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WASHINGTON, DC – Big industry production fell lower in September than it had since late 1974, largely as a result of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

The Federal Reserve reported production at US factories, mines and utilities plunged 2.8% last month, in addition to a 1% drop in August.

The Fed estimated hurricane-related disruptions accounted for about 2.25 points of the total drop. In addition, a strike affecting the commercial aircraft industry also was a factor, accounting for around 50 basis points.

Economists originally forecast a September decline of 0.8%.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The Emerging/Critical Interconnection Technology program will receive $2 million in federal appropriations for 2009, up 60% year-over-year.

The E/CIT program was created in 2002 to strengthen the Department of Defense and the US PCB industry.

Operated by Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane (IN) Division, E/CIT is designed to ensure the military has the latest technical capabilities, processes and equipment to support war-fighter requirements.

The program facilitates solutions to current military problems and evaluates leading-edge design and manufacturing technologies for future military and commercial requirements.

IPC is among the groups that has advocated for funds for the program.

SMYRNA, GA – UP Media Group Inc. seeks abstracts for PCB Design Conference East 2009, to be held Apr. 27 - May 1 in Waltham, MA.

The event at Westin Waltham Boston includes a one-day exhibition on Apr. 29.

PCB East is a five-day conference focusing on PCB design, engineering and fabrication. The conference is comprised of a three-day technical conference and a professional development certificate program of one- and two-day courses.

Papers and presentations of the following durations are sought for the technical conference: one-hour lectures and presentations, two-hour workshops, and half-day seminars.

Papers and presentations of one-day and two-day tutorials are sought for a professional development certificate program.

Suggested topics include high-speed, high-frequency and signal integrity; component placement; EMI/EMC analysis; thermal analysis; Pb-free processes (especially how they affect design and fabrication); environmental legislation (REACH, RoHS, etc.) and its effects; RF and microwave design; packaging design; mixed-signal design; area arrays; FPGA design and implementation; embedded passives and active devices; flexible circuitry; HDI design and technologies; PCB design/layout basics; component library creation and management; design for manufacture, test and assembly; design (including analog, digital and power supplies); PCB fabrication; surface finishes; industry forecasts, and business and supply chain issues.

Submit abstracts by Nov. 14 at www.pcbeast.com/speakers/abstract.shtml, or email requested information to knargitoth@upmediagroup.com.

If selected, final papers and presentations will be due in March.

Printed Circuit Design & Fab and Circuits Assembly magazines are media partners for the event.

For more information, visit www.pcbeast.com.

SEOUL -- The suitors for Daewoo Electronics include a US private equity firm and a Russian manufacturer, the company's creditors said today.

Woori Bank and Korea Asset Management, which own 97.5%of the South Korean consumer and white goods OEM, disclosed Ripplewood and Digilant Systems as finalists. The sale is expected to be completed by year-end.

ST. LOUIS – LaBarge Inc. has received an add-on contract for $7 million from Raytheon Missile Systems to continue to provide cables and electronics assemblies for the Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile.

The contract is in addition to the $9.2 million the firm announced last February.

Production at LaBarge’s Joplin, MO, and Huntsville, AK, facilities is expected to begin in November and continue through July 2010.

WOBURN, MA – From the ashes of MassTech EMS and Nexus Nano Electronics has come a new electronics manufacturing company: Newview EMS Corp.

Paul Walker, former founder and CEO of SMTC, is reportedly involved with the new company, as is Jerry Panos, the former CEO of MassTech and Neo Nano.

The new company is located at the former Nexus Electronics site on New Boston St. in Woburn, MA.

This new development marks an end to the various incarnations of Nexus Nano. Last November, Titan Global Holdings purchased the assets of Nexus Nano, including the former Nexus Electronics site in Woburn and the Nexus operations in Brandon, VT. The division was renamed Neo EMS shortly thereafter.

However, Titan quickly decided to sell the division. The Neo EMS facility in Vermont was closed Aug. 13. The company’s answering service references callers to Titan Global Holdings’s corporate headquarters in Richardson, TX.

Nexus had revenues of $12 million in the period ended June 30, 2007. Titan has not reported the group’s revenues for fiscal 2008.