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

To: Big Bucks who wrote (18251)	3/27/1998 11:14:00 AM
From: Andrew Brockway	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

Some good news..... Applied Materials On Top of $2.99 Billion 1997 Dry Etch Market Says The Information Network ÿÿÿÿBusiness Editors ÿÿÿÿNEW TRIPOLI, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 1998--Applied Materials continues to attain top honors in the dry etch marketplace, according to the report Plasma Etching: Market Analysis and Strategic Issues, recently published by The Information Network, a New Tripoli, Pa (formerly Williamsburg, Va)-based market research company. ÿÿÿÿFor 1997, perennial leader Applied held a 34.9% market share on $1.04 billion in equipment sales, up from a 30.3% market share on $969 million in equipment sales in 1996. Lam Research followed with a 27.2% share, down from a 29.8% share in 1996. ÿÿÿÿGaSonics again dominated the stripping market with a 23.7% share on $98 million in equipment revenues, up from a 22.3% share 1997. ÿÿÿÿThe worldwide market for dry etch systems will increase 1.9% in 1998, after a 6.5% drop in 1997. The stripper market will increase 1.9% in 1998 after a 5.9% drop in 1997. ÿÿÿÿ"In 1997, U.S. companies, on the strength of Applied Materials and Lam Research, sold 63.3% of all dry etch equipment (based on revenue volumes) and 52.7% of dry strip equipment on the strength of GaSonics, Fusion, and Mattson Technology," notes Dr. Robert N. Castellano, President of The Information Network. ÿÿÿÿDry etching systems must demonstrate the ability to etch sub-0.25 micron geometries while controlling profiles. Anisotropic profiles with controlled tapers are ideal. This will allow the manufacture of devices utilizing multi-level structures. New materials such as copper will be used in device fabrication, and suppliers will be expected to provide proven processes for these materials. ÿÿÿÿDue to the increasing complexity of device manufacture, it will become necessary for users to select and closely work with a particular supplier. Future equipment will become very process specific. Vendor selection will be based upon hardware and process performance, as well as pricing policies, financial stability, support network, willingness to negotiate strategic issues, and their overall commitment to the industry. ÿÿÿÿ"Applied Material captured the dry etching marketplace. They achieved this by introducing an advanced technology product, supporting it with advanced processes, supporting their customer base with hardware and process guarantees, and increasing their visibility throughout Japan, Europe, and the rest of the world," notes Dr. Castellano.