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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (35798)	7/17/2000 9:22:16 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 70976

Dismal Period For Semiconductor Factory Automation Suppliers As Recession Takes Hold in 2002 Says The Information Network Business Editors NEW TRIPOLI, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2000--Factory automation suppliers will see a large uptick in orders through mid-2002 followed by a severe downturn in 2003, according to the report Semiconductor Factory Automation: Technology Issues And Market Forecasts, recently published by The Information Network, a New Tripoli, PA-based market research company. The market for carrier transport systems includes interbay and intrabay equipment marketed by companies such as PRI Automation (Nasdaq:PRIA), Daifuku, Murata, Rorze, Asyst (Nasdaq: ASYT) and Shinko. In 1999,Daifuku was the market leader with a 21.1% share, of the carrier transport market. The fab expansion in Asia will maintain the overall Japanese dominance in the market. "The carrier transport is extremely volatile," notes Dr. Robert N. Castellano, President of The Information Network. "That market dropped 50% in 1998 and increased only 6% in 1999, significantly less than the equipment and IC markets. We see growth through the first-half of 2002 due to a significant number of 200mm and 300mm fab announcements. The market will peak in 2002 at $678 million before the next cyclical recession takes hold in 2003 due to excessive capacity increases (i.e., new fabs) built in the 2000-2002 time frame, then drop to pre-2001 levels at $575 million in 2004." Manufacturing execution software (MES) suppliers will also be negatively impacted. Vendors include PRI Automation, Brooks Automation (Nasdaq: BRKS), and Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT). "Merchant robotics manufacturers will feel the negative effects, but not until 2003, added Dr. Castellano. Leading suppliers include Brooks Automation, PRI Automation, Daihan, Asyst, and Rorze. The Information Network is the leading consulting and market research company addressing the semiconductor, computer, and telecommunications industries. Web - www.theinformationnet.com E-mail - tin@theinformationnet.com