TOKYO — Global sales of total semiconductor manufacturing equipment by original equipment manufacturers are forecast to reach a new high of $108.5 billion in 2022, rising 5.9% from the previous industry record of $102.5 billion in 2021, SEMI announced in its Year-End Total Semiconductor Equipment Forecast – OEM Perspective at SEMICON Japan 2022.

MILPITAS, CA — The worldwide semiconductor industry is projected to invest more than $500 billion in 84 volume chipmaking facilities starting construction from 2021 to 2023, with segments including automotive and high-performance computing fueling the spending increases, SEMI announced in its latest quarterly World Fab Forecast report. The projected growth in global factory count includes a record high 33 new semiconductor manufacturing facilities starting construction this year and 28 more in 2023.

GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND — Patton, a US manufacturer and designer of technology products, has announced that its onshore manufacturing service is now available to customers in communications, robotics, aerospace, healthcare, defense, power and security sectors.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL — SigmaTron International reported revenues of $108.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, an 8% growth from the $100.2 million in revenues for the same quarter last year.

BEIJING — Foxconn Technology Group has invested $500 million in its Indian subsidiary, as the world's largest Apple contractor makes moves to diversify its supply chain after China’s stringent pandemic controls disrupted production at its top iPhone plant in Zhengzhou.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — Eighty percent of electronics manufacturers are experiencing rising material costs, while 77% indicate that labor costs are on the rise, according to the IPC's November Sentiment of the Global Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain report. At the same time, ease of recruitment, profit margins, and inventory from suppliers are presently declining.

BENGALURU — Foxconn's founder-director Terry Gou warned China that the government's zero-COVID stance would threaten the position China's economy in the global supply chain, which played a major role in convincing the country's leadership to reopen the economy and move away from its zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy, the Wall Street Journal reported.

BILLINGSTAD, NORWAY — With strong demand and easing supply restraints, Kitron has raised its full-year 2022 revenue outlook to NOK 6.45-6.55 billion (US $645-655 million). Operating profit is expected to be between NOK 440-470 million ($44-47 million).

FOND DU LAC, WI — Parts cleaning system manufacturer Alliance Manufacturing has announced the acquisition of TDC (Technical Devices Company), a manufacturer of cleaning equipment for the electronics and printed circuit board industries based in Torrance, CA.

WASHINGTON — The Semiconductor Industry Association announced global semiconductor industry sales were $46.9 billion during the month of October 2022, a slight decrease of 0.3% compared to the September 2022 total of $47.0 billion and down 4.6% compared to the October 2021 total of $49.1 billion.

We’ve all awakened to the fact that our environment is watching us.

It happens in the home, where we are surrounded by Rings and Nests and Alexas, tracking our movements (slow), our room temperatures (cold), our conversations (yikes!).

FONTENAY-AUX-ROSES, FRANCE — ICAPE Group, a global technology distributor of printed circuit boards, announced Monday that it has acquired 100% of the shares in the Sweden-based MMAB Group.