BANNOCKBURN, Ill., USA, March 3, 2011 ― IPC Director of Market Research Sharon Starrs latest reports show signs of an uneven economic recovery in the electronics manufacturing industry with pronounced geographic and sector differences. She will co-present this industry data and more at the Global Business Outlook Keynote with noted industry analyst Walt Custer, president of Custer Consulting Group, on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at IPC APEX EXPO in Las Vegas. With some sectors leaping ahead and others struggling to maintain momentum, planning can be quite challenging, notes Starr. Companies cant rely on generic industry growth statistics in this type of environment. Our keynote will present the latest data by type of business, sector and by geography, which provides invaluable indicators for the future. Weve named the speech Navigating the Recovery because the environment is still quite difficult and competitive, says Custer. Companies need to focus on profitable sectors and customers that provide real opportunities. Being able to take advantage of the recovery requires a lot of agility and insight.

I think this hour will be very valuable for planning in the year ahead. Custer and Starr will provide forecasts and trends for electronics equipment and component markets and discuss how seasonal and cyclical trends affect the industry and the supply chain. The Global Business Outlook keynote session is free to all registrants of IPC APEX EXPO 2011. The worlds premier technical conference and exhibition for printed board design and manufacturing, electronics assembly and test, IPC APEX EXPO will take place at the Mandalay Bay Resort Convention Center in Las Vegas, April 12?14, 2011. Exhibit hall registration is FREE to pre-registrants and includes access to the keynote sessions, BUZZ Sessions and other free activities. For more information, visit www.IPCAPEXEXPO.org.  About IPC IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global trade association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 2,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $1.85 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Garden Grove, Calif.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore, India; and Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, China.