By Semiconductor Business News
Jun 30, 2003 (5:55 PM)
URL: siliconstrategies.com
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- ASML Holding NV emerged as the world's largest supplier of lithography tools in what was considered a “bad year” for the overall industry in 2002, according to a report from VLSI Research Inc. today (June 30).
ASML topped Japan's Nikon Corp. for the first time in the market in 2002, but at the same time, the overall sector showed a decline for the second year in a row. By mid-2002, suppliers indicated that the IC scanner market could be down below 400 units for the year--or levels not seen since 1983. But a flurry of fourth-quarter shipments mainly from ASML saved the year from becoming a total disaster.
In fact, the Dutch-based company had a 35.2 percent market share in 2002, followed by Nikon with 33.5 percent, Canon Inc. with 24.9 percent, Ultratech Inc. with 6 percent, and Exitech Ltd. with 0.3 percent, according to the San Jose-based research firm.
One of the few companies that managed to grow in a down year, ASML shipped 205 steppers, worth a total of $1.576 billion in 2002. “ASML's success relied heavily on their ability to deliver 193-nm steppers,” according to the report. “They accounted for 48 percent of the industry's stepper revenues and shipped more 193-nm systems than the rest of the suppliers combined in 2002. Additionally, ASML was the price leader with a weighted revenue of $7.7 million per system,” the report said.
Ultratech is the market leader for steppers sold in advanced packaging applications. “Similarly, Nikon and Canon both have a sizable business in LCD steppers, which can not be ignored. The LCD stepper market has remained relatively stable during this downturn and has provided steady revenue basis for both suppliers,” according to the report.
============================================================================
Cary or anyone:
UTEK has sold some steppers in the Japanese LCD market last quarter which seems like new business for them there.
biz.yahoo.com
Arthur W. Zafiropoulo, Ultratech chairman and CEO, stated, "These orders represent a valuable mix of new and repeat business, as well as multiple-system purchases, underscoring our leadership in advanced packaging and, specifically, gold bump. As the leading supplier of gold-bump stepper lithography tools, we believe we are qualified to help ensure that our customers in this burgeoning market are able to meet their display manufacturing partners' roadmaps."
Any idea if UTEK has some advantage to be gaining these new orders? The stock continues to do very well for me.
Kirk |
