ST. LOUIS -- Viasystems narrowed its second-quarter net loss as consolidated sales jumped 5% for the period ended June 30.

Sales at its printed circuit board division rose 9% year-over-year to $262.3 million, offset in part by lower sales at its assembly unit, which fell 14% to $38.6 million. 

The net loss for the period was $3.6 million, up from a $10.2 million loss last year.

Net sales were up 5% to $300.9 million on higher automotive electronics sales. The firm also saw "notable contributions" from the telecommunications and military and aerospace end-markets.

"Second quarter results in our Printed Circuit Boards segment reflect improvement in most of our end markets, both sequentially and year-over-year,” Viasystems chief executive David Sindelar said. “However, we are still facing inconsistent customer project demand for our electro-mechanical solutions product offerings, which is included in our Assembly segment.”

Sindelar forecast modest sequential growth, with an overall sales level similar to last year's third quarter of $309.2 million.

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO – Speedline Technologies’ Electrovert division, in concert with Kester and Zestron, will host a free PCB cleaning and reliability workshop here next month.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Recent volatility will gradually give way to a more positive outlook for IT spending in the second half of 2014, leading a major research firm to up its forecast for the sector today.  

DONGGUAN, CHINA – Samsung Electronics said it would do 30% less business with a China-based parts supplier after uncovering employment of child workers there.

NEWARK, NY -- IEC Electronics today said fiscal third quarter  net income fell 94% to $22,000 on lower revenue to key end-markets and new program starts that ate into profits.

LOUISVILLE, KY -- Sypris Solutions said second-quarter revenue at its Electronics Group was $9.4 million in the second quarter, an increase of 22%, from the prior year.

WASHINGTON – The 90-day moving average semiconductor sales in June reached $27.57 billion worldwide, the industry’s highest monthly sales ever, the Semiconductor Industry Association said today. Sales were up 10.8% year-over-year and up 2.6% sequentially, the trade group said.

MENTOR, OH ― Libra Industries has acquired fellow EMS firm Tetrad Electronics for an undisclosed amount.

VERNON, CT – North Hartland Tool Corp. has acquired printed circuit board maker TEK Industries, according to reports.

SMYRNA, GA – PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB is undertaking its annual salary survey of printed circuit board designers, design engineers and other layout specialists.

JASPER, IN -- Kimball today reported June quarter sales at its electronics manufacturing services unit rose 3% year-over-year to $199 million.

CHICAGO – There were seven completed transactions in the second quarter in the EMS industry, says Lincoln International in its latest report.