TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics reported October revenues rose 21.7% year-over-year to NT$295.5 billion (US$9.8 billion) on broad-based end-market demand.

TORONTO – Electronics manufacturing services provider SMTC Corp. reported third-quarter revenue of $44.1 million, down 32.6% year-over-year.

SANTA CLARA, CA – A DisplaySearch report shows an increase in TFT LCD panel loading rates in October, to 75% from 68% in September.

The uptick in October fab loading rates mainly came from Korean panel makers, who increased loading to 84-85%, aiming to fulfill demand in October (the peak month in the year), says the research firm. The increase mainly stemmed from TV panel production to meet increased LCD TV orders for the fourth quarter, especially for Samsung. In addition, both LG Display and Samsung are increasing shipments to Chinese customers, with consecutive monthly shipment growth in November and December.

Taiwanese panel makers also raised their fab loading rates in October, but are only at a 65% loading rate on average, and plan to operate at the same level in the fourth quarter, reflecting the cautious outlook of their TV customers and a prioritization of finances over market share, says DisplaySearch.

Japanese panel makers are still struggling with inventory issues and have made further cuts in fab utilization for the fourth quarter.

Loading rates differ by fab generation, with Gen7/7.5 increasing to 86% in October, up from a record low of 76% in September, and Gen8/8.5 increasing from 64% to 72%.

Large-area panel shipments, particularly for LCD TVs, are likely to show a peak in October and decline by 2% sequentially in November before scaling down significantly at the end of the year.

The planned increases in panel shipments in October were encouraged by healthy sell-through results during the Golden Week holidays in China. There were hopes that TV sales in China would surge before the China home appliance subsidy program ended in late November, and that inventory rebuilding may be stronger than after Golden Week last year, according to the firm.

LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES – Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. posted third-quarter net profits of $123,000, down 59% year-over-year.

AUSTIN – Specialty Coating Systems is expanding its Parylene coating service operations with a new 13,000 sq. ft. facility here.

The coating center will begin full production operations in early 2012, the firm says.

With the addition of the Texas facility, SCS has 11 Parylene coating facilities globally.

KARLSKOGA, SWEDEN -- Kitron AB has informed local employees that it will consolidate all administration to its site in Jönköping. A total of 69 workers will be affected, the EMS company said.

SINGAPORE – SMT Holdings' fiscal second-quarter sales fell more than 50% to HK$292.9 million ($73.7 million) as the company's corporate restructuring took its toll.

SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Sparton reported September quarter reported net income fell 64% year-over-year to $1.5 million despite gains in the company's EMS operations.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The printed circuit board industry's standard document for terms and definitions used on everything from master drawings to procurement contracts has been updated.

ST. LOUIS – Viasystems Group today reported third-quarter net sales for its contract assembly segment were $54.4 million, up 7.9% year-over-year.

WASHINGTON – Counterfeit electronics, and the semiconductors they are built with, pose a growing threat to the health and safety of military and civilians alike, the president of the Semiconductor Industry Association testified before a US Senate committee.

“The catastrophic failure risk inherently found in counterfeit semiconductors places our citizens and military personnel in unreasonable peril. A counterfeit semiconductor is a ticking time bomb,” Brian Toohey told the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is investigating counterfeit electronic parts in the Department of Defense supply chain. “Counterfeiters violate American companies’ intellectual property rights and cost American’s jobs. We estimate that counterfeiting costs US-based semiconductor companies more than $7.5 billion each year.”

The SIA recommended five actions to the Committee to stem the tide of counterfeit electronics in the DoD supply chain: continue partnerships between industry, the DoD and Department of Justice to develop a more effective authentication system; strengthen procurement procedures at DoD for mission-critical components, including purchasing exclusively from authorized distributors; ensure industry’s ability to fully partner with Customs and Border Patrol Officials to stop suspected counterfeits at the border by ending CBP's redaction policy; aggressively prosecute counterfeit traffickers, and more strongly enforce IP rights internationally.

ANGLETON, TX – Benchmark Electronics said its CEO and cofounder Cary Fu will retire, effective Dec. 31.

Benchmark's current president, Gayla Delly, will replace Fu and become a member of the board effective immediately.

Delly has been president since 2008.