NASHVILLE — SMTA has awarded Kyzen with the Corporate Partnership Award for exceptional support of the trade association.

RVINE, CA -- Flexible circuit fabricator and assembler MFlex expects breakeven net income for its fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 30.

SANTA CLARA, CA — Flat panel display manufacturing equipment spending fell 69% in 2012 to $3.8 billion— making 2012 the weakest year in history for FPD equipment makers.

SMYRNA, GA -- Murata Americas and Cogiscan have formed a strategic partnership under which their respective products are combined to offer complete PCB track, trace and control solutions using Murata's novel RFID tag.

EDINA, MN -- SMTA reported more than 1,000 registrants representing over 520 companies and 26 countries for its annual SMTAI trade show this year.

NEENAH, WI -- Plexus named Dan Lewis vice president, defense/security/aerospace sector, responsible for the sector development strategy and implementation, new customer engagement, and overall sector growth.

CHENGDU, CHINA -- Workers at Compal's factory here walked off the line Thursday in protest of working hours and wages.

REDMOND, WA -- Data I/O has named Anthony Ambrose president, effective immediately.

LOS ALTOS, CA – Smartphones continue to dial up big gains, but the overall cellphone market isn't generating much in the way of busy signals.

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics saw sales rise 7% year-over-year for the third quarter ended Sept. 30.

NEENAH, WI – Plexus reported revenue of $595 million for the fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 29, up 10.5% year-over-year. Revenue was down 2.3% sequentially.

BOSTON – A widespread shortage of high-skilled manufacturing workers in the US is overstated, but it will be an emerging problem by the end of the decade, says a new report from Boston Consulting Group.