PR indicating sale of 2 medium current ion implanters to Taiwan.
Completed my review of ACLS last night and, while not convinced this is a great company, I do believe it's cyclical industry is coming back. And, having owned some NVLS during the last cycle, I am going to count on a profitability of amazing power within the next two year to propel ACLS above $20 a share whether it wants to go or not. I note with interest that the ACLS 2002 annual report says "...In high tilt/medium current equipment, where we have a small market share, Varian has a commanding market position...." (p.11 under the paragraph entitled "competition".) The MC3 is listed as a 300mm tool and I suspect there is either a mistake in the press release, or the fact that the equipment was sold to a 200mm fab does not mean it will stay a 200mm fab.
"Press Release Source: Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
Major Fab in Taiwan Orders Axcelis' MC3 Medium Current Ion Implanters
Wednesday November 12, 8:03 am ET
Axcelis' Record of Outstanding Customer Support Key to Order Win
BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2003--Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLS - News), today announced that a major 200mm fab in Taiwan has placed an order for two MC3 ion implanters for its advanced DRAM manufacturing lines. Axcelis has supported this customer with a suite of ion implanters since the company began DRAM production in 1996, and this medium current implant order builds on the strength of the long-standing relationship between the companies.
The two MC3 implanters will support medium current processes in and beyond the 110nm technology node. One system has already shipped; the second is expected to ship by the end of the year to the customer's manufacturing site in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Mike Luttati, Axcelis' chief operating officer, noted, "This order builds on the MC3's growing success in Japan, where our medium current line now holds over 20 percent market share. It's also testimony to the continued strength of the chip market in Taiwan, which continues to be one of the strongest IC markets in the world."
New forecasts from Taiwan's government show the production value of the region's chip industry growing to NT$817.5 billion this year, up roughly 25% year-over-year, according to a report from the Industrial Technology Intelligence Services (ITIS) unit of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Since its introduction in 2000, the MC3 has continued to gain market recognition for its ability to deliver precise implants with exceptional energy purity and low metal and cross contamination. Its single-wafer platform is ideally suited to high-tilt (0 degree - 60 degree) implant applications, but the system's evolutionary design and unique features support a broad range of implant needs, including highly productive low energy applications.
The MC3 is part of Axcelis' market-leading portfolio of implanters, which also includes the Ultra and Paradigm product lines for high current and high energy applications, respectively.
About Axcelis Technologies, Inc.
Axcelis Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, provides innovative, high-productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry. Axcelis is dedicated to developing enabling process applications through the design, manufacture and complete life cycle support of ion implantation, rapid thermal processing, and cleaning and curing systems. Axcelis Technologies has key technology centers in Beverly, Massachusetts, and Rockville, Maryland as well as in Toyo, Japan through its joint venture, SEN. The company's Internet address is: www.axcelis.com. ..."
I cut out the boilerplate. Lance |
