EL SEGUNDO, CA -- OEM semiconductor spending is expected to grow 8.6% in 2007, driven by consumer electronics, iSuppli said.

Citing spending habits of 181 OEMs, the research firm projected the U.S. would design products worth an estimated $68.7 billion of ICs in 2007, up 9% from $63.1 billion in 2006.

Second place Japan will design in ICs worth a total of $44.1 billion in 2007, up 4.7%, iSuppli said.

NEENAH, WI – Plexus Corp. reported first-quarter revenue of $381 million, in line with previous estimates. The company warned that previously expected military program ramps were not materializing as expected.

For the quarter ended Dec. 30, the company reported profits of $15 million and gross margins of 10.4%.

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ROCHESTER, NY – EMA Design Automation announced that it has acquired the Chronology Division of Forte Design Systems. No terms were announced. As part of the deal, EMA acquired TimingDesigner, an interactive timing analysis tool.  
 

ST. LOUIS, MO - Laird Technologies has acquired AeroComm for $38 million. AeroComm designs and manufactures wireless communications systems for low- to mid-volume OEM applications.  Key applications include gaming machines, industrial automation, lighting controls, heavy equipment telemetry, athletic event scoreboards, wheel alignment sensor systems, and automatic utility meter readers. Lenexa, KS-based AeroComm reported 2006 profits of $2.9 million.

Laird designs and manufactures antenna solutions, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding products, telematics, signal integrity products and thermal management solutions.