I really don't disagree with you Ian. However, many of the companies (and I will use MOT as my example), have older fabs which they can revitalize. Some of the steppers you mention in the high end fabs still have larger footprints than the UTEK. When expanding these fabs, I could make a compelling argument to take some of the left over steppers and ship them to the older fabs in order to enhance their capabilities. I would replace them with UTEK systems since it would free up some valuable floorspace. IF the fab in question was lithography constrained, you could actually increase the wafer starts capacity in that facility.
Again, I do not disagree with you and it looks as if UTEK is not faring well here BUT if we took some of those 5X steppers and placed them elsewhere or sold them, the smaller footprint UTEK (based on both actual dimension and throughput) could actually increase capacity to a certain degree. What does this really mean?
I gave a comparative study before on mix/match which I can readily find but let's just say this strategy allow 100-200 additional starts for the facility or 5,000-10,000 per year. The revenue off this mre than pays for the systems ove rthe depreciation schedule especially since the other steppers have found new homes that improve the technological capabilties elsewhere. Sometimes all that is need to advance a technology in an older fab is one or two advanced steppers and maybe an etcher or two. I have been through retrofits like this before.
Again, I agree with you but I am a very persuasive guy. Give me the opportunity to talk to these guys and I will convince them and prove it through a comprehensive ROI.<GGG>
BTW-I take full credit for the ULTRATECH WEBSITE<GGGG>. You heard me whine about it a few weeks or months ago and volunteered to be hired to run it. I'll bet someone at UTEK (hi Scott Z) read my post and did just that. If so, I want my royalty for the idea. Payment in full is running UTEK up to 27 for all of us in the next 4-6 weeks<GGG>.
Otherwise, I will boycott the website<GGG>.
Have a good trading day and week, Ian.
Andrew |
