SUZHOU -- PC keyboard components manufacturer HTM International is reportedly automating production at its factory here, installing a series of self-developed lines said to replace 30 to 40 workers per line.

WASHINGTON -- The United States Patent and Trademark Office has assigned a patent for a printed circuit board connector to the employer of a pair of Taiwanese inventors.

LEATHERHEAD, SURREY, UK -- The printed circuit board industry has reached a turning point, as growth in China is mitigated by dips in other major electronics-consuming regions.

TOKYO -- OKI has finalized an agreement to acquire Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo's printed circuit board business in an all-stock deal.

ERLANGER, KY – A selective soldering seminar will take place here Sept. 25, hosted by Seho North America and Balver Zinn.

The one-day seminar will focus on precision in the selective soldering process, with the resulting demand for process optimization to improve both quality and cycle time. The seminar will provide theoretical background information followed by hands-on training.

Attendees will learn process teaching parameters; Pb-free selective soldering; typical issues in the selective soldering process, such as poor hole fill, solder bridging and solder balling; basic rules for board design to avoid difficulties in the production process, and process-related soldering defects and corrective measures.

Balver Zinn will present a practice-oriented lecture, highlighting the influence of flux on different solder processes and its impact on the long-term reliability of solder joints.

Additionally, a special focus will be placed on solder bath management to avoid solder contamination due to copper dissolution and other metals.

For more information, contact academy@seho.de.

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- With their main business in notebook PCs under pressure, original design manufacturers are adding new capabilities that will allow them to capitalize on the soaring sales of ultrabooks, according to the latest IHS iSuppli EMS & ODM Market Brief report.

TAIPEI -- Test Research Inc. said May revenue approached $20 million on demand for AOI, SPI and AXI inspection equipment and circuit board testers.

WASHINGTON – Brian Toohey, president and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association, released the following statement today in support of H.R. 6012, legislation introduced this week by Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Rep. William Keating (D-MA) to stop the flow of counterfeit semiconductor chips into the US:

SAN JOSE – North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.61 billion in orders worldwide in May (three-month average), up 0.6% sequentially, and down 0.7% year-over-year, says SEMI.

OYSTER BAY, NY – Global revenue for carrier Wi-Fi access points and controllers will reach $2.2 billion in 2017, eight times its current size, says ABI Research.

This level is equivalent to almost one-half of the traditional enterprise or consumer/SoHo Wi-Fi segments in the same period.

The majority of the total market in 2011 was accounted for by Cisco, Ruckus Wireless, and Ericsson/BelAir.

As traditional mobile infrastructure vendors add Wi-Fi to their portfolios, these early market share rankings will fluctuate, says the firm.

Carrier Wi-Fi is defined as Wi-Fi that is provided as a service to mobile carrier customers, owned and operated directly or indirectly by the carrier, e.g. a third party hotspot provider.

SALO, FINLAND – Cencorp plans to shut down its subsidiaries in Hungary, Sweden and the UK by the end of 2012.

Total personnel will be 183 after the closures, compared to 310 prior.

Cencorp said it expects full-year net sales of its continuing operations to decrease compared to last year’s sales of EUR 21.6 million.

Full-year EBITDA is estimated to be positive compared to last year’s EUR 1.7 million, barring unforeseen changes to operations and the economy.

The firm has also decreased staff in Finland by 14. The firm plans to outsource its in-house equipment production, including supportive functions.

In North America, the company has let go of three staff members.

Cencorp provides laser and industrial automation solutions.

Ed: 1 EUR = $1.25

TIJUANA – Electronics manufacturing services provider Suntron said it has expanded its facility here, adding more than 27,000 sq. ft., for a total of 106,000 sq. ft., according to published reports.