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

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (43776)	3/14/2001 9:31:57 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 70976

SEZ doesn't see pullback in tool business, expects 48% growth in 2001 Semiconductor Business News (03/14/01 14:49 p.m. PST) VILLACH, Austria -- The SEZ Group here today (March 14) reported net sales increased more than 100% in January and February from 28.8 million Swiss francs ($17.9 million) in the same months last year. The supplier of spin-process equipment for wafer fabs released sales figures and a highly optimistic forecast for 2001 while posting higher than expected results for 2000. Despite the industry's sharp downturn, SEZ said it expects net sales to increase 48% to 290 million Swiss francs ($175 million) in 2001 year, based the high number of system shipments during the first months of this year and expected orders for 300-mm tools. In a brief interview with SBNtoday, vice president Michael West said the company's advanced products for copper processing applications and 300-mm wafer fabs were holding up in the current market slump. "We are still seeing substantial orders, and right at this moment, we're not seeing the pullback that others are experiencing," said West, who is based in the U.S. and the head of strategic business development for SEZ. "We are pinching ourselves," he said, adding that the company continues to keep a close eye on business conditions. As of Feb. 28, the company said its order backlog was at 121.4 million Swiss francs ($72.8 million), compared to 57.4 million Swiss francs a year ago. SEZ said its book-to-bill-ratio for the January-February period was at 0.61, but the ratio reflects a high level of sales with some chip makers taking a"wait-and-see" stance in recent weeks. The supplier of spin-processing tools said a second-half recovery is expected, especially in 300-mm systems. "During 2001, we will continue to expand our product portfolio outside of our core market to address the entire market for wet chemical treatment of wafer surfaces," said Kurt Lackenbucher, senior vice president of SEZ Group. "This market has a total annual investment volume of $3 billion." The semiconductor equipment supplier said its net sales grew 133% to 195.2 million Swiss francs ($115.6 million) in 2000 from 83.4 million Swiss francs ($55.7 million) in 1999. SEZ Group's net income tripled to 31.8 million Swiss francs ($18.8 million) from 10.4 million Swiss francs in 1999.