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ALAMEDA, CA - Technology Forecasters' June conference on the EMS supply chian will be hosted by Microsoft at the software giant's main campus in Seattle.

The conference, known as Quarterly Forum, takes place June 9-10.

Microsoft recently joined the Quarterly Forum for Electronics Manufacturing Outsourcing and Supply Chain to strengthen relationships with outsourcing and supply chain partners in the electronics industry.

In a statement, a company spokesman said Microsoft is hosting the event "to help our suppliers and supply chain partners learn about and put in practice new business efficiencies to our mutual benefit."

TFI will release its annual benchmarking study on the EMS industry in June.

WEST CHICAGO, IL - M-Wave Inc. has acquired the assets of Jayco Ventures Inc. for approximately $1.4 million, the company said today.

M-Wave brokers printed circuit boards and components.

M-Wave, which released its fourth-quarter results last week, upped its 2005 guidance to $34.6 million, nearly double 2004's sales. M-Wave projects revenues of $15.3 million from JVI.

M-Wave will also split into two operating units, with its PCB unit becoming M-Wave Electro-Mechanical Group. Bob Duke, VP of sales and marketing, was named divisional president.

The other unit, M-Wave Digital Broadband Services, will manage JVI's assets, and will do business as JVI Technologies. JVI founder Jason Cohen was named the subdiary's president.

M-Wave expects revenue for its fourth-quarter ended Dec. 31, of $3.89 million, up 17% over the fourth quarter of 2003. Gross margin is expected to be 21%, up from 8%.

The annual revenue of $17.5 million for fiscal 2004 is up 23% increase from 2003. The net loss improved to $2.24 million, from $12.1 million last year. The 2004 results include a one-time charge of approximately $1.9 million.

The loss from operations was $1.2 million, versus $13 million in fiscal 2003. Gross margins improved to 18%, from a loss of 12%.

SAN FRANCISCO - Despite a modest improvement over January, CIO spending expectations are dropping from last year, according to the latest poll of the nation's tech leaders.

For the third straight month, large enterprises reduced spending expectations to 2% growth for the year.

Deutsche Bank, in a research note today, said growth rates for most major technology product areas will slow in 2005. DB forecasts IT spending will grow 4 to 5% this year, down one point from 2004.

Small companies - those with less than 100 employees - see higher IT spending. CIOs at these firms predict 8.7% growth this year. The largest companies (more than 5000 workers) are the most cautious, forecasting 2.2% growth.

Security is the top priority, with storage a close second.

Employees and customers alike could be forgiven for being confused when Ian deSouza became president of Universal Instruments Corp. last August. After all, he not only shared a first name with the person he superseded - Ian McEvoy - but the two have been close friends for years.

What is not confusing, however, is deSouza's approach to running the placement equipment maker. As senior vice president of operations he had been on the executive team for years and played a large role in formulating the company's strategy, first for recovery from the recession and now for a new industry growth phase.

An avid amateur pilot - he says his first solo came when he was "11 or 12" - deSouza spoke with Circuits Assembly's editor-in-chief Mike Buetow on Asia's maturity, the need for tighter development windows and the pros of decentralization. Excerpts.

LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES - Electronics manufacturing services provider IMI has achieved registration to the ISO/TS 16949:2002 quality standard, the highest international quality standard for the automotive industry. The company said it will increase its pursuit of automotive business.

In a press release, president and CEO Arthur R. Tan said, "Our ISO/TS 16949 certification ... improves our competitiveness in the automotive electronics market segment, which is anticipated by analysts to offer tremendous outsourcing opportunities in the coming years."

"The road has been paved for our increased presence in the automotive market and expanded business with our existing automotive electronics OEM customers."

IMI was certified in 2000 to QS 9000, the American automotive industry's quality standard.

ISO/TS 16949 is an international quality management system certification that harmonizes existing American, German, French, and Italian automotive standards into a single standard, eliminating the need for multiple certifications. It was developed by the International Automotive Task Force, which represents major automotive manufacturers in the world, in collaboration with the International Standards Organization.

ST. LOUIS -- Viasystems Group, once the largest PCB maker in North America, will shutter its remaining circuit board plants outside Asia while adding even more capacity in China.

The company will spend $60 million toward expanding its China operations. These funds will primarily be used to further expand its Chinese PCB production capabilities and enhance its technological capabilities.