TOYKO -- The first-day crowds at InterNepcon Japan, held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center last week, were enough to make getting through the aisles difficult. The following two days, navigation was even more demanding. The electronics industry in Japan is back in gear again.

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.