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

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (45201)	4/6/2001 3:48:53 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 70976

DUV lithography sales will grow 18% in 2001, predicts research firm Semiconductor Business News (04/06/01 13:13 p.m. EST) NEW TRIPOLI, Pa. -- Worldwide sales of semiconductor lithography tools are expected to grow 18% in 2001 from $6 billion in 2000 as more wafer fabs move to deep-ultraviolet (DUV) steppers and scanners for sub-0.18-micron process technologies, said a new report released today (April 6) by The Information Network. The New Tripoli research firm said DUV systems accounted for 62% of the total shipments of lithography tools in 2000, up from 57% in 1999. However, g- and i-line systems--used in process steps requiring feature sizes above 0.18 micron--still managed to hold a 36% market share in the lithography market last year, according to the report. "Nikon remained the largest supplier of lithography tools with a 36% share of shipments, followed by ASML," said analyst Robert N. Castellano, president of The Information Network. In a move to overtake Japan's Nikon Corp. as the largest supplier, ASM Lithography of the Netherlands is attempting to buy Silicon Valley Group Inc. for more than $1 billion in stock (see Oct. 2 story). ASML's purchase of San Jose-based SVG has been held up by a U.S. government review of defense-sensitive lens-polishing technology that has been used in spy satellites (see story). Even without SVG's lithography business, ASML has been moving up in market share, said Castellano. "In 1999, a 54% sales growth rocketed ASML into second place, compared to a 2% drop in Canon's 1999 sales," he noted. The report said average selling prices of steppers/scanners will increase to about $6.8 million in 2004, while unit shipments will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 2.5% because of the current industry slowdown. "Lithography is the single largest cost factor in semiconductor production, and lithography costs have risen faster than the overall equipment industry, Castellano said. "However, competitive pressures will keep ASP's increase at a CAGR of only 4.4% between 2000 and 2004 despite the movement to more expensive tools capable of smaller features and able to handle 300-mm wafers. "Fierce market share battles are underway and it is difficult to differentiate among the products on the market with respect to production capabilities," he said.