PALO ALTO, CA—Robots will play an increasing role in electronics assembly in the coming years, says Douglas Alexander of Component Engineering Consultants.

CUPERTINO, CA—Apple Inc. plans to spend more than $100 million next year to reshore production of its Mac computers,

BANNOCKBURN, IL—Following economic setbacks in 2009, the world market for electronics manufacturing services continued to recover in 2011 and 2012 and is projected to grow this year 9.4 percent globally and 8.9 percent in North America.

RENTON, WA—Microscan is broadcasting two free webinars Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 that will discuss the latest developments in machine vision and auto ID for electronics assembly.

TIJUANA, Mexico—Electronics manufacturing services provider Sigmatron has opened a new assembly plant here.

BANNOCKBURN, IL—The IPC has released its first standard covering the solder paste printing process.

BROMONT, Canada—A public-private partnership has opened a new, $218 million research center here that will focus on microelectronics testing, assembly and packaging.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL—A thin nickel barrier will slow the rate of intermetallic growth between the base metal and surface plating on component leads.

RENO, NV—EE Technologies has added a third shift at its electronics assembly plant here. The contract manufacturer is also installing a new assembly line.

PALO ALTO, CA—A man who bought an HP laptop found an unexpected file on the machine’s hard drive: a video showing life on the Chinese assembly line where the computer was made.