LevelOne, the trading name of Digital Data Communications GmbH (DDC), has announced plans to expand its business in Australia. [ + ]

When Curiosity landed on Mars recently it contained OmneticsConnector’s miniature and low-weight nanoconnectors used within two miniature inertial measurement units. [ + ]

The third-annual Smart Grid Electronics Forum (SGEF ’12) will be held on 16, 17 October 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. [ + ]

More than 80 exhibitors will be on show when Electronex opens its doors for two days from 12-13 September at the Australian Technology Park, Sydney. [ + ]

A team of researchers at RIKEN and the University of Tokyo has demonstrated a new material that promises to eliminate loss in electrical power transmission. The surprise is that their methodology for solving this classic energy problem is based on the first realisation of a highly exotic type of magnetic semiconductor first theorised less than a decade ago - a magnetic topological insulator. [ + ]

Researchers have recently developed a design that allows electronics to bend and stretch to more than 200% their original size, four times greater than is possible with today’s technology. The key is a combination of a porous polymer and liquid metal. [ + ]

element14 (formerly Farnell) has expanded its partnership with Hammond Manufacturing to bring its enclosures to the Asia-Pacific, resulting in the claimed largest locally stocked inventory in the region. [ + ]

Seven organisations have launched oneM2M to develop specifications for the global functionality of M2M. [ + ]

Bemis has signed an agreement with Thin Film Electronics. [ + ]

New EU legislation says waste batteries and accumulators must be recycled. [ + ]

Mouser has an industrial application training site available. [ + ]

RS Components has signed an agreement with ON Semiconductor.

Fluke Australia is supporting the NMIT 2012 Study Grants Program. [ + ]

element14 (formerly Farnell) has announced a new agreement with Atmel Corporation that expands its inventory to include a comprehensive range of microcontrollers, capacitive touch products, advanced logic, mixed signal, non-volatile memory products and radiofrequency components for segments such as automotive, home and industrial automation, lighting, metering, mobile electronics and PC peripherals. [ + ]

Mouser has signed an agreement with Intersil to distribute its products.