WASHINGTON -- The National Association of Manufacturers is questioning pending US Environmental Protection Agency permitting guidance for greenhouse gas emissions. The new rules go in to effect Jan. 2.

SHENZHEN -- SinoHub, a contract designer and assembler of cellphones, said third-quarter net income climbed 55.3% from last year to $5.5 million.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The European Parliament has decided to drop its demands for a list of new priority substances for restrictions under the RoHS Directive.

The list of four substances for priority assessment, also identified as “substances of very high concern” under REACH, was originally proposed by the EU Commission.

Parliament also dropped a demand for a revised RoHS Directive to contain a ban on nanosilver. In a compromise with member states, it opted for the mention of a future priority review of nanosilver.

All products will be covered eight years after the Directive enters into force.

In June, the Parliament's environment committee voted to expand the list to include almost 40 substances. These substances included BFRs, such as TBBPA, the most common flame retardant used in PCBs, despite the fact that TBBPA as used was found to be safe for human health and the environment by the World Health Organization and the European Commission Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks. 

Trade groups praised the decision. “Specifically mentioning entire classes of substances in a priority list would unfairly stigmatize them as being harmful to human health and the environment without a sound scientific basis,” said IPC in a press release today.

DUSSELDORF – Henkel reported third-quarter sales of 3.96 billion euros, up 13.7% year-over-year.

Operating profit rose 73% to 501 million euros. This is primarily due to substantial improvements of adhesive technologies.

The company’s Adhesives unit said quarterly sales were up 19.3%, reaching 1.95 billion euros, outpacing market growth in all regions. The unit includes the Multicore and Loctite brands, among others.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2010, Henkel increased sales 11.1% to 11.36 billion euros compared to the same period of 2009.

Operating profit was 1.34 billion euros, up 70.9% year-over-year.

“This is the first quarter we have ever achieved an adjusted EBIT margin of 13%,” said Kasper Rorsted, chairman of the Henkel management board.

“We expect to achieve an adjusted EBIT margin of well above 12% for 2010, accompanied by an improvement in adjusted earnings per preferred share of more than 45%. 2010 is likely to be the most successful fiscal year in our corporate history.”

1 euro = US$1.3657

MANKATO, MN -- EMS firm Winland Electronics narrowed its third-quarter net loss to $305,000 for the period ended Sept. 30.

TAIPEI -- Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai) reported October revenues rose 49.8% year-over-year to NT$242.91 billion (US$8.05 billion). Sales slipped 4.2% from September's record mark on currency fluctuations.

MINNEAPOLIS – EMS firm Nortech Systems today reported third-quarter net sales of $26 million, up 39% year-over-year.

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Sparton Corp. reported first-quarter fiscal 2011 net income of $4.1 million, up 193% year-over-year.

Net sales were $45.8 million, down 4.9% compared to the same period last year, reflecting lower sales from the EMS segment due in part to the full disengagement from Honeywell during the first half of fiscal 2010.

EMS segment sales for the quarter were $12.3 million, down 30% compared to the same fiscal 2010 quarter. Gross profit for the segment was $907,000, down 10.9% year-over-year.

The gross profit percentage on EMS sales increased to 7%, compared to 6% for the same period last year.

"Within our EMS segment, we saw improved performance as a result of our aggressive cost improvement program," said Sparton president and CEO Cary Wood. "Volume, combined with continued production efficiencies, will be the key to sustained profitability of our EMS business. While current manufacturing schedules for the second quarter reflect lesser demand from certain customers in this segment, we remain confident in our ability to recover this sales volume in future quarters based on overall segment backlog and recent new business development wins."

BILLINGSTAD, NORWAY -- Kitron swung to a third-quarter net profit of NOK 5.1 million ($864,250), up from a loss of NOK $661,000 a year ago.

TORONTO -- SMTC Corp. reported third-quarter net income rose 1,100% from a year ago to $2.6 million.

NEW YORK -- Electronics manufacturing services companies built inventory in the September quarter, the second straight period component stocks have risen.

SINGAPORE -- Surface Mount Technology Holdings' September quarter net loss widened 9.5% to HK$13.8 million ($1.78 million) as higher wages at its China factories took their toll.