

STAMFORD, CT – After reviewing the latest WSTS figures for the first quarter of 2007, Gartner Inc. believes that, with the seasonal fall in sales in the second quarter, a more pessimistic outlook for 2007 is warranted.

SHANGHAI – The Eleventh Five-Year Plan for Software Industry Development released by China's Ministry of Information Industry states that the domestic sales of the country's software companies are expected to reach $143 billion in 2010, according to Xinhua.net.

The site also reports that exports for the industry will grow 28% annually to $1.6 billion by 2010. In addition, China will have 10 to 15 major software firms with annual sales of $1.3 billion.

ARLINGTON, VA – A recent meeting between the Bush Administration and congressional Democrats on international labor and other trade issues paves the way for new trade agreements to help U.S. technology companies and workers more effectively compete in the world market, the Electronic Industries Alliance reports.

The EIA says the compromise reached should serve as a bipartisan template for an American trade policy that protects workers in future trade deals, allowing lawmakers to approve trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia, Panama and Peru.

Columbia and South Korea are important markets to the electronics industry, and this American trade policy should facilitate passage of trade agreements with these countries, as well as those negotiated with Panama and Peru, says the organization.

TORONTO – SMTC Corporation, a global ems provider, announced first-quarter revenue of $69.5 million, compared with revenue of $59.9 million last year – a 16% increase year-over-year.

Net income was $2.8 million for the first quarter of 2007, approximately three times what was reported for the same period last year.

Gross profit was $6.5 million, or 9.3% of revenue, compared with $6.1 million, or 10.1% of revenue for the same period in 2006.

WALLINGFORD, CT – Winchester Electronics Corporation, designer and manufacturer of electronics connectors and interconnects, has acquired Advanced Interconnect, Inc. and Kings Electronics Co., Inc. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

These acquisitions will push Winchester’s annual sales to in excess of $100 million, says Michael Driscoll, the company’s president and CEO.

Advanced Interconnect produces fiber-optic and copper-based interconnect solutions.

Kings Electronics manufactures RF connectors for the commercial and military aviation, broadcasting, telecommunications, industrial, and government markets.

ARLINGTON, VA – The four-to-five-week and 12-month average index were flat in April, says the ECA.

The ECA notes that March is usually a slow month, but April usually results in a comeback, as the marketplace prepares for its normal second-half acceleration.

"While the market could still pick up in the second quarter, forecasters are predicting that growth will slow in 2007," the ECA says.

"All the indicators seem to be in agreement," says ECA president Bob Willis. "Any growth...is positive, but right now expectations in the industry are a bit lower than in recent years."

TAIPEI - Taiwan's Acer Inc. blamed three of its PC contract manufacturing partners for a patent infringement lawsuit filed in the U.S. by Hewlett-Packard Co.

Acer, the world's third-largest computer vendor, has filed a lawsuit against its Taiwan ODM partners: Quanta Computer Inc., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., and Wistron Corp. As an ODM partner of Acer, the firms are not allowed to make products for HP using Acer's patents and vice versa, a spokesperson for Acer said.

SANTA ANA, CA — Memory module manufacturer Smart Modular Technologies has received its eighth Koh Young solder paste inspection system for its manufacturing plant in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The company reportedly has implemented the technology, supplied by Christopher Associates, in a range of applications on a global basis.

ATLANTA – A one-hour China RoHS Webinar by Mike Kirschner, president of Design Chain Associates is still available until May 30. Sponsored by UP Media Group, information and registration is available at http://www.pcbshows.com/webinars/ondemand/chinarohs/. This Webinar features timely information critical to ensuring compliance.

The cost of the Webinar is $119 for unlimited viewing and a downloadable PDF.

The Mar. 1 deadline has come and gone, but implementation of this law continues to be dynamic. China RoHS requires extensive material disclosure and has a far broader and more onerous scope than EU RoHS compliance, including medical, test and measurement, component, and material products. Decisions that impact the requirements continue to occur.

HAUPPAUGE, NY – Components distributor Jaco Electronics Inc. said it lost $747,000 in its fiscal third quarter, compared to a profit of $84,000 in the same period last year.

Sales in the quarter were $49.8, compared to $60 million year-over-year, said the company.

JACKSON, MI – EMS provider Sparton Corporation announced sales for its 2007 fiscal third quarter totaled $47.7 million, an increase of $2.4 million year-over-year. Medical/scientific instrumentation sales increased $11.1 million, while aerospace and industrial/other sales were below the prior year.

Sales for the nine months ended Mar. 31 totaled $149 million, an increase of $28.8 million from the same period last year. Medical/scientific instrumentation sales increased $35.2 million. Year-to-date aerospace sales also increased compared to the prior year. Year-to-date industrial/other sales decreased slightly, while government sales, both for the quarter and year-to-date, were below the prior year.

ST. LOUIS – LaBarge, Inc. today reported fiscal 2007 third quarter sales were $59.6 million, up 26% year-over-year. Third-quarter profit increased 23% to $2.8 million, compared to $2.3 million last year.

For the nine months ended Apr.1, sales were $170.3 million, up 26% from $135 million year-over-year. Profit for this period increased 21% to $8.5 million.

During the third quarter, shipments to defense customers were the largest contributor to revenues, accounting for 39% of sales, versus 38% in the fiscal third quarter of 2006.