We headed to IPC Apex Expo in late January not certain of what to expect. The backdrop, of course, was one of job upheaval. Blue chip tech companies were announcing large-scale layoffs, and the “disengagement” counts were starting to accumulate in striking fashion. To wit:

• HP: 4,000 to 6,000
• Dell: 6,650
• Google: 12,000
• IBM: 3,900
• Meta: 11,000
• Microsoft: 10,000
• Twitter: Everyone except Elon Musk and a couple of engineers brought over from Tesla*

HONG KONG – ASMPT reported revenue of HK$4.33 billion ($553.1 million) for the fourth quarter, a decline of 5.1% from the previous quarter.

TAIPEI – Foxconn Technology Group has leased a 293-acre plot of land to build new smart warehouses in Zhengzhou, the same Chinese city where the company operates the world's largest iPhone plant.

REDMOND, WA – Data I/O announced net sales of $7.3 million in the fourth quarter, up 14% compared to the $6.4 million in sales in the fourth quarter of 2021.