SAN JOSE – The 90-day moving average orders among North America-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers rose 1.4% sequentially in December. Orders were up 68% from a year ago, the SEMI trade group said.

FRANKFURT – In October, Germany’s total PCB sales grew 28% year-over-year, and dropped 1.6% sequentially, says ZVEI.

SANTA CLARA, CA – As the transition to flat panel TV nears completion, TFT LCD TV panel demand is slowing, from 41% year-over-year in 2010 to 8.3% in 2011, says DisplaySearch.

Total TFT LCD panel area demand is expected to increase 10.4% in 2011, resulting in 11% TFT LCD glass area demand growth, accounting for time shifts and production yields, the firm says.

Coming out of a tight supply situation in 2009, TFT LCD glass substrate manufacturers have significantly increased capacity in 2010, with area growth estimated to be 32% year-over-year. DisplaySearch forecasts 13% year-over-year capacity growth in 2011. With panel makers cutting back on utilization, the firm predicts an oversupply situation in the first quarter, with a glut of 12.8%.

From the second quarter of 2009 to the second quarter of 2011, the quarterly area capacity of TFT LCD glass production is expected to increase 42%. The growth will be accomplished with a 15% increase in the number of tanks.

EL SEGUNDO, CA -- The global outsourced manufacturing industry sits at a crossroads heading into 2011, according to research firm iSuppli.