BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC is urging the US State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to protect US defense equipment by ensuring export control protection of design information for printed circuit boards.

STAMFORD, CT – After two quarters of positive growth, worldwide PC shipments totaled 92.2 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, down 1.4% year-over-year, says Gartner. These figures were in line with Gartner’s earlier forecast of a 1% decline for the quarter.

REDMOND, WA -- Microsoft today issued a statement insisting labor protests at its contract manufacturing partner Foxconn are over.

AUSTIN, TX -- Laminate substrates and leadframe production will outpace silicon wafer growth in 2012, a new report asserts.

SAN JOSE -- Semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment capital expenditures are expected to yo-yo throughout 2012, with a first-half drop followed by a sharp second-half rebound, SEMI says.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics reported unconsolidated December revenues rose 29.5% year-over-year to NT$316.9 billion ($11 billion) on higher demand for consumer electronics.

WUHAN, CHINA -- As many as 300 workers were talked down from a roof at Foxconn's factory here last week following a pay dispute in which they threatened mass suicide.

GAINESVILLE, GA – Count On Tools, provider of components and SMT spare parts, has expanded its manufacturing operations here for the second time in recent months.

COT said it purchased a 26mm Super Swissturn Precision CNC Machining Center by Tsugami.

The expansion is in response to the growing market for SMT nozzles and consumables, as well as the increased demand for precision contract machining services, the firm says.

ORLANDO – SMTA has requested papers for SMTA International 2012, which will take place here Oct. 14 - 18. 

Three-hundred-word abstracts are requested on topics involving assembly; business/supply chain; emerging technologies; PCB technology, and process control.
Abstracts are due Mar. 12.

SMTA International offers three awards, each worth $1,000 and a recognition plaque: Best of Conference Presentation; Best of Proceedings Paper, and Best International Paper.

Proposals are also solicited from individuals interested in teaching educational courses related to surface mount technology, advanced packaging, and electronics manufacturing. Course length may be half-day or full-day. Proposals are also due Mar. 12.

Paper manuscripts and course workbooks are due by July 27.

Papers should be 6 - 15 pages long (including graphics) and describe significant results from experiments, emphasize new techniques, or contain technical, economic, or appropriate test data. Presentation materials and papers must be original, unpublished, and non-commercial in nature.

For more information, visit www.smta.org/smtai/call_for_papers.cfm. Submit abstracts online; they will not be accepted by e-mail.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Electronics exports from Malaysia are expected to grow 10% this year, a sharp rebound from the 25% drop in 2011, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Philippines Inc. said yesterday.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Technology today reported unconsolidated sales in December rose 40.5% year-over-year to NT$8.73 trillion.

ANGLETON, TX -- Benchmark Electronics expects to "modestly" beat its previous guidance for fourth-quarter revenue and earnings per share.