BILLINGSTAD, NORWAY -- Kitron today named Dag Songedal interim CEO, pending the appointment of a permanent CEO.

SAN JOSE — Worldwide semiconductor manufacturing equipment billings plunged 32% year-over-year in the first quarter, SEMI said this week.

WASHINGTON, DC -- A US House of Representatives committee has submitted a report directing the Missile Defense Agency to consider highly accelerated life testing and highly accelerated stress screening test equipment as means for determining reliability issues, including ones caused by counterfeit electronic components.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — Leading macroeconomic indicators and electronics supply chain indicators point to slow growth in the second quarter, according to IPC's monthly report.

ATLANTA – RF and microwave printed circuit board design and manufacture, 3D IC packaging, and new component packages are among the leading topics at the upcoming PCB West 2013 technical conference and trade show.

HERNDON, VA -- An iNEMI working group will host an open conference call next week to review an industry survey on safety standards specific to implantable medical electronics.

BANNOCKBURN, IL -- Some 85% of electronic components placed are surface-mount and 15% are plated through-hole, a new IPC study of EMS companies has found.

PARNU, ESTONIA -- Scanfil is adding employees and equipment at its plants in Pärnu and Suzhou to keep pace with customer demand.

ELKHART, IN -- CTS will take up to $20 million in restructuring charges as part of its latest manufacturing consolidation.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- EMS companies Firstronic and Maxway Technology have formed a joint manufacturing operation to be based in Shenzhen, the companies said today.

WASHINGTON -- The US Department of Defense is hosting a public meeting to obtain the views of experts and interested parties in government and the private sector regarding the electronic parts detection and avoidance coverage proposed for inclusion in DoD procurement guidelines.

RAMOS ARIZPE, MEXICO -- Flextronics reportedly closed its plant here on May 30, sending 700 workers to the unemployment line.