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SAN JOSE – Electronics manufacturing services provider SMTC Corp. today said it has agreed to acquire the outstanding shares of EMS firm ZF Array Technology, with operations here and in China.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board shipments in July fell 12.1% year-over-year, says IPC. Orders decreased 16% compared to July 2010.

BEIJING – Environmental groups have published a report criticizing Apple’s supply chain in China for alleged environmental pollution.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — DRAM inventories have spiked, and a predicted 16% rise in shipments during the current period will further aggravate pricing pressure for the foreseeable future, a leading research firm said.

JASPER, IN – Kimball International said it would transfer all work at its Fremont, CA, electronics assembly facility by the end of September to its plant here, according to published reports.

SANTA CLARA, CA – Shipments of 3D-capable large-area TFT LCD panels increased to 5.2 million units in the second quarter, up 124% sequentially.

Shipments of 3D panels were primarily for LCD TVs, reaching 4.9 million units during the period, up 118% sequentially, and pushing the 3D penetration in LCD TV panels from 4.5% in the first quarter to 9.3% in the second, says DisplaySearch.

Panel makers are targeting 53% growth in 3D LCD TV panel shipments for the third quarter.

“The LCD TV panel industry has been in oversupply for more than a year, and panel makers are motivated to develop new features like LED and 3D to increase value. Although there are still doubts about whether the market is ready for 3D, 3D penetration is increasing due to falling prices and the ability to produce panels,” said David Hsieh, vice president, Greater China Market, DisplaySearch.

In addition to TV, 3D monitor panel shipments are growing rapidly, from less than 80,000 units in the first quarter to more than 250,000 in the second quarter, thanks to adoption in gaming and other special application monitors, says the research firm. Panel makers expect to double shipments in the third quarter.

Volumes of 3D panels for notebook PCs are still relatively small, with less than 100,000 units shipped in the second quarter. However, panel makers are promoting shutter glass, pattern retarder, and autostereoscopic solutions to the gamer and entertainment-focused notebook users. Shipments are expected to grow 126% in the third quarter.

For LCD TVs, larger panel sizes are seeing faster penetration of 3D, as the benefits are clearer. In 40" and larger LCD TV panel shipments, 3D penetration increased from 12.7% in the first quarter to 21.7% in the second. TV panel makers are aiming to reach 28.2% in the third quarter.