North American PCB sales and orders decreased in November

Year-over-year sales and order growth turned negative in November, and the book-to-bill ratio declined to 1.01, says the iPC.

Total North American PCB shipments in November 2018 were down 3.0 percent compared to the same month last year. This year to date, shipments are 8.6 percent above the same period last year. Compared to the preceding month, November shipments decreased 9.9 percent. PCB bookings in November were down 12.5 percent year-over-year. Year-to-date order growth was 6.6 percent above the same period last year. Bookings in November were down 16.6 percent from the previous month. “North American PCB industry sales growth in November fell into negative territory for the first time in 16 months, and orders also decreased sharply compared to the same month last year,” said Sharon Starr, IPC’s director of market research. “The decrease in orders brought the PCB book-to-bill ratio down to its lowest level in almost two years. It is still in positive territory, but just barely. The 22-month run of positive ratios may be nearing its end, but it still offers an indication of potential sales growth for a few more months at least.”

On the heels of its acquisition of manufacturing and IP assets from i3 Electronics Inc., TTM Technologies has announced the opening of a new engineering center in Binghamton, NY.

Seven member states will provide, in the coming years, up to EUR 3.2 billion in funding to support research and innovation in the common European priority area of batteries.

Growth is slowing worldwide and the industry’s outlook is less optimistic than in previous quarters, although it is still generally positive, according to the results of IPC’s fourth-quarter 2019 Pulse of the Electronics Industry survey.

Teradyne has hit a milestone with the 6,000th shipment of the J750 family of semiconductor testers.

Sponsored content by Würth Elektronik eiSos

In order to measure the oxygen content reliably, LEDs with high performance, constant quality and low scattering are needed as light sources. Würth Elektronik offers suitable components.

Season Group has appointed Stephen Tsao as the company's new Senior Vice President, Global Business Development.

Mr. Adam Meinert recently joined ZESTRON as the Sales Director of Europe.

Sypris Electronics LLC has been awarded a contract from Collins Aerospace in association with NASA’s Orion Spacecraft project.

NexLogic Technologies Inc. has announced its entry into assembly and manufacturing of implantable medical devices, a rapidly growing segment in the medical electronics market.

International Wire Group (IWG) has acquired New York-based Owl Wire and Cable from Marmon Holdings Inc.

ZF Friedrichshafen AG is establishing a third Chinese R&D centre in Guangzhou southern China. Representatives of ZF and the local authorities have signed an agreement and ZF plans to invest approximately EUR 90 million in the new development center.