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To: Robert F. Newton who wrote (12695)	3/11/1998 10:37:00 AM
From: Trader X	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 17305

re IPEC...I give the chart 2 thumbs up.

To: Robert F. Newton who wrote (12695)	3/11/1998 11:31:00 AM
From: Andrew Vance	Respond to of 17305

AV--We get into the discussion of IPEC vs SFAM vs AMAT for the CMP business. If you ask others, they will probably rank IPEC #3 on this list. However, I will make 3 short comments. 1. The market that will open is so big, interest in the implementation beyond just the interlevel dielectrics has grown, and the throughput is still not as high as desired, that there is room for all 3 players in this market. 2. IPEC is a perfect takeover candidate for the likes of LRCX, if they can afford it since it makes a great unit system when coupled with the ONTRAK cleaning system. 3. CMP has yet to get out of the starting gate, in force, yet. When the rush begins, there will be a mad dash for systems. None of the 3 companies mentioned can deliver the initial onslaught of systems required. As such, "strange bed partners" will start to develop. Once you bring one company's system in, you usually go with it across a facility or two. The safe money would go after SFAM but the risk/reward scenario looks to me to have a better payback in the IPEC camp. I have seen the IPEC systems in operation and they do what they are supposed to do at high quality levels. They are also making leaps and strides in improving the throughput of their systems. I cannot see anyway around not using CMP at 0.25u or below AND on the huge 300mm implementation down the road. Andrew