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ALLEN, TX -- Sanmina-SCI has signed a deal to assemble certain components designed by Enablence Technologies and used in household optical modems, the companies told a local paper. Financial terms were not disclosed.

SAN FRANCISCO -- A September poll of CIOs predicts IT budgets will grow 6.5% over the next 12 months, down slightly from 6.9% in June.

Optimism among CIOs at the biggest companies was higher than in the previous two quarters, suggesting seasonal strength among the biggest companies as the year ends, said Deutsche Bank, which cosponsors the poll.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — Rigid PCB shipments by North American fabricators rose 8% in August while bookings climbed 7.7% year-over-year, according to a monthly poll. Flex circuit shipments were up 27% and bookings were up 30.5% percent, IPC said.

The rigid board book-to-bill ratio rose 0.04 points to 1.06, and the flex circuit book-to-bill ratio was up 0.04 points to 1.05. The overall ratio was also 1.05, up 0.03 points. The ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests probable near-term growth.

Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are up 10.6%, and bookings are up 13.8%. Flex circuit shipments are up 4.5%, bookings are down 8.4%.

Combined shipments in August increased 9.3% from a year ago and bookings increased 9%. Year to date, combined shipments are up 10.2%, bookings are up 12.1%. Rigid PCBs make up an estimated 85% of the North American market, IPC said.

The data reflect sales, not production, IPC notes. For the month, 89% of the PCB shipments reported were produced in the U.S. or Canada. Furthermore, about 26% of the flex circuit sales comes from value-added services.

SAN JOSE – Worldwide sales of semiconductors reached an all-time monthly record of $20.5 billion in August, rising 10.5% over August 2005, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported Monday. Sales increased 2.1% from July.

The previous record for one-month worldwide chip sales was $20.4 billion in November 2005.

AUSTIN, TX -- Dell Inc. will hire 500 more engineers for its product development operations in Texas. In a press conference, company executives said hiring would begin immediately for electrical, software and mechanical engineers and program managers.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Top Tier EMS provider Jabil Circuit will take a $120.2 million fourth-quarter restructuring charge as it prepares to close certain plants, according to a company SEC filing. While industry speculation has centered on the possible closing of one to two plants in the U.S., the filing was not specific but implied that certain changes would take place abroad.