SIMOX-SOI implant equipment company Ibis Technology has employed the investment bank BlueLake Partners to look at ‘strategic alternatives’ for the company that could include offering the company for sale. 

The addition of Applied Materials to the SOI Industry Consortium brings the total number of members to 20. The Consortium, formed in October, has the aim of generating greater awareness within the semiconductor industry as to the benefits of using silicon-on-insulator (SOI) for IC designs. 

Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments reached 8,661 million square inches (MSI) in 2007 with revenues topping $12.1 billion, according to the latest information from SEMI Silicon Manufacturer’s Group (SMG). The 21 percent revenue rise was attributed to an overall better product mix that saw continued increase in the use of 300mm wafers. 

In a new report from materials specialist market research firm Linx Consulting, the global market for CMP slurries and pads hit a record $1.2 billion in 2007 and is projected to reach $1.7 billion in 2011. 

Linde Group has said that it has been selected to supply high purity bulk gases to an under-construction 300mm fab in Dalian, China. Linde will also build an integrated nitrogen and oxygen plant as well as a hydrogen generator and supply systems for argon and helium. 

Matheson Tri-Gas and Global Gases & Chemicals, Dubai will cooperate to market specialty gases to customers requiring valued added products and services in the Middle East under Matheson’s Global ENABLE Program, which provides technology, know-how, and marketing expertise in the field. 

Demand from memory manufacturers around the world saw Air Products expand tungsten hexafluoride (WF₆) capacity at its Hometown, Pa., facility by 60 percent in 2007. Primarily used to construct vias for metal layer interconnects as well as tungsten silicide conductive lines, Air Products said that it had made an exact manufacturing copy of its existing plant to ensure the same high-purity grade WF₆ is available, reducing the need for extensive re-qualification by customers.