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Technology Stocks : Dupont Photomasks (DPMI) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JMD who wrote (401)	3/19/1998 6:20:00 PM
From: Larry Brew	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 955

JMD, << ETEC and our super-semi future >> super-semi, nice ring huh! 1st, let me post their profile and put us all on the same wavelength. Something above 193nm. :-) ***************************************************************** With nearly 75% of its market, Etec Systems is the world's leading maker of equipment used to create photolithography mask patterns. The masks are in turn used to print delicate, detailed circuit patterns on semiconductor wafers. Etec has installed more than 190 of its specialized mask-patterning systems (priced at $3-12 million per unit) for such customers as mask makers DuPont Photomasks and Photronics and chip makers Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, and Samsung. It has a private consortium to develop next-generation (0.15-micron and 0.13-micron) mask-making equipment. Etec has facilities in Asia, Europe, and the US. **************************************************************** Clearly, there's not much current competition today. I'm assuming you understand CYMI patterns the wafer to determine the architecture of the level being exposed. Sort of what's black or white in a photo. The masks are used to determine the images for processing after photo development is complete. Again, like a photo. For many, I know this is getting basic, but there are those out there that see the semi process as magic. I still do. :-) I would relate CYMI as being the camera, the photomask as being the image to be taken and photoresist as film. Now for ETEC. They make the parts for the photomask. The question one must ask him/her self is: Am I happy with the limits of my present camera and photomask for the detail I want? As stated in the profile above, .15 and down is in the relative distant future. No sales here. Next, current technology of photomask building is geared for the .18 - .25 range. Anything larger is probably already in place, and why would a company want more of this technology. (or same camera in my analogy). It's history for sales. What will determine sales for ETEC will be the ramp up of .25u processing. Let's say, DPMI, PLAB, etc, have enough equipment to support current processing of .25u. They won't buy more equipment from ETEC. Now if .25 processing becomes rampant, sales out the gazoo for ETEC supplying the photomask shops! One thing's clear, this is a very volitale industry. Once a fab is equipped for .18 - .25, it'll run till they get a return on their investment. Here lies the DPMI press release of building .13 - .15 masks without other new fab equipment. I'm not technically competent in the mask making business, but think it's a laser process. I do think I know the technique of going to .15, but can not divulge it. In summary: Will DPMI, PLAB, and others need more equipment to support .25? Yes. Now the big one. WHEN???? This is where Asia plays a big role. At 1 billion per .25u fab, the Asia financial situation is critical. When I heard a .25 was put in Korea, it just threw another ball in the air. What's really real with Asia??? Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to try and tie things together. I hope this helps you understand ETEC's position in our super-semi future. :-) :-) Larry -- Deal with the mis-spellings, too long to correct.