BANNOCKBURN, IL — IPC last month released its latest technoloy roadmap, the biennial guide to interconnect technological trends.

The 2011 roadmap incorporates data and comparisons to help users serve clients and/or guide their companies in identifying, selecting and developing the right technology alternatives to create the products needed for future markets.

The roadmap includes expanded regional analysis and comparison. In both the substrate and assembly sections, it provides insight into the regional differences in capability between Asia, Europe and North America.

Another addition is the link of emulators to industry standards and specifications. A new section discusses the changes that need to occur in industry standards content to make them relevant to tomorrow’s needs. This includes the addition of a state-of-the-art level for product features that demand a higher degree of precision.

In areas where changes occur quickly, such as the environment, health and safety, regulations and global stewardship, the roadmap has been updated to reflect the current state and future issues.

For more information, visit www.ipc.org/roadmap.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – Despite rising 3.4% and hitting an 11-year high in the fourth quarter of 2012, average semiconductor days of inventory held by chip suppliers are expected to decline 0.5% in the first quarter, providing some hope that market conditions are improving, says IHS iSuppli.

OSAKA, JAPAN – Electronics manufacturing services firm SIIX Corp. posted 2011 net sales of 167.8 billion yen, up 0.8% year-over-year.

SHENZHEN -- Optical network OEM Oclaro has signed a definitive agreement to transfer its final assembly and test operations here to top 10 EMS provider Venture Corp.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Contract electronics firm Jabil Circuit reported fiscal second-quarter earnings up 76%, according to reports. Profit was $97.7 million.

PASADENA, CA – The Cassini plasma spectrometer instrument aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft at Saturn has resumed operations.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – While the first half of 2012 is expected to see only modest shipment growth, the launch of Windows 8 and the excitement generated by ultrabooks and other ultra-thin notebooks should drive second half sales in a much stronger way, according to International Data Corp.

ORLANDO – API Technologies has completed its acquisition of RTI Electronics for $2.3 million in cash.

Based in Anaheim, CA, RTI manufactures passive electronic components, including thermistors, film capacitors, magnetic transformers and inductors, and audio power conditioning units.

RTI had revenues in 2011 of approximately $4 million.

With the move, API continues to broaden its scope, which primarily involves the design, development and manufacturing of electronic systems, subsystems, RF and secure solutions for defense, aerospace and commercial applications.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC has revised its Assembly and Joining Handbook, updating the age-old tome on of electronics assembly and soldering techniques.

ATLANTA -- EMS marketing and management expert Susan Mucha will moderate a chat on EMS program management and strategies for growing accounts next week, UP Media Group announced today.

KWIDZYN, POLAND -- Jabil reportedly will lay off hundreds of workers here and ask for wage concessions from remaining staff.

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- With the second-generation iPad, Apple has held the line on the bill of materials, maintaining virtually the same costs as the first version of the device, an IHS iSuppli teardown analysis of the product has revealed.