ASM seeing gtrength:
ASM International sees recovery gaining strength
A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc.
Story posted 7:30 p.m. EST/4:30 p.m., PST, 6/17/99
BILTHOVEN, the Netherlands--ASM International N.V. here told shareholders that confidence was growing in the long-term recovery of the semiconductor capital equipment markets, and the company was well positioned to for the start of 300-mm wafer processing in the next couple of years.
"ASM International is now for the first time in its history ready to participate in a generation change from the first wave onwards," said Arthur del Prado, president and CEO of the equipment supplier, referring to the 300-mm wafer fabs.
Many equipment suppliers believe the move to larger wafer diameters may finally be starting up again after nearly stalling last year during the industry's sharp downturn in capital investments. Intel Corp. revived hopes of a 300-mm transition when the company announced last week that it was restarting its 12-inch wafer processing development project in Hillsboro, Ore. (see June 9 story).
ASM International also is seeing new orders for frontend and backend chip-production systems continuing to gain momentum in the current fiscal quarter, according to del Prado. In the company's fiscal first quarter, announced in early May, new orders were up 75% from the previous quarter, which ended last December. ASM International said its profits projection has improved since early last month. Currently, the company is forecasting 1999 fiscal net earnings to exceed last year's profits.
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