Online information source for semiconductor professionals

Hynix Semiconductor has been reported to be cutting capital spending plans for 2008 by approximately $1 billion due to poor pricing of NAND and DRAM memory devices as overcapacity remains in the market. Read more >>

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. Read more >>

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. Read more >>

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. Read more >>

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. Read more >>

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. Read more >>

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. Read more >>

0nm 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. Read more >>

With memory manufacturers, especially NAND flash producers capital spending plans front-half year loaded and continued tightening of spending at the major foundries in 2008, the latest SEMI February 2008 Book-to-Bill ratio of 0.93 for February could be the best figures presented this year! Read more >>

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. Read more >>