Suntron provided more than 7,000 different finished products to Applied Materials, Suntron said in a press statement. The lawsuit claims that Suntron has been left with more than $18 million worth of unused and obsolete inventory.

"We are very pleased with these record-setting revenue levels for Nortech in the fourth quarter and for the entire year," said Mike Degen, president and CEO. "We will use this opportunity to leverage these strong results to expand our customer base and continue to invest in the Nortech brand and our infrastructure."

Throughout the year margin pressure was strong due to higher energy costs, increased commodity prices and international competition.

SANTA CLARA, CA -- Ambitech International has sold its Silicon Valley PCB fabrication and assembly division to a group of investors. Terms were not disclosed.

Hunter Technology Corp. was acquired by Ambitech in March 2001, right at the end of the peak of the North American electronics market. Hunter has been in business for nearly 40 years.

Hunter specializes in printed circuit board fabrication and electronics assembly for high-mix products for medical, aerospace, communications and capital equipment.

BANNOCKBURN, IL - Enforcement of existing international trade agreements is the main thrust of an industry lobbying effort this spring.

IPC is coordinating a industrywide call on Congress and the Bush Administration to press China to live up to its trade agreements.

The annual event, called Capitol Hill Day, will take place May 18, in Washington, D.C.

The message is that until the administration enforces present WTO commitments, and U.S. trading partners abide by them, Congress should suspend consideration of any new trade agreements, IPC said in a press release.

"It's important to compel our trading partners to abide by the agreed upon rules of international trade, especially China, who continues to manipulate its currency for manufacturing and export advantages," says John Kania, IPC director of government relations. "We hope that by meeting with senators and representatives, we'll be able to influence national policy and legislation as it moves through Congress."

(Doug Bartlett, founding director of the U.S. Printed Circuit Alliance, discussed this topic in his keynote speech at PCB West 2005. Visit http://www.pcdandm.com/pcdmag/pdf/pcbwest05_keynote.pdf.)

For more information on the lobbying effort contact Kania at jkania@ipc.org.