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Gartner ranks top semiconductor equipment companies; changes occurred in 2006 |
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Apr 05, 2007 at 04:20 PM |
 According to Gartner, capital spending trends in 2006 produced an ‘uneven investment pattern' dominated by memory manufacturers that saw equipment suppliers who are more dependent on this sector for business outshining others.
"This uneven investment pattern impacted relative equipment market share positions as well as the regional sales picture in 2006," said Klaus Rinnen, managing vice president for Gartner's semiconductor manufacturing research group. "Investments in Japan and Europe were below market, and North America grew at the market rate, while Asia/Pacific again led the charge with 32 percent growth."
Lam Research benefited the most, according to Gartner, as its revenues increased 64.1 percent in 2006. As a result Lam moved up two positions in Gartner's rankings, returning to fifth position, something not seen since 1997, the market research firm noted.
KLA-Tencor moved into fourth position (24.3 percent growth), up one place as it continued to gain market share in the process control market and made several acquisitions consolidating its position as the fourth largest equipment company by revenue.
ASML followed suit as it gained more market share from its rivals Nikon and Canon, according to Gartner, experiencing revenue growth of 46.5 percent in 2006 compared to 2005. Though the lithography tool supplier retained its number three ranking, it moved closer to second-placed Tokyo Electron.
Both Nikon and Canon achieved small growth improvements in 2006 but grew less than the average rate. Novellus was the only company to actually grow at the average rate (22.9 percent).
Both Advantest and Dainippon Screen were the only equipment suppliers in the top ten to see negative growth in 2006. Advantest saw -14.1 percent growth, while Dainippon Screen fell by only -0.4 percent.
Applied Materials grew by 37 percent in 2006 easily retaining the number one position with its closest rival Tokyo Electron achieving slower growth of 16.4 percent.
Gartner said that worldwide semiconductor capital equipment spending totalled $41.95 billion in 2006, a 22.9 percent increase from 2005.
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