SAN JOSE, CA—Automation is enabling Altierre, a manufacturer of electronic signs, to compete with low-cost overseas competition. And, says the company’s CEO, manufacturers of other products can follow his example.

PEORIA, IL—Midwestern contract manufacturer Advanced Technology Services finds that U.S. military veterans can ably fill its urgent need for skilled workers.

FREMONT, CA—Silevo Inc. has created a new solar cell that is more than 21 percent efficient converting sunlight into electricity.

COLUMBUS, IN—Supply chain management company The Phoenix Group has begun building a $15 million assembly plant here.

FREMONT, CA—Seagate Technology has offered $90.3 million to buy Solyndra’s cavernous solar-panel assembly plant here. Solyndra declared bankruptcy and closed the plant last year.

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.

DETROIT—For automakers, one of the biggest headaches posed by infotainment systems is instant obsolescence. With its three- to five-year product cycles, the auto industry simply can’t keep up with the short product cycles of smart phone makers. New applications produced for smart phones often aren’t compatible with the dated software and hardware found in autos.