TEMPE, AZ – Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the 18th consecutive month, says the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI was 60.8%, up 2.3 percentage points sequentially. A reading above 50% indicates the manufacturing economy is generally expanding.

New orders hit 67.8%, up 5.8 points, while production registered 63.5%, up a slight 0.5 points. Inventories in January were 52.4%, up 0.6 points, and customer inventories grew 5.5 points to 45.5%. Backlogs went up 11 percentage points to reach 58%.

“The manufacturing sector grew at a faster rate in January, as the PMI registered 60.8%, which is its highest level since May 2004 when the index registered 61.4%. The continuing strong performance is highlighted as January is also the sixth consecutive month of month-over-month growth in the sector. New orders and production continue to be strong, and employment rose above 60% for the first time since May 2004. Global demand is driving commodity prices higher, particularly for energy, metals and chemicals,” said ISM spokesperson Norbert J. Ore. 

The overall economy grew for the 20th consecutive month, according to the firm.

OXFORD, CT – Mirtec reported revenue for its North American sales and service division grew more than 62% in fiscal 2010.

The firm attributes the growth to its MV-7 automated optical inspection machines.

CAVE CREEK, AZ -- The High Density Packaging User Group International has launched a project group focusing on printed wiring board environmental life-cycles.

SPOKANE VALLEY, WA -- Key Tronic kept its profitability streak intact, reporting net profits of $1.7 million for its fiscal second quarter ended Jan. 1.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PWB shipments in December increased 13.3% year-over-year and orders rose 2.9% compared to the same month in 2009.

SMYRNA, GA — UP Media Group today announced the opening of Printed Circuit University, the industry’s first online e-learning and training resource for professionals involved in the engineering and design of printed circuit boards and related technologies.

HONG KONG -- Surface Mount Technology Holdings, a top 50 EMS company, reported a fiscal third-quarter loss of HK$27.4 million ($3.5 million), more than twice its loss of a year ago.

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The United States PTO Jan. 25 has issued a patent for an electrical PCB connector to Lotes Co. of Taiwan.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Illinois Tool Works' Power Systems and Electronics unit saw revenue climb 22.8% percent in the fourth quarter versus the year-ago period, capping a strong year.

SHENZHEN -- Electronics ODM SinoHub sold approximately 1.15 million mobile phones in 2010, its first full year of operations, and is adding scores of new reference designs to aid customers.

VELDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS -- Last month, H2 Equity Partners announced a deal to acquire Assembléon, putting to rest the lingering speculation over where the placement OEM would end up after longtime parent Philips put the company on the block.

H2 is buying a company that has rebounded strongly -- revenue was up 90% in 2010 -- from the last recession, and comes with its channel and equipment partners (namely, Yamaha) intact. CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Editor in Chief Mike Buetow spoke this week with Assembléon CEO Andre Papoular about the pending deal and what it means for the company going forward.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL -- Dover Corp.'s Electronic Technologies unit reported fourth-quarter net earnings almost doubled as sales rose 39% to $405 million.