Philippine electronics manufacturer Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp. signed a $77-million agreement to acquire US-based antenna solutions provider Quintel. The transaction is scheduled to close on July 31, 2017.

INVECAS Technologies will acquire Lattice Semiconductor Corporation's HDMI design team and Simplay Labs subsidiary for $5 million. The deal includes transfer of about 150 R&D staff and assets in the US, India, and China, and is expected to close in August 2017.

Sysmex America, Inc. held a dedication ceremony for its expanded reagent manufacturing facility in Mundelein, Illinois. The $24 million investment nearly doubles square footage and increases production capacity by nearly 80 percent.

Sterling Packaging is investing $6 million in a new 60,000 sq ft building at Monroeville Industrial Park in Alabama, creating up to 55 jobs. The investment is backed by state, county and city incentives totaling $3.2 million.

Prodea Systems, Inc. announced it has acquired Arrayent Inc., forming the world's first carrier-grade IoT services platform. Terms were not disclosed.

Kripke Enterprises, Inc., a nonferrous scrap metal brokerage, has acquired Mid South Aluminum, Inc., an aluminum coil distributor based in Jackson, Tennessee. Combined 2017 sales are expected to exceed $160 million.

Konecranes received an order for 9 rubber-tired gantry cranes from Port Houston, Texas, for delivery to the Bayport Container Terminal in early fall 2018. The cranes are part of a $1.4 billion port modernization project.

Wison Engineering (China) Co., Ltd. signed an EPFC contract with Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A. for a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) project in Texas, USA.

Foxconn and Rockwell Automation announced a collaboration to implement Connected Enterprise and IIoT solutions for smart manufacturing at Foxconn's new U.S. facilities and global electronics assembly operations.

Border States Electric has reached an agreement to acquire Kriz-Davis Co., an electrical distributor, and its subsidiary Chapman Metering. The acquisition is expected to close on August 28, 2017, pending regulatory approval.

Schneider Electric has signed an agreement to acquire ASCO Power Technologies, a leader in automatic transfer switches, from Vertiv for $1.25 billion in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition enhances Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Power Platform.

Carver Non-Woven Technologies is finishing installation of a new double-belt laminator/press from Sandvik TPS at its facility, with commercial production of pre-impregnated glass-mat thermoplastic composites starting in mid-August 2017.

DARcorporation and China-based Sterna Composite Aircraft Inc. agreed to a joint venture to open a manufacturing plant in Lawrence, Kansas, to produce composite propellers, creating 10 jobs initially.

Ritrama is expanding its existing Spartanburg County manufacturing facility with an additional $15 million investment, bringing total investment in South Carolina to $100 million.

John Deere and Wirtgen Group announced a merger, with complementary product lines in construction and road-building equipment, expanding John Deere's offerings.

Clariant and Huntsman Corporation announced a planned merger of equals to create HuntsmanClariant, a leading global specialty chemicals company, with an expected closing in December 2017 or January 2018.

Rand-Whitney Container cut the ribbon on a 65,000 sq ft expansion at its Pawtucket, Rhode Island facility on July 27, 2017. The addition, designed and built by PROCON, adds space to store surplus packaging materials.

ORBIS Corporation plans to expand its Bardstown, Kentucky facility to increase production and warehouse space, including new equipment. The total investment is $30 million, with 55 jobs to be hired.

Audubon Metals LLC is considering an addition to its Henderson, Kentucky building to house a fifth furnace for aluminum production. The total investment is $8.3 million, with 39 jobs to be hired.

Kentucky approved tax incentives for The Hillshire Brands Company to expand its Alexandria, Ky. operations, including a new wastewater treatment facility and warehouse cold storage. The total investment is $50 million, with 16 initial jobs and a target of 26 jobs in 10 years.

AstenJohnson Holdings Ltd. acquired the Northern Division of Foss Manufacturing Co. LLC for an undisclosed sum. The division will be renamed Foss Performance Materials.

Foxconn Technology Group announced it will invest $10 billion over four years to build a state-of-the-art LCD panel manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, creating 3,000 jobs with potential to grow to 13,000.

Varian Medical Systems installed a ProBeam cyclotron at the Georgia Proton Treatment Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The center, operated by Emory Healthcare, is scheduled to begin treating patients in late 2018 and will feature five treatment rooms.

Lawrence-based DARcorporation and China-based Sterna Composite Aircraft Inc. agreed to a joint venture to open a manufacturing plant in Lawrence, Kansas, to produce composite propellers for drones, airboats, and experimental aircraft. The plant is expected to create 10 jobs by end of 2017 and begin production by early 2018.

EnteroMedics inked a collaborative deal with Galvani Bioelectronics, a joint venture between GlaxoSmithKline and Verily Life Sciences, under which Galvani will use a modified vBloc system for pre-clinical research. EnteroMedics will receive payments and retain IP ownership.

Ansaldo STS and Hitachi Rail Italy, through Hitachi Ansaldo Baltimore Rail Partners, were awarded a $400.5 million contract from the Maryland Transit Administration to provide 78 rail cars and an advanced communications system for the Baltimore Metro.

AGCO Corp signed a definitive agreement to acquire Precision Planting LLC equipment business from The Climate Corporation. Terms were not disclosed.

Accord Healthcare acquired Essential Pharmaceuticals, gaining rights to sell Custodiol HTK Solution in the US and Canada.

Toshiba Mitsubishi Electric Industrial Systems announced the completion of a new power electronics plant in Katie, Texas, which began production in August 2017. The factory will produce power conditioning systems and motor drive inverters, tripling PCS production capacity.

Trinity EPI, a subsidiary of Trinity Shoring Products, acquired the assets of Efficiency Production, a manufacturer of trench shielding and shoring systems. The transaction closed in July 2017.

A&B Aerospace, a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings, entered into a two-year agreement with Precision Aerospace & Defense Group to manufacture and supply precision-machined aerospace and defense components. The agreement is effective July 23, 2026.

Prysmian Group North America is expanding its existing operations in Abbeville County, South Carolina, with a $14 million capital investment that will create 10 new jobs. The expansion will increase product manufacturing capacity for renewable energy projects such as wind farms.

United Technologies Corp. and Rockwell Collins announced a definitive agreement for UTC to acquire Rockwell Collins for $140.00 per share, in cash and stock, creating a premier aerospace systems supplier.

JENNCHEM, LLC, an affiliate of JENNMAR Corporation, will establish a manufacturing operation for heavy duty conveyor systems in Lebanon, Virginia, investing $5 million and creating 50 jobs. The facility will be located in the former Teleflex facility in Russell County Industrial Park.

Sepro America will more than double its manufacturing area in Warrendale, Pa., adding 11,000 sq ft for its first U.S. assembly of large robots for presses over 700 tons. Assembly is expected to begin by January 2018.

Team Technologies, Inc. will invest $6 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Morristown, Tennessee, creating 160 new jobs. The expansion will increase manufacturing capabilities and product lines.

Specialty chemicals distributor Dunleary Inc. announced the acquisitions of D. N. Lukens Inc. and D & F Distributing Inc.

The University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) has secured a $43 million contract from the US Air Force to develop non-metallic materials for air, space and ground vehicles. The seven-year contract was announced on July 25, 2017.

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) signed a new Long-Term Purchase Agreement with Pratt & Whitney to supply isothermal forgings and nickel-based powder alloys for next-generation jet engines, expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue from 2017 to 2030.

Sypris Electronics, a subsidiary of Sypris Solutions, received multiple contract awards from Harris Corporation to manufacture mission-critical electronic assemblies for U.S. Military and Space programs, including satellite and missile warning systems. Production is scheduled to start in 2017 and 2018.

PEER Bearing Company will assume responsibility of all industrial business from General Bearing Corporation (GBC), while GBC will take over PEER's automotive business. The transfer, effective October 2, 2017, aligns resources within the SKF Group.

Carolina Container, a subsidiary of New-Indy Containerboard, acquired Dixie Reel & Box Company, a corrugated packaging manufacturer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Terms were not disclosed.

Refresco agreed to acquire Cott's bottling activities for USD 1.25 billion, creating the largest independent bottler in Europe and North America, with completion expected in the second half of 2017.

Molin Concrete Products announced it will break ground on July 27, 2017 for a new 210,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The plant is expected to cost about $40 million and will increase production by 60% and employee base by 20% over five to eight years.

Lubrizol Corporation's Performance Coatings business announced an extensive upgrade to its Textile Coatings Center of Excellence in Gastonia, NC, a research and development facility for textile and non-woven coatings technologies.

DARcorporation and Sterna Composite Aircraft announced a joint venture, Sterna Composite Aircraft, Inc., based in Lawrence, Kansas, to provide integrated composite propeller and airframe solutions.

Aagard Group broke ground on a 40,000 square-foot expansion of its Alexandria, Minnesota facility, adding 31,000 sq ft of manufacturing space and new amenities. The company expects to move in by February 2018.

Basalt Infrastructure Partners II LP and DCO Energy announced an agreement to acquire Detroit Renewable Energy (DRE), parent company of Detroit Thermal, Detroit Renewable Power, and Hamtramck Energy Services.

Wison Engineering (China) Limited, an affiliate of Wison Engineering Services, has been awarded an EPFC contract by Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A. for a section of a Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) project in Texas. This is Wison Engineering's first contract in the American market.

Triumph Group signed a long-term agreement with Safran Nacelles to provide thrust reverser cowl opening system (TRCOS) actuators for the engine nacelle on the A320neo aircraft, with work performed in Clemmons, North Carolina.