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Probe card sales fell 13.9 percent in 2007, says VLSI Research
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VLSI Research has reported that sales of probe cards used for
testing IC wafers were down to 13.9% in 2007, half of the five-year
historic average growth rate, which has been much higher than the
overall semiconductor industry growth rates at an average annual growth
rate of 28 percent. Weakness in the semiconductor industry in general
was to blame for the fall, according to the market research firm.
Sales of probe cards are forecast to reach $1.41 billion 2008 up
from $1.36 billion in 2007, which represents an annual growth of only
3.4 percent. The main reason for the low growth is due to the poor
memory market conditions, especially in DRAM.
However, VLSI Research projects that the probe card market will reach $2.4 billion by 2012.
In
2007, FormFactor, Micronics Japan Co. and JEM maintained their strong
lead at the top of the supplier ranking, while Phicom moved into 4th
position, up from 6th in 2006. SV Probe was the 5th largest supplier.
