A memory manufacturer with 300mm fabs in Asia has ordered two Nexion anisotropic etch tools, the first official orders Mattson Technology has received since announcing evaluations were under way with a memory manufacturer in 2006. 

Market research firm In-Stat believes that demand for semiconductors will soften in 2008 compared to the strong demand seen in 2007. Growth is being pegged at only 2.4 percent for the year, while worldwide semiconductor revenue is expected to grow to $261.9 billion in 2008. Semiconductor revenue growth is forecast to be 7.4 percent in 2009, followed by 9.7 percent and 11.6 percent in 2010 and 2011, respectively. 

Fab automation and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) provider CIMAC has established a software development center in Sofia, Bulgaria that is intended to extend its capabilities for customer projects and internal applications. 

The 2007 Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (SEMS) Report from SEMI clearly highlights the rapid ascendance of Taiwan as the leading capital equipment purchasing region. Semiconductor equipment sales to Taiwan grew 46 percent to reach $10.65 billion over 2006, the first time Taiwan spent more on semiconductor equipment than any other region. 

SMIC has said that it is in advanced negotiations with an unidentified strategic investor that could purchase a major share in the China-based foundry. Negotiations are currently ongoing. SMIC also said that certain members of the management of the Company may be interested in purchasing shares of the Company in the open market if appropriate conditions exist. 

Siltronic Samsung Wafer Pte. Ltd, the joint venture 300mm wafer production fab in Singapore, is expected to aggressively ramp production starting in the first half of 2008. The production of qualification wafers is already ongoing, according to Wacker AG, Siltronic’s parent company in disclosing full-year financial results. Construction started in August 2006. 

Wuhan Xinxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (WXIC) has purchased a Suprema photoresist strip system from Mattson Technology for its first 300mm fab in Wuhan, China, operated by SMIC. The tool has already been shipped and marks the 100th Suprema tool shipment since introduced two years ago. 

There were no changes in the positions of the top five biggest semiconductor companies by revenue, according to iSuppli Corp’s release of its 2007 Top 25 semiconductor suppliers list by revenue. Intel, Samsung, Texas Instruments, Toshiba and STMicroelectronics retained the 1 to 5 slots respectively. However, two of the top five companies (Samsung and TI) posted revenue declines in 2007 compared to 2006. iSuppli does not include foundries in its semiconductor suppliers rankings table. 

90nm production of Spansion’s NOR flash devices using foundries such as TSMC is set to be reduced dramatically in the coming months as manufacturing efficiencies resulting in increased output at its Austin, Texas Fab25 (200mm) and SP1 (300mm) fab in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan are realized, the company said. 

CSMC Silicon Foundries has acknowledged a mask manufacturer for the first time as its best supplier in 2007. Under its ‘Top 10 Best Supplier Award’ system, Toppan Photomasks was the recipient of the award. 

Wuhan Xinxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation has purchased Novellus Systems’ VECTOR Express CVD platform for its 300mm fab that will be managed and operated by SMIC. The shipment also meets a new milestone for Novellus in its being the company’s 100th tool delivered to China. 

According to the latest 2007 semiconductor equipment supplier rankings from VLSI Research, ASML has been strengthening its position as the number one lithography supplier, by revenue, in recent years. 

Air Liquide Electronics has cited ‘serious tensions in the supply chain’ with respect to silane (monosilane, SiH4), forcing the company to raise prices immediately for silane by 20 percent as contracts allow. The move comes closely behind Air Liquide’s announcement on the 6th of March, 2008 that it plans to triple silane production. 

Intel Corporation’s most prestigious award for suppliers - the Supplier Continuous Quality Improvement (SCQI) award - has been given to 13 suppliers in its 2007 honors list. Six companies that featured in the 2006 SCQI awards also appeared in the 2007 listing. These included: Asymtek; Daewon Semiconductor Packaging Industrial Company; DISCO Corporation; Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation; Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc; Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc and Kelly Services, Inc. 

With the introduction of new advanced materials and processes for its 45nm technology node migration in 2007, Intel Corporation has acknowledged some of its suppliers that were critical to its ability to migrate to the new node within its Preferred Quality Supplier (PQS) awards for 2007. A total of 35 suppliers were honored. 

Axcelis Technologies’ Board of Directors has rejected the $6.00 per share offer for the company by Sumitomo Heavy Industries. Axcelis cited the continued under-valuation such an offer makes when considering Axcelis’s business potential with its suite of Optima implant tools and the value in SEN, the joint venture implant business between Axcelis and SHI, the Axcelis board said in a statement.