MILWAUKEE – Rockwell Automation will close plants in Dublin, GA, and Sumner, IA, next year and lay off more than 300 workers, the company said.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – Saying the electronics manufacturing industry is now “out of the hypergrowth phase,” iSuppli today forecast the sector would grow an anemic 1.1% compounded annually between 2009 and 2013.

WASHINGTON – The Semiconductor Industry Association today presented its 2009 Innovation Leadership Award to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for spearheading the development of the Democratic Innovation Agenda and for her strong support for funding the science and education provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the America COMPETES Act.

ALAMEDA, CA – Quarterly Forum, the now-former electronics manufacturing research arm of Technology Forecasters Inc., has launched a regular newsletter looking at the key levers impacting the economy.

CRAN GEVRIER, FRANCE – Prodelectronic has acquired DEK’s platform product sales business and stencil sales and manufacturing business in France. Terms of the deal, which was finalized on June 5, were not disclosed.